JSON vs TOON vs CSV: Which Format Should You Actually Use?

You've probably used JSON andCSV before. Maybe you've heard about TOON and wondered if you should care. The truth is, each format has its place, and picking the right one can save you time, money, and headaches.

In this guide, we'll compare all three formats honestly. No buzzwords, no fluff - just practical advice on when to use what, with real examples and token counts so you can make an informed decision.

The Main Differences (In Plain English)

Let's start simple. Here's what each format is actually good at:

Same Data, Three Different Ways

Let's look at the exact same customer data in all three formats. This is where you really see the differences:

{
  "customers": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "Sarah Mitchell",
      "email": "[email protected]",
      "plan": "Premium",
      "mrr": 299,
      "active": true
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "Michael Chen",
      "email": "[email protected]",
      "plan": "Enterprise",
      "mrr": 999,
      "active": true
    },
    {
      "id": 3,
      "name": "Jennifer Kumar",
      "email": "[email protected]",
      "plan": "Basic",
      "mrr": 99,
      "active": false
    },
    {
      "id": 4,
      "name": "David Park",
      "email": "[email protected]",
      "plan": "Premium",
      "mrr": 299,
      "active": true
    },
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "Emma Wilson",
      "email": "[email protected]",
      "plan": "Basic",
      "mrr": 99,
      "active": true
    }
  ]
}

id,name,email,plan,mrr,active
1,Sarah Mitchell,[email protected],Premium,299,true
2,Michael Chen,[email protected],Enterprise,999,true
3,Jennifer Kumar,[email protected],Basic,99,false
4,David Park,[email protected],Premium,299,true
5,Emma Wilson,[email protected],Basic,99,true

customers[5]{id,name,email,plan,mrr,active}:
  1,Sarah Mitchell,[email protected],Premium,299,true
  2,Michael Chen,[email protected],Enterprise,999,true
  3,Jennifer Kumar,[email protected],Basic,99,false
  4,David Park,[email protected],Premium,299,true
  5,Emma Wilson,[email protected],Basic,99,true

The Honest Feature Breakdown

Here's everything compared side-by-side. I'm being honest here - no format is perfect for everything:

The Token Math (For AI Folks)

If you're working with LLMs, this is the section that'll save you money. Let's look at how token counts scale up:

What This Actually Costs You

Let's translate those token counts into real dollars. Using GPT-4 pricing ($0.01 per 1,000 input tokens), here's what your monthly bill might look like:

So Which One Should You Actually Use?

Here's my honest advice based on real-world use:

My Actual Recommendation

Here's what I'd do if I were you:

Still Confused? Use This Decision Tree

Free Tools to Convert Between Formats

You can switch between these formats anytime. Here are our free converters:

Want to Learn More?

Official Resources & Documentation