Excel vs CSV: Which Format Should You Use?
The Short Answer
XLSX is a full workbook — several sheets, formulas, formatting, charts. CSV is one plain table of values. People work in XLSX; programs, databases and import tools want CSV.
Excel vs CSV Side by Side
| Excel | CSV | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Excel: Microsoft Excel Workbook (Office Open XML) | CSV: Comma-Separated Values |
| File extension | Excel: .xlsx | CSV: .csv |
| How it stores data | Excel: Zipped XML with sheets, formulas and formatting | CSV: Plain text, one row per line |
| File size | Excel: depends on what is inside | CSV: depends on what is inside |
| Created by | Excel: Microsoft, 2007 | CSV: Informal standard (RFC 4180) |
| Best for | Excel: spreadsheets with formulas, several sheets or formatting | CSV: importing and exporting data between systems |
| Watch out | Excel: programs and scripts that expect plain data usually want CSV | CSV: one sheet only — no formulas, formatting or cell types |
| Opens with | Excel: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, Apple Numbers | CSV: Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, any text editor |
Choose Excel When
- Spreadsheets with formulas, formatting or several sheets
- Reports people will read and edit in Excel
Choose CSV When
- Importing into databases, CRMs, shops and scripts
- Exchanging raw data between systems
Convert Between Excel and CSV
More About Each Format
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Excel or CSV?
XLSX is a full workbook — several sheets, formulas, formatting, charts. CSV is one plain table of values. People work in XLSX; programs, databases and import tools want CSV.
When should I use Excel?
Spreadsheets with formulas, formatting or several sheets. Reports people will read and edit in Excel.
When should I use CSV?
Importing into databases, CRMs, shops and scripts. Exchanging raw data between systems.
What is Excel?
XLSX is the Excel workbook format: several sheets, formulas, number formats and charts in one file. It is what accountants, analysts and most business systems exchange.
What is CSV?
CSV is a table as plain text: one row per line, values separated by commas. Every spreadsheet, database and programming language reads it, which makes it the universal format for exchanging data.
Can I convert between Excel and CSV?
Yes — free, in batches and without an account. Convert Excel to CSV, or Convert CSV to Excel with the converter linked on this page.