Free GeoJSON Viewer Online
Open a GeoJSON or JSON file online to inspect its geometry and attributes on an interactive map. Create new data in the GeoJSON editor, or validate an existing file before sharing it.
How to open GeoJSON online
Free online GeoJSON viewer — open, inspect, and validate .geojson and .json files in your browser. View features on an interactive map, browse attributes, and convert to Shapefile, KML, GPKG, and more with no upload. Upload or paste your GeoJSON content directly.
Privacy
Files are processed on your device in the browser. GeoDataViewer does not upload your datasets to a server for viewing.
Common issues
If a dataset uses multiple required sidecar files, make sure you provide the complete set together. For best results, keep all sidecars in one zip archive when applicable.
Related tools
Measure distances, areas, elevation, and radius circles using the tools menu, then come back to inspect your GeoJSON layer on the map.
What is GeoJSON?
GeoJSON is a JSON-based vector format used to move geographic features between APIs, web maps, scripts, and lightweight desktop workflows.
How large GeoJSON files are rendered
Smaller layers use a normal MapLibre GeoJSON source. When a
layer has more than 50,000 features, or the large-data
pipeline explicitly marks it for tiled rendering,
GeoDataViewer automatically uses @maplibre/geojson-vt to build a client-side
vector-tile index.
The library slices GeoJSON on the fly in the browser, with no separate tile server. It applies zoom-appropriate simplification, then MapLibre renders the resulting vector tiles for responsive pan and zoom.
The full input is still read and indexed in browser memory; this is not streaming prebuilt tiles. Feature inspection and per-feature styling are limited in this large-data mode.
Read more in the official MapLibre geojson-vt documentation .
What is GeoJSON used for?
- Publishing vector features to web clients, map APIs, and modern frontend frameworks.
- Moving small to medium sized datasets between ETL scripts, notebooks, and lightweight GIS tools.
- Debugging geometry and attribute issues because the file is plain text and easy to inspect.
Common use cases
- Download packages from open data portals and web services.
- Custom overlays in MapLibre, Leaflet, OpenLayers, and other browser map libraries.
- Quick QA workflows where analysts need to validate a few features before exporting again.
Strengths
- Human-readable JSON structure makes review and debugging straightforward.
- Broad support across web mapping tools, APIs, and programming languages.
- Single-file distribution is simple compared with multi-file legacy formats.
Limitations
- Text encoding makes large datasets heavier than binary or tiled alternatives.
- Classic GeoJSON assumes WGS 84 style web mapping workflows, which is not ideal for every CRS-heavy pipeline.
- It is not the best long-term storage choice for large transactional datasets or tiled delivery.
File extensions and sidecar files
Convert GeoJSON online
GeoJSON Viewer FAQ
What is a GeoJSON file?
GeoJSON is a JSON-based format for encoding geographic features like points, lines, and polygons, defined by RFC 7946. It is the most common interchange format for web maps and GIS APIs.
How do I open a GeoJSON file online?
Use the free online GeoJSON viewer at geodataviewer.com/open-geojson-online. Drag and drop your .geojson file to render it on a map, inspect attributes, and validate it — all in your browser with no upload.
Is GeoJSON good for large datasets?
GeoJSON is text-based, and its in-memory representation can be costly at scale. Smaller layers use the normal GeoJSON source. When a layer has more than 50,000 features or enters an explicitly marked large-data/tiled-rendering path, GeoDataViewer uses @maplibre/geojson-vt in the browser, where it slices and simplifies vector tiles for smoother interaction. The full input is still read and indexed in browser memory. For very large publishing or analysis workflows, consider prebuilt vector tiles, FlatGeobuf, GeoParquet, or GeoPackage.
Can I convert GeoJSON to Shapefile?
Yes. Use the free GeoJSON to Shapefile converter at geodataviewer.com/geojson-to-shapefile. The conversion runs locally in your browser using GDAL — no upload required.
What is the difference between GeoJSON and Shapefile?
GeoJSON is a single text-based file with broad web mapping support, while Shapefile is a legacy multi-file binary format with broad desktop GIS support. GeoJSON is better for web and API workflows; Shapefile is still common in enterprise and government delivery.