VCF File to CSV: 5 Ways to Convert Contacts (Free and Paid)

Introduction

Converting a VCF file to CSV is one of those tasks that sounds simple until you actually try it. You have a VCF contact file exported from your phone, email client or cloud account and now you need that data in a format that spreadsheets, CRMs, and bulk import tools can actually read. CSV is that format.

We have tested dozens of VCF to CSV conversion methods over the past 10 years while building contact migration tools at Univik. In that process, we have seen every edge case: files with 20,000+ contacts, vCard 2.1 exports from Samsung phones with quoted-printable encoding, CRM exports stuffed with custom X-properties, and multi-language address books mixing Arabic, Chinese and Cyrillic names in the same file. The five methods in this guide are the ones that consistently produce clean, reliable output across all of those scenarios.

The problem is that VCF and CSV store data in completely different ways. A VCF file wraps each contact in tagged blocks with properties like FN, TEL, and EMAIL on separate lines. A CSV file, on the other hand, puts every contact on a single row with values separated by commas and column headers at the top. Because of this structural difference, you cannot simply rename a .vcf file to .csv and call it done. The data needs to be parsed, restructured, and mapped into the right columns.

This guide walks you through five proven methods to convert vCard to CSV, from a zero-install browser workaround to a Python script for automation. Each method handles the conversion differently, so we will also cover which VCF fields map to which CSV columns, the important difference between Google CSV and Outlook CSV formats, and the common pitfalls that cause data loss or garbled characters after conversion.

Why Convert VCF to CSV?

A VCF file is excellent for sharing one or two contacts between phones, but it quickly becomes impractical when you need to work with the data in bulk. CSV, by contrast, is the universal language of data import. Almost every business tool, email platform, and database accepts CSV. Here are the most common reasons people convert their contacts.

In addition to these common scenarios, CSV is also the required format for mail merge operations in Word, bulk SMS platforms, and marketing automation tools like Mailchimp. Essentially, if you need to move contacts from a phone or email client into any business system, converting VCF contacts to CSV format is almost always the first step.

VCF vs CSV: What Changes During Conversion

Before picking a method, it helps to understand what actually changes when you go from VCF to CSV. The vCard format is defined by RFC 6350 (vCard 4.0) and RFC 2426 (vCard 3.0), which specify a structured text format with typed properties. CSV, by contrast, has no formal standard for contact data. The column names, delimiter, and encoding all vary by platform. Some data converts perfectly while other fields need special handling.

The most important thing to know is that embedded photos do not survive the conversion. Base64 photo data in a VCF has no equivalent in a standard CSV file. If preserving photos matters to you, use a converter tool that extracts them as separate image files alongside the CSV. In our testing, only dedicated desktop converter tools offered photo extraction. Google Contacts, Windows Contacts, and online converters all silently dropped embedded photos.

Multi-value fields also require attention. A contact with three email addresses in the VCF will need three separate columns in the CSV (Email 1, Email 2, Email 3). Similarly, structured address fields in VCF get flattened into a single address string or split across street, city, state, and zip columns depending on the converter. Understanding this mapping prevents surprises after conversion.

Google CSV vs Outlook CSV: Which One Do You Need?

Not all CSV files are the same. When exporting contacts, most tools give you a choice between Google CSV and Outlook CSV. These two formats use different column headers, different character encoding, and different structures. Choosing the wrong one will cause import errors on the target platform.

Here is the practical takeaway. If your contacts contain names with accents, umlauts, Chinese characters, or Arabic script, always choose Google CSV because its UTF-8 encoding preserves every character correctly. Only use Outlook CSV if you are importing directly into Microsoft Outlook and all your contact names are in English or your system default language. In our testing with a 3,500-contact multilingual address book, Google CSV preserved 100% of non-Latin characters while Outlook CSV corrupted 23% of entries containing accented European names.

5 Proven Methods to Convert VCF File to CSV

There are five reliable ways to convert your contacts from VCF to CSV. The right choice depends on how many contacts you have, whether you need to stay offline, and how much control you want over the output format. Let’s walk through each one.

Method 1: Google Contacts Export (Free, No Software)

This is the fastest and most reliable free method for most people. Google Contacts acts as a middleman: it imports your VCF, normalizes the data, and exports a clean CSV that works everywhere.

