Import your data into Neo4j

Neo4j provides different tools for importing data stored in various formats, e.g. .csv, .tsv, and .json. Depending on the kind of data you are working with, there are different options to choose from, as shown in the diagram:

Methods comparison

The following table shows all supported methods for importing data into Neo4j:

Method Description Available on Aura Available on self-managed Supported file formats and data sources

Method	Description	Available on self-managed	Supported file formats and data sources
Import	A service for importing data into your Aura instance.		CSV, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake
Data Importer	UI-based tool for importing flat files into Neo4j.		CSV, TSV
`LOAD CSV`	Cypher^® command to import small- to medium-sized datasets (up to 10 million records) from local and remote files, including from cloud URIs.		CSV
APOC import	A library of user-defined procedures and functions that extends the use of Cypher.		CSV, JSON, XML, XLS
Language libraries	Use Python, Java, JavaScript, Go, .NET, and JCBD to import files.		Language-independent columnar memory format for flat and nested data.
`neo4j-admin database import full`	Initial import into a non-existent empty database.		CSV, Parquet
`neo4j-admin database import incremental`	Used when import cannot be completed in a single full process. It allows the import to be performed as a series of smaller batches.	^[1]	CSV, Parquet
Apache Arrow	Projecting graphs via Apache Arrow allows importing graph data which is stored outside of Neo4j. Apache Arrow is a language-agnostic in-memory, columnar data structure specification.	^[1]	Language-independent columnar memory format for flat and nested data.
Neo4j Connector for Kafka	Stream data between Neo4j and platforms based on Apache Kafka using the Kafka Connect framework.		Language-independent columnar memory format for flat and nested data.
Neo4j Connector for Apache Spark	Process and transfer data between Neo4j and other platforms such as Databricks and several data warehouses.		Language-independent columnar memory format for flat and nested data.
Apache Hop	Open-source tool for enterprise-scale data export and import. Handles a variety of data sources and large data sets easily and organizes the data flow process.		hwf, hpl, JSON, CSV, TXT, XML, Markdown, SVG, Log, SAS 7 BDAT files
Neo4j ETL Tool	Neo4j Labs' interactive tool for the initial import of data from relational database management systems into Neo4j.		CSV
Neosemantics	Neo4j Labs' plugin that enables the use of RDF and its associated vocabularies.	^[1]	RDF, OWL, RDFS, SKOS
Neo4j Migrations	Neo4j Labs' set of tools that provides a uniform way for applications, the command line, and build tools alike to track, manage and apply changes to your database.		See compatibility and features.
1. Enterprise only

Import

A service for importing data into your Aura instance.

CSV, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake

Data Importer

UI-based tool for importing flat files into Neo4j.

CSV, TSV

LOAD CSV

Cypher^® command to import small- to medium-sized datasets (up to 10 million records) from local and remote files, including from cloud URIs.

CSV

APOC import

A library of user-defined procedures and functions that extends the use of Cypher.

CSV, JSON, XML, XLS

Language libraries

Use Python, Java, JavaScript, Go, .NET, and JCBD to import files.

Language-independent columnar memory format for flat and nested data.

neo4j-admin database import full

Initial import into a non-existent empty database.

CSV, Parquet

neo4j-admin database import incremental

Used when import cannot be completed in a single full process. It allows the import to be performed as a series of smaller batches.

^[1]

CSV, Parquet

Apache Arrow

Projecting graphs via Apache Arrow allows importing graph data which is stored outside of Neo4j. Apache Arrow is a language-agnostic in-memory, columnar data structure specification.

^[1]

Language-independent columnar memory format for flat and nested data.

Neo4j Connector for Kafka

Stream data between Neo4j and platforms based on Apache Kafka using the Kafka Connect framework.

Language-independent columnar memory format for flat and nested data.

Neo4j Connector for Apache Spark

Process and transfer data between Neo4j and other platforms such as Databricks and several data warehouses.

Language-independent columnar memory format for flat and nested data.

Apache Hop

Open-source tool for enterprise-scale data export and import. Handles a variety of data sources and large data sets easily and organizes the data flow process.

hwf, hpl, JSON, CSV, TXT, XML, Markdown, SVG, Log, SAS 7 BDAT files

Neo4j ETL Tool

Neo4j Labs' interactive tool for the initial import of data from relational database management systems into Neo4j.

CSV

Neosemantics

Neo4j Labs' plugin that enables the use of RDF and its associated vocabularies.

^[1]

RDF, OWL, RDFS, SKOS

Neo4j Migrations

Neo4j Labs' set of tools that provides a uniform way for applications, the command line, and build tools alike to track, manage and apply changes to your database.

See compatibility and features.

1. Enterprise only

Keep learning

See the Import page for more related links or keep learning using these resources:

Importing Data Fundamentals: An interactive course on the fundamentals of data importing with Neo4j.
Importing CSV data into Neo4j: An interactive course on how to import CSV data into Neo4j using Cypher.
Tutorial: Import data from a relational database: Import relational data into a Neo4j deployment.
How-To: Import CSV data with Neo4j Desktop: Read how to import CSV data using Neo4j Desktop.