Excel to CSV Converter - Free Desktop App
Convert Excel to CSV offline. Handle files larger than Excel's 1M row limit. Batch convert workbooks with multiple sheets. 100% private, no upload required.
How it works
- 1 Download FileHop Free · 144 MB · Mac & Windows
- 2 Open the folder with your files It opens like Finder or File Explorer.
- 3 Right-click your file Pick the tool you need — it runs instantly, on your device.
CSV works everywhere - Excel, Google Sheets, databases, programming languages. Perfect for data exchange.
Just 144 MB
Why Desktop Excel to CSV Converter Beats Online Tools
| Feature | Online Tools | FileHop Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Upload Required | ❌ Required | 🎯 Never |
| File Size Limit | ❌ 50MB max | ♾️ Unlimited |
| Speed | ⏳ Slow (upload/download) | ⚡ Instant |
| Batch Processing | ❌ 1 file | ✅ 1000s |
| Privacy | ⚠️ Risky (cloud upload) | 🔒 100% Local |
| No Watermark | ⚠️ Sometimes added | ✅ Never |
| Offline | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Cost | Free | Free ✅ |
Why Choose FileHop Desktop?
Privacy First
Files never leave your computer. No cloud upload, no data collection, 100% local.
Lightning Fast
Process files 10x faster than online tools. No upload wait, no download wait.
No Limits
Convert unlimited files of any size. Batch process thousands in one click.
Batch Processing
Convert, compress, or edit hundreds of files at once — a whole folder in one go.
Works Offline
No internet required. Perfect for flights, secure environments.
Free to Use
No trial limits, no watermarks, no credit card required.
When You Need This
Real scenarios where converting Excel to CSV solves a specific problem.
Data pipeline needs CSV input
Most data pipelines, databases, and ETL tools expect CSV. Extract the data from formatted Excel files.
Learn more →Clean data before importing
Convert Excel to CSV first, then use FileHop's cleaning tools to remove duplicates, fix casing, and filter rows.
Learn more →Strip formatting to reduce file size
Excel formatting adds bloat. Convert to CSV to get just the data — then optionally convert to Parquet for even more compression.
Learn more →Read the full Excel-to-CSV guide
What survives the conversion, encoding pitfalls, multi-sheet handling, leading zeros, and how FileHop compares to CloudConvert, FreeConvert, xlsx2csv, and LibreOffice.
Read the guide →Frequently Asked Questions
Why convert Excel to CSV?
CSV is a universal plain-text format that works everywhere. Convert Excel to CSV for: data imports/exports, database loading, programming (Python, R), compatibility with any tool, and handling files larger than Excel's 1M row limit.
Will formulas be preserved?
CSV stores values only, not formulas. When you convert Excel to CSV, formulas are calculated and their results are saved as plain values. This is perfect for data export and interchange.
What happens to multiple sheets?
Each Excel sheet is converted to a separate CSV file. For example, if you have 'Sales.xlsx' with 3 sheets, you'll get 'Sheet1.csv', 'Sheet2.csv', and 'Sheet3.csv'. You can also choose to convert specific sheets only.
Can I batch convert multiple Excel files?
Yes! Select entire folders and convert hundreds of Excel workbooks to CSV in one operation. Each sheet becomes a separate CSV file. Perfect for migrating data or automating workflows.
Will special characters be preserved?
Yes! FileHop uses UTF-8 encoding by default, which preserves all special characters, international characters, emojis, and symbols. You can also choose custom encodings if needed.
Why use desktop converter vs Excel's 'Save As'?
FileHop is faster for batch conversions, handles files larger than Excel's limits, preserves encoding perfectly, works on all sheets at once, and doesn't require Excel to be installed. Perfect for automating workflows.
Is Excel to CSV conversion free?
Completely free with unlimited conversions. No file size limits, no watermarks, no credit card required.
What's the difference between CSV and Excel?
Excel (XLSX) supports formulas, formatting, charts, and multiple sheets. CSV is plain text - simpler, smaller, universal. Convert to CSV when you need compatibility, data export, or to work with programming languages.
You might also need:
Learn More
Guides and comparisons for data file management