This method automatically handles all vCard versions, decodes quoted-printable encoding, and produces properly structured CSV with clean headers. It works well for files with up to a few hundred contacts.

Method 2: Windows Contacts Import-Export (Offline, Built-in)

If you are on Windows and want to stay completely offline, the built-in Windows Contacts feature can convert VCF to CSV without any third-party software. However, this method has a significant limitation for files with multiple contacts.

This method works best when you have multiple individual VCF files (one contact per file) rather than a single VCF with hundreds of contacts inside. When we tested a 450-contact VCF file with this method, clicking OK for each contact took over 12 minutes. For bulk conversion, the Google Contacts method or a dedicated tool is significantly faster.

Method 3: Free Online VCF to CSV Converter

Several free online tools let you upload a VCF file and download a CSV without installing anything. This is a good option for quick, one-time conversions when privacy is not a primary concern. Be aware that most online converters upload your file to their servers for processing. We reviewed seven popular online VCF to CSV tools and found that only two explicitly confirmed local browser-based processing with no server upload. Always check the tool’s privacy policy before uploading files that contain personal phone numbers and email addresses.

Method 4: Desktop VCF to CSV Converter Tool (Best for Large Files)

For large contact databases, sensitive data, or repeated conversions, a dedicated VCF to CSV converter tool gives you the most control and reliability. Desktop tools process everything locally with no upload limits.

A professional vCard converter tool is the right choice when you have thousands of contacts, need to merge multiple VCF files into one CSV, or want to preserve every field including notes, categories, and custom properties. During development of our own converter at Univik, we benchmarked performance against VCF exports from over 15 different sources including iCloud, Samsung, Huawei, Google Takeout, Thunderbird, and Outlook. It also handles edge cases like contacts with five phone numbers or addresses in non-Latin scripts that simpler methods may mishandle.

Method 5: Python Script for Developers

If you are comfortable with command line tools, a Python script gives you complete control over the conversion and can be integrated into automated workflows.

import vobject
import csv
import sys

def vcf_to_csv(vcf_path, csv_path):
    contacts = []
    with open(vcf_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
        for vcard in vobject.readComponents(f):
            contact = {}
            contact['Full Name'] = str(vcard.fn.value) if hasattr(vcard, 'fn') else ''
            if hasattr(vcard, 'n'):
                contact['First Name'] = str(vcard.n.value.given)
                contact['Last Name'] = str(vcard.n.value.family)
            for i, tel in enumerate(vcard.contents.get('tel', []), 1):
                contact[f'Phone {i}'] = str(tel.value)
            for i, email in enumerate(vcard.contents.get('email', []), 1):
                contact[f'Email {i}'] = str(email.value)
            if hasattr(vcard, 'org'):
                contact['Organization'] = str(vcard.org.value[0])
            contacts.append(contact)

    all_fields = []
    for c in contacts:
        for k in c:
            if k not in all_fields:
                all_fields.append(k)

    with open(csv_path, 'w', newline='', encoding='utf-8') as f:
        writer = csv.DictWriter(f, fieldnames=all_fields)
        writer.writeheader()
        writer.writerows(contacts)

    print(f'Converted {len(contacts)} contacts to {csv_path}')

if __name__ == '__main__':
    vcf_to_csv(sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2])

To use this script, install the required library with pip install vobject and then run python vcf_to_csv.py contacts.vcf output.csv. The vobject library handles all vCard versions and automatically decodes quoted-printable text. This script also dynamically creates separate columns for multiple phone numbers and emails per contact, which is something most simple converters fail to do.

Method Comparison: Which One Should You Use?

For most people, the Google Contacts method is the fastest path to a clean CSV. However, if you are dealing with sensitive corporate contacts, a desktop converter or Python script keeps everything offline. And if you need to run this conversion regularly as part of a data pipeline, the Python script is the clear winner.

VCF Properties to CSV Column Mapping

One of the trickiest parts of converting a VCF file to CSV is understanding how vCard properties translate to CSV columns. The vCard specification defines standard property names like FN (formatted name), TEL (telephone), and ADR (address), but each CSV platform uses its own column headers. This mapping reference is based on our analysis of Google Contacts and Outlook export templates as of 2026.

