How to Convert JSON to CSV Online (Free Tool)
JSON is the standard format for APIs and web applications. CSV is the standard format for spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools. Sooner or later, you need to get data from one format to the other — and writing a script just to do a one-time conversion is overkill.
Our free JSON to CSV Converter handles the conversion in your browser: paste JSON, get CSV, download the file. No coding, no server, no account.
JSON vs CSV — When to Use Which
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
- Hierarchical structure — supports nested objects and arrays
- Human-readable but more verbose
- Native format for REST APIs, MongoDB, Firebase
- Ideal for complex, nested data structures
CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
- Flat, tabular structure — rows and columns
- Opens directly in Excel, Google Sheets, and most databases
- Compact and simple
- Best for flat data, reporting, imports into CRMs/ERPs
You need CSV when you want to open API response data in a spreadsheet, import records into a CRM, analyze data in SQL, or share data with non-technical stakeholders.
How JSON to CSV Conversion Works
The converter takes a JSON array of objects and maps each object to a row, using the object keys as column headers.
Input JSON:
`json
[
{"name": "Alice", "age": 28, "city": "London"},
{"name": "Bob", "age": 34, "city": "Paris"},
{"name": "Carol", "age": 22, "city": "Berlin"}
]
`
Output CSV:
`
name,age,city
Alice,28,London
Bob,34,Paris
Carol,22,Berlin
`
The conversion is straightforward for flat arrays of uniform objects. When the JSON has nested fields, the converter must flatten them — more on that below.
Handling Nested JSON
Most real-world API responses contain nested structures:
`json
[
{
"id": 1,
"user": {
"name": "Alice",
"email": "alice@example.com"
},
"amount": 150.00
}
]
`
When converting to CSV, nested objects are flattened using dot notation:
`
id,user.name,user.email,amount
1,Alice,alice@example.com,150
`
Our JSON to CSV tool handles this flattening automatically, giving you sensible column names for nested fields.
Step-by-Step: Convert JSON to CSV
Step 1 — Get Your JSON Data
Copy your JSON from an API response, a database export, a.json file, or any source. It should be a valid JSON array of objects.Step 2 — Paste Into the Tool
Go to cleverly.tools/json-to-csv and paste your JSON into the input area. The tool validates the JSON immediately and shows an error if the format is invalid.Step 3 — Preview the Table
The tool displays your data as a table preview, so you can verify that the columns and rows look correct before downloading.Step 4 — Configure Options (Optional)
- Delimiter: Change from comma to semicolon, tab, or pipe if your target application requires it
- Header row: Include or exclude column headers
- Flattening: Choose how nested objects are handled
Step 5 — Download the CSV
Click Download CSV to save the file. You can also click Copy to paste the CSV text directly into a spreadsheet.Common Use Cases
API Data to Spreadsheet
Pull data from a REST API (Stripe transactions, Google Analytics events, Shopify orders) and convert the JSON response to a CSV for analysis in Excel or Google Sheets.MongoDB Export to Excel
MongoDB exports documents as JSON. Convert to CSV to open in any spreadsheet tool without needing MongoDB Compass or a database client.CRM Data Import
Most CRMs (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive) import contacts and records from CSV files. Convert your JSON contact list to CSV for a clean import.Analytics and Reporting
Data from Firebase, Supabase, or custom databases often arrives as JSON. CSV format enables pivot tables and charts in Excel or data imports into business intelligence tools like Looker or Tableau.Validating Your JSON First
If you get a conversion error, it usually means your JSON is malformed. Common issues:
- Trailing commas (not valid in standard JSON)
- Single quotes instead of double quotes around keys/values
- Missing brackets or braces
- Unescaped special characters in strings
Use a JSON formatter and validator to check and fix your JSON before converting.
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FAQ
Does the JSON to CSV converter work with nested objects?
Yes. Nested objects are automatically flattened using dot notation for column headers (e.g.,user.name, address.city). Nested arrays are more complex and may be serialized as strings in the CSV cell.Can I convert a single JSON object (not an array)?
The converter expects a JSON array. If you have a single object, wrap it in an array:[{ "your": "object" }] before pasting.