GeoJSON vs Shapefile: Which Format Should You Use?

GeoJSON and Shapefile are both common GIS vector formats, but they fit different workflows. GeoJSON is popular for web maps and APIs, while Shapefile is a legacy standard with broad tool support.

Quick comparison

Topic	GeoJSON	Shapefile
Files	Single .geojson / .json	Multiple sidecars (.shp, .dbf, .shx, …)
Web mapping	Very common	Often requires zipping and handling sidecars
Attributes	Stored in properties	Stored in .dbf
Best for	Web apps, APIs, lightweight sharing	Compatibility with existing GIS tools

When GeoJSON is better

Choose GeoJSON when you need:

• Simple, readable files you can inspect quickly
• Easy integration with JavaScript tooling
• A good interchange format for web visualization

Open GeoJSON online: /open-geojson-online/

When Shapefile is better

Choose Shapefile when you need:

• Maximum compatibility with legacy GIS workflows
• A widely accepted “standard” in many organizations

Open Shapefile online: /open-shapefile-online/

Converting between them

• Shapefile to GeoJSON: /shapefile-to-geojson/
• GeoJSON to Shapefile: /geojson-to-shapefile/

Related reading

• What is GeoJSON: /blog/what-is-geojson/
• What is a Shapefile: /blog/what-is-a-shapefile/