Notice how Google uses numbered fields (Phone 1, Phone 2) while Outlook uses named fields (Mobile Phone, Business Phone). This is one of the key reasons why choosing the right CSV format matters. If you import a Google CSV into Outlook, the column headers will not match and fields may be skipped or mapped incorrectly. For a deeper look at how vCard property syntax differs between versions, see our guide on VCF to vCard conversion.

Common Problems and Fixes

Even with the right method, a few issues come up regularly when people convert VCF to CSV. These five problems account for roughly 90% of the support tickets we see at Univik related to VCF conversion. Knowing them upfront saves you from troubleshooting later.

If your VCF file itself has structural problems preventing conversion, our guide on fixing VCF file import errors covers diagnosis and repair steps for encoding issues, version mismatches, and corrupted file structures.

How to Convert CSV Back to VCF

After editing your contacts in a spreadsheet, you may need to go the other direction and convert CSV back to VCF for importing into a phone, iCloud, or another contact platform. Fortunately, the reverse conversion is straightforward.

The simplest method is to import your CSV into Google Contacts, then export as vCard. Google will create a clean vCard 3.0 file with proper encoding that works on iPhone, Android, and all major platforms. For larger files or when you need more control over vCard version and field mapping, a dedicated vCard converter tool handles CSV to VCF conversion directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert a VCF file to CSV without installing software?

Use Google Contacts as a free middleman. Import the VCF at contacts.google.com, select the imported contacts, click Export, and choose Google CSV or Outlook CSV. No installation needed. Alternatively, use a free online VCF to CSV converter in your browser.

Can I convert VCF to CSV using Google Contacts?

Yes. Google Contacts is one of the most reliable methods. It handles all vCard versions, decodes special characters, and gives you the choice between Google CSV and Outlook CSV output formats. The only requirement is a free Google account.

What is the difference between Google CSV and Outlook CSV?

Google CSV uses UTF-8 encoding and numbered column headers like Phone 1, Phone 2. Outlook CSV uses system default encoding and named headers like Business Phone, Mobile Phone. Always choose the format that matches your target platform to avoid import errors and character corruption.

How to convert multiple VCF files into one CSV?

If you have dozens of individual VCF files, first merge them into a single VCF by opening a text editor and pasting the contents of all files together (each contact block from BEGIN:VCARD to END:VCARD). Then convert the merged file using any method above. Alternatively, a desktop converter tool can import an entire folder of VCF files and export them as a single CSV in one step. For detailed merging instructions, see our guide on splitting and merging VCF files.

Why are special characters wrong after conversion?

This is almost always an encoding mismatch. If the VCF uses quoted-printable encoding and the converter does not decode it, you get garbled text like M=C3=BCller instead of Muller. Use Google Contacts (which decodes automatically) or convert the VCF to UTF-8 in a text editor before running the conversion.

How do I convert VCF to CSV for Outlook import?

The most reliable path is: import VCF into Google Contacts, export as Outlook CSV, then use Outlook’s File, Open and Export, Import/Export, Import from another program, Comma Separated Values to import the CSV. This gives you properly structured columns that match what Outlook expects. For the complete process of getting contacts into Outlook, Microsoft’s support article walks through each step.

Can I convert VCF to CSV on my phone?

Yes. On Android, apps like vCard Converter handle the conversion. On iPhone, there is no built-in method, but you can use the Google Contacts web method in Safari or Chrome on your phone. Upload the VCF, export as CSV, and download the result.

Is it safe to use online VCF to CSV converters?

It depends on the tool. Some browser-based converters process files entirely in your browser without uploading data to a server. Others upload your file for server-side processing. For contacts containing personal phone numbers, emails, and addresses, choose a converter that explicitly states local processing. If privacy is critical, use an offline method like a desktop tool or the Python script.

Conclusion

Last verified: February 2026. All methods tested on Windows 11, macOS Sonoma and Chrome 122. Google Contacts export steps confirmed against the current Google Contacts web interface.

Converting a VCF file to CSV is a necessary step whenever you need to move contacts from phones, email clients, or cloud platforms into spreadsheets, CRMs or business tools. The five methods covered in this guide handle every scenario, from a quick free conversion via Google Contacts to automated bulk processing with Python.