A DBF viewer for Windows, Mac and Linux
DBF viewers have mostly been Windows programs. If you are on a Mac or Linux, or on a locked-down work PC where you cannot install anything, the question is what will open the file at all — and read it correctly.
Free to use. Nothing to install. The file never leaves your computer. Windows version — 4.6 MB, no installation: details. Pro — $29 once: price.
The options
| Option | Where it runs | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| A browser viewer | Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS: anything with a current browser | No install, no admin rights. The file is read locally. Works for a quick look, a filter, an export |
| A Windows desktop app | Windows | Same engine as the browser version, for people who prefer an installed program or want batch conversion from the command line |
| LibreOffice Calc | Windows, macOS, Linux | Opens .dbf directly; asks for a character set and does not always guess it; memo and rarer field types are only partly supported |
| Microsoft Excel | Windows | Classic dBase III/IV tables may open; newer dialects, memo files and non-default code pages are where it breaks — see why Excel cannot open a DBF |
| FoxPro, dBase | Windows | Full fidelity, but old software that is hard to find and install |
What a good DBF viewer must get right
- The dialect — dBase III/IV, FoxPro, Visual FoxPro, Clipper — read from the file, not guessed from the extension.
- The code page, with a way to change it if it is wrong: see garbled text.
- Memo files (
.fpt,.dbt) attached to the table: see memo files. - Deleted records shown, hidden or isolated on request.
- Codes kept as text, so ZIP codes and account numbers keep their leading zeros.
- Export to Excel and CSV once you have what you need.
Privacy
DBF files are often customer lists, payroll or accounting data. A browser viewer that parses the file locally and sends nothing anywhere is a safer way to look inside than an online converter that uploads it to a server. Check how any tool handles your file before you put real data into it.
FAQ
Is there a DBF viewer for Mac?
Yes, in the browser: open the page in Safari, Chrome or Firefox and drop the file in. LibreOffice also runs on macOS.
What about Linux?
The browser version works the same way. LibreOffice Calc is the other common route.
Does it work offline?
After the first visit the app can run without a connection, and the file is not uploaded in any case.
Can it open large DBF files?
Yes, tables of hundreds of thousands of rows open in the browser. Filter first if you only need a part.
Free to use. Your file is not uploaded to a server. Windows version — 4.6 MB, no installation: details. Pro — $29 once: price.