File Conversion
Convert GPKG to SHP online
Convert GeoPackage — the modern OGC SQLite-based container that stores multiple layers in a single file and is replacing the shapefile — into Esri Shapefile, which is the Esri format used by ArcGIS and QGIS — really a set of files (.shp, .dbf, .prj, …) bundled in a .zip. Drop your GPKG file below, SHP is already selected as the output, and download the result. Everything runs in your browser and the cloud; you never install anything.
Upload your file
Drag and drop it into the converter below — no account needed to start.
Convert in the cloud
MapGO detects the format and produces your download in seconds.
Download & keep it
Files are deleted automatically after 48 hours.
Files are deleted automatically after 48 hours. Your files are never shared.
Why convert GPKG to SHP with MapGO?
Most online converters take one file and hand back one file. MapGO is built on a real geospatial engine, so a single upload can do more:
- Several outputs in one upload — tick SHP and any other formats you need; every selected format is delivered from the same file.
- Files up to 5 GB — far beyond the browser-based converters that choke past a few hundred megabytes.
- Reproject while you convert — set a source and target EPSG code and the coordinate system is changed during the conversion, no second tool needed.
- Private by default — files are deleted automatically after 48 hours.
GPKG vs SHP at a glance
| GPKG | SHP | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | The modern default for storing and exchanging GIS layers (QGIS standard) | Desktop GIS in ArcGIS/QGIS; the long-time industry exchange format |
| Size on disk | Compact single .gpkg file; many layers in one database | Large — several sidecar files, no compression, 2 GB per-file cap |
| Attribute support | Full database types, long column names, spatial indexes | Limited: column names max 10 characters, no lists or nesting |
| Software support | QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, GDAL — all current GIS software | Universal in GIS software; web libraries can’t read it directly |
| Web-friendliness | Not web-native — convert to GeoJSON or FlatGeobuf for the browser | Poor — must be converted before use in a web map |
Other ways to convert GPKG to SHP
You don't need an online tool for this. If you have GDAL installed, one command does it:
ogr2ogr -f "ESRI Shapefile" output.shp input.gpkgIn QGIS (free): open your GPKG via Layer → Add Layer, then right-click the layer → Export → Save Features As… and pick SHP as the format.
The MapGO converter above is for when you don't want to install anything, need to convert to several formats at once, or are handling files too large for a desktop machine — drop the file and download the result.
GPKG to SHP: frequently asked questions
Is the GPKG to SHP converter free?
Yes — new accounts get free conversion credits to start, and every paid plan converts unlimited files within its size limit. There is nothing to install; the whole GPKG-to-SHP conversion runs in the cloud.
Is my data kept private?
Conversion is fully automated and your file is never shared. Files are deleted automatically after 48 hours. Download your SHP result and it's yours to keep.
What will the shapefile download look like?
Because a shapefile is made of several files, your result is delivered as a single .zip containing the .shp, .shx, .dbf and .prj — ready to open in ArcGIS or QGIS.
My GeoPackage contains several layers — which one gets converted?
MapGO converts the first vector layer in the file. If you need a different layer, export it to its own GeoPackage in QGIS (right-click the layer → Export) and upload that — multi-layer selection is on the roadmap.
Why did my column names change in the shapefile output?
Shapefiles store attributes in a .dbf table that caps field names at 10 characters, so longer names are truncated during conversion — the same thing ArcGIS and QGIS do when saving a shapefile. If you need long field names, GeoPackage is the better target format.
Can I convert SHP back to GPKG?
Yes — use our SHP to GPKG converter for the reverse direction. MapGO supports conversions in both directions between these formats.