Do I need the .dbf, .shx, and .prj files too?

No. GeoPreview will open a lone .shp on its own. It rebuilds a missing .shx by scanning the geometry, and if the .dbf is absent it just shows the shapes with no attribute table. Include the .dbf if you want the attributes, and the .prj if the data isn't already in lat/lon.

Can I open just the .shp file?

Yes. Drag the single .shp onto the map and it renders as geometry only. Desktop GIS often refuses to open an incomplete set, so this is one case where the browser is easier.

What's the file-size limit?

Files up to 128MB are handled in your browser. Larger files still work, using a temporary server to help process them.

Does it handle projected coordinates like UTM or State Plane?

Yes. If a .prj file is present, GeoPreview reprojects projected coordinate systems to WGS84 lon/lat on load so everything lines up on the basemap.

Completely free. No sign-up, no trial, no watermark.

Online shapefile viewer

Q: Do I need an account or any software?

No. GeoPreview runs in your browser, so there's nothing to install and no account to create. It sets no tracking cookies, and we never sell or share your data.

GeoPreview is a free online shapefile viewer that opens .shp files right in your browser. Drag in your shapefile (or a .zip of it) and the map appears in seconds. There's no account, no install, and no tracking cookies.

What is a shapefile?

A shapefile is the most common way GIS data gets shared, from parcels and boundaries to roads, wells, and field maps. Despite the singular name, it's not one file. It's a small bundle that travels together: the .shp holds the geometry (the points, lines, or polygons), the .shx is an index into it, the .dbf stores the attribute table (the data columns for each shape), and the optional .prj records the coordinate system. That's why people usually zip the set before sending it.

To see what's inside, you normally reach for desktop software like QGIS or ArcGIS. GeoPreview lets you skip that. It's an online shapefile viewer that opens the same files in a browser tab.

How to open a shapefile in GeoPreview

Gather your files. The .shp is required. Bring the .shx, .dbf, and .prj along if you have them.
Drop them on the map. Zip the set and drag the .zip in, or drag the loose files onto the page together. You can also click to browse.
Watch it render. The map draws almost instantly and zooms to fit your data. Large files stream in, showing a live feature count as they load.

If part of the set is missing, it still works. A missing .shx is rebuilt automatically, and a shapefile with no .dbf opens as geometry only, so even a single stray .shp will render.

What you can do once it's open

Viewing is only the start. Once your shapefile is on the map you can:

Style by attribute — color features with a continuous ramp, categorical colors, or a choropleth classification; size points; add labels.
See density by switching point layers to a heatmap or hexbin view.
Measure distance along a line or the area of a polygon.
Edit and enrich — edit attribute values, join a CSV of extra columns by a key field, summarize with group-by, run a spatial join, or buffer features.
Export the result as GeoJSON, CSV, a Shapefile ZIP, or FlatGeobuf, which makes GeoPreview an any-to-any converter too.

Click any feature to read its full attribute row, or open the data table to sort, filter, and edit every record.

Runs in your browser

GeoPreview parses and draws your shapefile with code that runs inside your browser, so it's quick and there's nothing to install and no account to create. It sets no tracking cookies, and we never sell or share your data.

Free, no account, no install. Runs right in your browser.

Open your shapefile

Online shapefile viewer

What is a shapefile?

How to open a shapefile in GeoPreview

What you can do once it's open

Runs in your browser

Frequently asked questions