CSV vs XLSX
A quick, plain-English comparison of the CSV and XLSX file formats — and how to convert between them, free and in your browser.
| CSV | XLSX | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | spreadsheet | spreadsheet |
| Extension | .csv | .xlsx |
| MIME type | text/csv | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet |
| Converts to | 18 formats | 18 formats |
| Direction here | read & write | read & write |
Convert between CSV and XLSX
CSV vs XLSX: frequently asked questions
What's the difference between CSV and XLSX?
Comma-separated values; the universal tabular interchange. Office Open XML spreadsheet (Excel).
Should I use CSV or XLSX?
Both are spreadsheet formats — the right one depends on compatibility, quality and file size for your use. Whichever you have, you can convert it to the other below in seconds.
How do I convert CSV to XLSX?
Open the CSV-to-XLSX converter, drop your CSV file in, and download the XLSX. We auto-detect the real format from the file's bytes, so a mislabeled file still works.