How do I open a shapefile without QGIS or ArcGIS?

Use a browser tool that parses shapefiles locally. In [Groundtruth](/tools/map) you drag the zipped shapefile (or the loose .shp, .dbf, and .prj together) onto the page and it reads the geometry, attribute table, and coordinate system with nothing to install.

What files do I need to open a shapefile?

At minimum the .shp (geometry). To see attributes you need the .dbf, and to place it correctly you need the .prj (coordinate system). A .shx and sometimes a .cpg accompany them. Keep them together, ideally as the original zip.

Is it safe to open a shapefile online?

With a tool that parses the file in your browser, yes: the data is read locally and never uploaded, so unpublished or sensitive boundaries stay on your machine.

Why are the attribute names shortened?

The shapefile .dbf format limits field names to 10 characters, so longer names are truncated. Exporting to GeoJSON removes that limit for future use.

Spatial data

How to Open a Shapefile Online (No Software to Install)

You have been sent a shapefile and you just want to see what is in it, without installing desktop GIS. You can, entirely in a browser tab. This guide covers what a shapefile actually is, which files must be present, and how to open one in Groundtruth to view the geometry, read the attribute table, map a column, and export.

6 min read · Updated August 24, 2026

A shapefile is several files

Despite the name, a shapefile is not one file. The geometry is in a .shp, the attribute table in a .dbf, and the coordinate system in a .prj. A .shx index and sometimes a .cpg (text encoding) come along too. All of them share the same base name and must stay together, which is why shapefiles are almost always shared as a single .zip.

If you only got a .shp

A lone .shp with no .dbf has geometry but no attributes, and with no .prj the coordinate system is unknown. Ask for the full set, ideally the original zip, so names, values, and projection all come through.

Open it in the browser

Step 1Keep the zip

If you received a .zip, do not unzip it. Drag the whole zip onto Groundtruth; it reads the .shp, .dbf, .prj, and .cpg inside.

Step 2Or drop the loose files

If the files are loose, select the .shp, .dbf, and .prj together and drop them at once so the attributes and projection load with the geometry.

Step 3View

The map draws immediately. It parses everything locally in your browser, so a sensitive or unpublished boundary never leaves your machine.

Step 4Inspect

Open the attribute table to sort and filter the data, or click a feature to read and edit its fields.

Now that it is open

Map any numeric column as a choropleth, and switch classification to read it honestly.
Read real area and distance: the tool detects a projected or geographic coordinate system and reports square kilometres and kilometres.
Join a spreadsheet to add columns the shapefile does not have.
Export the layer as GeoJSON (a single, readable file) or the map as SVG or PNG.

Common problems

Nothing draws: the .shp is probably missing its companions. Load the full set or the original zip.
Field names look cut off: the shapefile .dbf truncates field names to 10 characters. Exporting to GeoJSON keeps full names going forward.
The map is in the wrong place or area looks wrong: the coordinate system is projected and the .prj is missing or was not loaded. Include the .prj so units are known.

To understand the format itself and when to convert it, see shapefile vs GeoJSON.

Frequently asked questions

How do I open a shapefile without QGIS or ArcGIS?: Use a browser tool that parses shapefiles locally. In Groundtruth you drag the zipped shapefile (or the loose .shp, .dbf, and .prj together) onto the page and it reads the geometry, attribute table, and coordinate system with nothing to install.
What files do I need to open a shapefile?: At minimum the .shp (geometry). To see attributes you need the .dbf, and to place it correctly you need the .prj (coordinate system). A .shx and sometimes a .cpg accompany them. Keep them together, ideally as the original zip.
Is it safe to open a shapefile online?: With a tool that parses the file in your browser, yes: the data is read locally and never uploaded, so unpublished or sensitive boundaries stay on your machine.
Why are the attribute names shortened?: The shapefile .dbf format limits field names to 10 characters, so longer names are truncated. Exporting to GeoJSON removes that limit for future use.

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