TSV to CSV Converter

What is the difference between TSV and CSV?

TSV (Tab-Separated Values) and CSV (Comma-Separated Values) store the same kind of tabular data, the only real difference is the character used to separate columns: a tab instead of a comma. TSV is common in exports from bioinformatics tools, some database dumps, and certain legacy systems, but most spreadsheet and import tools default to expecting commas. Converting TSV to CSV simply swaps the tab separators for commas so the file opens correctly wherever a standard CSV is expected.

The confusion usually shows up the moment someone opens a .tsv file in a tool that only understands commas, and every row collapses into a single unreadable column. Converting the separator character fixes that instantly without touching the actual data values.

How to convert TSV to CSV online

Upload your .tsv file or paste the tab-separated text, then click Convert to CSV. The tool replaces every tab character between values with a comma while keeping the row and column structure exactly the same, and correctly wraps any values that already contain commas in quotes so the resulting file stays valid. Download the result as a ready-to-use .csv file.

This quoting behavior matters more than it might seem, without it, a text field like "Smith, John" would accidentally be read as two separate columns once commas become the delimiter. The tool handles that automatically so nothing shifts out of alignment.

Common use cases

• Converting a database or bioinformatics tool export into a format Excel opens correctly by default.
• Preparing TSV data for import tools and APIs that specifically expect comma-separated files.
• Fixing files that show up as one long column in Excel because the tab separators were not recognized.
• Standardizing mixed-format exports from different systems into a single consistent CSV format.

Tips for best results

If your TSV file was exported from a spreadsheet app, double-check there are no stray tab characters inside the actual text values themselves, since those would be indistinguishable from real column breaks. When in doubt, open the converted CSV in a spreadsheet app afterward to confirm every column lined up as expected.

Why use Convert369's TSV to CSV converter

The conversion is instant and happens fully in your browser, so there is no upload wait and no risk of your data sitting on a third-party server. It is free with no file size gimmicks, and it correctly handles edge cases like commas or quotes inside your values so the output CSV stays valid.

If you regularly receive exports from the same source system in TSV format, it's worth checking whether that system offers a native CSV export option instead, saving you the conversion step entirely going forward. When that's not possible, this tool is built to make the swap a non-issue every time.

It's also worth noting that some tools which claim to export 'CSV' actually produce a European-style CSV that uses semicolons instead of commas, a whole separate convention from TSV's tabs. If your converted file still doesn't open cleanly in the destination tool, it may be worth checking whether that system expects semicolons rather than commas as its actual separator, since the underlying problem can look similar at a glance.