How to Convert JSON to CSV Online (Free, No Signup)
How to Convert JSON to CSV Online (Free, No Signup)
You've got a JSON file. You need it as a CSV. Maybe you're staring at an API response, maybe a developer sent you data in a format your spreadsheet can't read, or maybe you're trying to get a dataset into Excel without losing your mind.
Whatever the reason, you don't want to install software, create an account, or upload sensitive data to some random server.
Here's how to do it in about 10 seconds using our free JSON to CSV converter -- and why it matters that your data never leaves your browser.
What Is JSON?
JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation. It's a way of structuring data that computers love and humans can (mostly) read.
It looks like this:
[
{
"name": "Sarah Connor",
"email": "sarah@example.com",
"orders": 12,
"total_spent": 459.99
},
{
"name": "John Smith",
"email": "john@example.com",
"orders": 3,
"total_spent": 87.50
}
]
JSON uses curly braces {} for objects, square brackets [] for lists, and key-value pairs separated by colons. It's the standard format for APIs, web applications, and most modern data exchange.
The problem? You can't open it in Excel and get a nice table. You get a wall of text.
What Is CSV?
CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values. It's the simplest possible table format -- just rows and columns separated by commas.
The same data as CSV:
name,email,orders,total_spent
Sarah Connor,sarah@example.com,12,459.99
John Smith,john@example.com,3,87.50
Every spreadsheet application on earth can open a CSV. Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice, Numbers -- they all handle it natively. That's why CSV is still the universal format for getting data into and out of spreadsheets.
When You Need to Convert JSON to CSV
1. Exporting Data From an API
This is the most common scenario. You've pulled data from an API -- maybe customer records from a CRM, transactions from a payment processor, or analytics from a marketing platform. The API returns JSON (they almost always do), but you need the data in a spreadsheet for analysis, reporting, or sharing with colleagues who don't speak JSON.
2. Cleaning Up a Data Export
Many SaaS tools let you export your data, but some default to JSON format. If you've downloaded a data export and ended up with a .json file when you wanted a spreadsheet, you need a quick conversion.
3. Preparing Data for Import
Some systems only accept CSV imports. If your source data is in JSON -- say, from a database dump or another tool's export -- you need to convert it before you can import it. This comes up frequently with CRM imports, email marketing platforms, and accounting software.
How to Convert JSON to CSV Using Our Free Tool
Here's the step-by-step process. It takes about 10 seconds.
Step 1: Open the Converter
Go to useaitools.org/json-csv. No account needed, no signup form, nothing to install.
Step 2: Paste or Upload Your JSON
You've got two options:
- Paste it directly into the input area. This works well for smaller datasets or when you've copied JSON from an API response or developer console.
- Upload a .json file by clicking the upload button. Better for larger files.
Step 3: Review the Preview
The tool automatically parses your JSON and shows you a preview of the CSV output. Check that the columns look right and the data is structured the way you expect.
If your JSON has nested objects (objects inside objects), the tool flattens them automatically. A nested structure like "address": {"city": "London", "postcode": "EC1A 1BB"} becomes separate columns: address.city and address.postcode.
Step 4: Download Your CSV
Click the download button. You'll get a .csv file that opens cleanly in any spreadsheet application.
That's it. No email required, no "free trial" bait-and-switch, no watermarks on your output.
Handling Tricky JSON Structures
Not all JSON is a simple flat array of objects. Here's how common edge cases are handled.
Nested Objects
{
"name": "Acme Ltd",
"contact": {
"email": "info@acme.com",
"phone": "0121 000 0000"
}
}
This flattens to columns: name, contact.email, contact.phone. The dot notation keeps it clear where each value came from.
Arrays Within Objects
{
"name": "Sarah",
"tags": ["vip", "uk", "wholesale"]
}
Arrays get joined into a single cell, typically as a semicolon-separated string: vip;uk;wholesale. This keeps your CSV clean while preserving the data.
Inconsistent Keys
Real-world JSON is messy. Some objects might have fields that others don't. The converter handles this by creating columns for every unique key it finds and leaving cells blank where a given record doesn't have that field.
Single Object vs Array
If your JSON is a single object rather than an array of objects, the tool still converts it -- you'll just get a one-row CSV. If you have an object where each key is a record identifier, the tool detects that pattern and handles it accordingly.
Why Privacy Matters for Data Conversion
Here's something most people don't think about when they Google "json to csv converter" and click the first result.
Most online converters upload your data to their server to process it. Your JSON goes up, their server converts it, and the CSV comes back down. That means:
- Your data passes through someone else's infrastructure. If that JSON contains customer emails, financial records, or any sensitive business data, it's now been transmitted to and processed by a third party.
- You have no idea what happens to it. Does their server log it? Store it? Use it to train a model? Their privacy policy might say one thing, but you're trusting a free tool with your data.
- It might violate your data protection obligations. Under UK GDPR, if you're processing personal data, you need to account for every third party that touches it. Casually uploading customer data to a random converter tool is a compliance headache.
How Our Tool Is Different
Our JSON to CSV converter runs entirely in your browser. The conversion happens client-side using JavaScript. Your data never leaves your device -- it's not uploaded, not transmitted, not stored anywhere.
You can verify this yourself: open your browser's developer tools, go to the Network tab, paste in some JSON, and convert it. You'll see zero network requests during the conversion. The tool works even if you disconnect from the internet after loading the page.
This isn't just a nice feature. If you're handling business data, customer records, or anything with personal information, client-side processing is the responsible choice.
Common Questions
Can I convert CSV to JSON too?
Yes. The tool works both ways. Switch the direction and paste or upload your CSV to get JSON output. Handy when you need to prepare data for an API or import into a system that expects JSON.
Is there a file size limit?
Because processing happens in your browser, the limit is effectively your device's available memory. In practice, files up to 50MB convert without issues on most modern devices. For very large files (100MB+), you might experience a brief pause while your browser processes the data.
Does it handle UTF-8 and special characters?
Yes. The converter preserves Unicode characters, accented letters, and special characters. If your JSON contains international text, it'll come through correctly in the CSV.
What about Excel compatibility?
The generated CSV uses standard comma delimiters and proper quoting for fields that contain commas, newlines, or quotes. It opens correctly in Excel, Google Sheets, and LibreOffice Calc. If you're opening in Excel and see encoding issues with special characters, try importing via Data > From Text/CSV rather than double-clicking the file.
When Not to Use a CSV
CSV is brilliant for flat, tabular data. But it has limitations worth knowing about:
- No data types. Everything in a CSV is a string. Numbers, dates, booleans -- they're all just text. Your spreadsheet application infers types when it opens the file, which sometimes goes wrong (Excel infamously turns gene names into dates).
- No hierarchy. If your JSON has deeply nested structures, flattening to CSV loses that hierarchy. For complex nested data, you might be better off using a JSON viewer or a database.
- No formulas or formatting. CSV is raw data. If you need formatted output, convert to CSV first, then open in your spreadsheet application and format there.
For the vast majority of use cases -- getting API data into a spreadsheet, preparing an import file, sharing data with non-technical colleagues -- CSV is exactly the right format.
Try It Now
Stop wrestling with JSON in a text editor. Our free JSON to CSV converter handles the conversion instantly, privately, and without any signup.
Paste your JSON, get your CSV, get on with your day.