Format Hub
Convert Esri Shapefile online — free
The Esri Shapefile has been the de-facto exchange format of the GIS world since the early 1990s. A “shapefile” is actually a bundle of files that only work together: the .shp holds the geometry, the .shx the index, the .dbf the attribute table and the .prj the coordinate system. That design brings hard limits — 10-character column names, a 2 GB size cap, one geometry type per file — which is why modern workflows increasingly move to GeoPackage or GeoJSON.
MapGO converts shapefiles in the cloud: zip the parts together, drop the .zip below and pick one or more output formats. Files up to 5 GB are supported on the largest plan, the coordinate system is read from the .prj (or you can set an EPSG code manually), and you can reproject during the conversion.
Files are deleted automatically after 48 hours. Your files are never shared.
Convert to SHP
SHP: frequently asked questions
What files make up a shapefile, and what do I upload?
At minimum a shapefile is a .shp (geometry), .shx (index) and .dbf (attributes); a .prj (coordinate system) and .cpg (encoding) usually ride along. Zip them all into one .zip and upload that — MapGO reads the parts and warns you if a required piece is missing.
Why do people say to stop using shapefiles?
The format shows its age: 10-character column names, a 2 GB limit, no single-file storage and one geometry type per file. It still works everywhere, which is why it survives — but for new projects GeoPackage keeps all the compatibility with none of the limits. MapGO converts in both directions.
Is the SHP converter free?
Yes — new accounts get free conversion credits, and paid plans convert unlimited files within their size limit. Nothing to install; everything runs in the cloud.
What is the maximum file size?
Up to 5 GB per file on the largest plan (smaller plans have lower limits). Files are deleted automatically after 48 hours.