CFG vs JSON: Which Should You Use?

Side-by-side comparison of CFG and JSON data formats — features, pros, cons, and conversion options.

Quick Answer

CFG is best for Application configuration files for legacy and Linux daemons. JSON is best for Web APIs, configuration files, and structured data interchange.

Quick Verdict

CFG Best for Application configuration files for legacy and Linux daemons

✓ Trivial to read and edit by hand
✓ Universally used by Linux daemons and applications
✓ Comments and inline documentation supported
✗ No standardized parser — syntax varies

Convert CFG to JSON →

JSON Best for Web APIs, configuration files, and structured data interchange

✓ Native to JavaScript and web APIs
✓ Supports nested and typed data
✓ Universally supported across all languages
✗ No comments allowed

Specs Comparison

Side-by-side technical comparison of CFG and JSON

Feature	CFG	JSON
Category	Data	Data
Year Introduced	1980	2001
MIME Type	text/plain	application/json
Extensions	.cfg, .conf	.json
Binary Efficient	✗	✗
Human Readable	✓	✓
Nested	✗	✓
Plain Text	✓	✓
Schema Support	✗	✓
Streaming	✗	✗
Typed	✗	✓

Pros & Cons

CFG

Pros

✓ Trivial to read and edit by hand
✓ Universally used by Linux daemons and applications
✓ Comments and inline documentation supported

Cons

✗ No standardized parser — syntax varies
✗ Limited nested structure support
✗ Unicode handling depends on the application

JSON

Pros

✓ Native to JavaScript and web APIs
✓ Supports nested and typed data
✓ Universally supported across all languages

Cons

✗ No comments allowed
✗ Verbose for large datasets
✗ No date or binary type

When to Use Each

Choose CFG when...

You need files optimized for Application configuration files for legacy and Linux daemons
Trivial to read and edit by hand
Universally used by Linux daemons and applications

Choose JSON when...

You need files optimized for Web APIs, configuration files, and structured data interchange
Native to JavaScript and web APIs
Supports nested and typed data

How to Convert

Convert between CFG and JSON for free on ChangeThisFile

Convert CFG to JSON Server-side conversion — auto-deleted after processing

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between CFG and JSON?

CFG is best for Application configuration files for legacy and Linux daemons, while JSON is best for Web APIs, configuration files, and structured data interchange. Both are data formats but they differ in compression, compatibility, and intended use cases.

Is CFG or JSON better for data?

It depends on your use case. CFG is better for Application configuration files for legacy and Linux daemons. JSON is better for Web APIs, configuration files, and structured data interchange. Consider your specific requirements when choosing between them.

How do I convert CFG to JSON?

Go to the CFG to JSON converter on ChangeThisFile. Upload your file and the conversion processes on the server, then auto-deletes. It's free with no signup required.

Can I convert JSON to CFG?

Direct conversion from JSON to CFG is not currently supported. Check the conversion pages for available routes using intermediate formats.

Which is smaller, CFG or JSON?

File size varies depending on the content, compression method, and quality settings of each format. In general, lossy formats produce smaller files than lossless ones. Test with your specific files to compare actual sizes.

Does CFG support nested?

No, CFG does not support nested, whereas JSON does. This may be an important factor depending on your use case.

Is CFG or JSON free to use?

Both CFG and JSON are supported file formats that are free to use. You can convert between them for free on ChangeThisFile — server-side conversions are free with no signup required.

Which format is newer, CFG or JSON?

JSON is newer — it was introduced in 2001, while CFG dates back to 1980. Newer formats often offer better compression and features, but older formats tend to have wider compatibility.