GeoJSON is a modern format for web GIS and APIs, while Shapefile is the classic desktop GIS standard. The choice depends on where you'll use the data.
| Criteria | GeoJSON | Shapefile |
|---|---|---|
| Web compatibility | ✓ | ✗ |
| Desktop GIS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Single file | ✓ | ✗ |
| Big data performance | ✗ | ✓ |
| Human-readable | ✓ | ✗ |
For web apps, APIs, Leaflet/Mapbox/OpenLayers, processing in Python/JS.
For ArcGIS, QGIS, government systems, large datasets, legacy workflows.