Unlike Diffchecker on the web, since Diffchecker Desktop runs fully on your computer, it doesn’t have to communicate with our servers to create your diffs. KDiff3 is a graphical text difference analyzer for up to 3 input files, provides character-by-character analysis and a text merge tool with integrated editor. It can also compare and merge directories. Download Compare Folders for macOS 10.7 or later and enjoy it on your Mac. Folder comparison for the rest of us: simple, fast and accurate. Compare at a glance two folders, even with thousands of files, taking into account file and subfolders content, creation & modification dates, permissions and more. The missing comparing text tool for Mac, Windows and Linux. My Diff Tool. If you looking for the tool that comparing two of text snippets, that is MyDiffTool. The diff command is available by default on the Mac, and it works the same in Linux and other unix operating systems as well, just in care you were wondering, and for Windows users it’s quite similar to how the ‘fc’ file compare tool works.
- Diff tools for Windows and Mac
A list of tools developed to show changes between two versions of a file: before and after correction.
Using Meld as External Diff and Merge Tool in Source tree in Mac thomas ng Dec 03, 2014 I am trying to set up Meld as the external diff and merge tool in Source tree on my Mac laptop. How can the answer be improved?
Diff tools for Windows and Mac
Students write essays. Developers write code. Authors write stories. Editors write columns. Everyone does their own job. Yet, they are all bound by the same requirement – their job should be presented in a printed format or in soft copies. It is also obligatory that someone should check final texts and correct the mistakes. It might happen that a person who proofreads your paper changes a source text and doesn't mark it in any way. As for developers, they should track any changes all the time to see what’s been modified. The point I'm trying to drive home is that you shouldn't underestimate the programs from the list below, which were developed to show the changes between two versions of a file: before and after correction.
Windows
ExamDiff
If you work on Windows OS, I suggest that you try a trial version of the ExamDiff program. It lets you easily load two versions of the same file to compare them automatically. The tool lets you make visual file comparison and see changes easily since it provides a lot of useful features and operates flawlessly. With this piece of software, there is nothing more convenient to review a document changes or reread code lines.
The program is a great helper for developers since it goes as a part of a suite which also includes FtpVC (a version control system to continue remote software development via the Internet). Among multiple supported options the most remarkable ones are useful Drag&Drop, intuitive Navigation&Search and full customization.
Visual reproduction is the forte of ExamDiff and such-like programs. The well-known UNIX DIFF is the default file format of the tool which lets developers have finger on the pulse of the program functioning process. ExamDiff is a very handy tool, but only if you are hip to programming. If you are interested in more functions, you should acquire the Pro version of the program for $34.99. In case you don't know a thing about that odd word [programming], scroll down to find a tool for ordinary users.
Mac
Kaleidoscope
Mac users and developers are in need of verifying edited texts as well. It wouldn't go amiss to mention that the program can differentiate not only between text files but also between images and folders as well. The website state-of-the-art interface is very impressive since it is designed in a high-tech manner. It's easy to navigate through – I say this as praise for the developer. The file comparison app trial you download from this fantastic website is on a par with it and shows all sides and opportunities of the full app.
The tool's slogan is mainly aimed at developers since it runs as follows: 'Whatever you write, your first draft is never the last. Spot changed text quickly and merge instantly'. Kaleidoscope is really a well-readable diff app. It will surely speed up the checking process and permit you spot the differences without any problems.
What I can say to summarize the aforementioned thoughts is that Kaleidoscope is a perfect app to enhance the workflow. You are offered to buy the full version for $69.99 which is definitely worth trying. In case you don't know a thing about that odd word [workflow], scroll down to find a tool for ordinary users.
Windows&Mac
Araxis Merge
Now, very important information for those who scrolled down to find something worthy. First of all, I'd like to underline that Araxis Merge provides almost endless amount of features not only for developers but also for ordinary users who don't have a knack for programming. That's why I suggest you visit the Araxis Merge official website and read about extra functions by yourself.
The program/app offers a cross-platform license and comparing big files like 100MB and larger. Besides that, it provides you with Retina and archive files support. The Two-way text comparison is for fast identifying removals, changes or insertions. Not only text files may be compared, but different types of images as well (e.g. which pixels have been modified).
As for the syntax modifying, it's automatically highlighted with a built-in mechanism. Use bookmarks or comments to annotate future or supposed changes. The program/app also informs you of the number of changes identified during the scanning process. The last things I'd like to mention are the availability to drag and drop files from your Windows Explorer or OS X Finder and to print final results preserving all important changes and footnotes.
I hope developers had a chance to pick up some useful information while authors have derived some knowledge to diversify and simplify their creative activity.
Author's other posts
Figuring out how a document has changed from one version to another isn’t always the simplest task. It’s further complicated when that document is longer or more complex, like source code.
The tools collected here can help you analyze and compare your documents and files, as well as merge them if necessary. There are tools to compare everything from Word docs to WAV files, and everything in between (including plenty that support syntax highlighting for code). Some are free and some are paid, and there are options available for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.
File and Document Comparison Tools
Beyond Compare lets you easily compare files and folders, including text files (with syntax highlighting for HTML), Word Docs, and PDF files, among others. Available for Windows and Linux for $30 (standard edition) to $50 (pro edition).
Kaleidoscope lets you compare text documents (including source code) and images. It has built-in integration with other programs, and can read .psd, .txt, .png, .jpg, and .html files. Available for Mac OS X for €29.
Workshare Compare is an enterprise-level document comparison tool that lets you compare Word documents and text-based PDFs. You can compare one document to multiple others. It’s available for Windows for $145 for a one-year subscription. There’s also a Basic version for $99/year that only compares Word documents.
Doc-Proof works to compare XML, Word, text, and PDF files. It makes it possible to quickly compare fonts, sizes, deletions, insertions, spelling, and location.
ExamDiff is a freeware visual file comparison tool for Windows. It includes automatic change detection, one-click recompare, drag and drop support, and is fully customizable. There’s also a Pro version with more features for $34.99.
Diff Doc can be used to compare Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, RTF, text, HTML, XML, and other document types. It’s available for Windows.
Compare Suite lets you compare by keyword, compare two folders, ignore certain words, and includes syntax highlighting to make it easier to compare code documents. Compare Suite is available for Windows for $70 for a single user license.
WinMerge is an open source differencing and merging tool for Windows. It shows comparisons visually and makes it easy to merge documents.
Diff Tool For Mac
Araxis Merge is a three-way document comparison, merging, and folder synchronization tool. It can be used to compare source code, web pages, XML, and other text files, as well as Word and Excel documents, PDFs, and RTF files. It’s available for both Windows and Mac OS X for $129 for the Standard version and $269 for the Professional version.
Changes lets you sync folders, compare both code and prose, and even compare right inside a variety of text and code editors (including Coda and TextWrangler). Changes are available for Mac OS X for $49.95 for a single license.
CodeCompare is a source code comparison tool built on the .NET framework that includes support for syntax highlighting, Visual Studio integration, three-way merge, version control integration, and folder synchronization. Basic functionality is free, but there’s also a Pro version for $49.95.
Compare++ has built-in analysis functions for C/C++, C#, Java, CSS3 and more. It’s available for Windows for $29.95 for a single user.
File Comparison Tool Mac
DiffMerge is a free document comparison and merging tool for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It includes full editing support for compared files, and merging for up to three files.
Pretty Diff is a free web app for comparing code, written entirely in JavaScript.
Kompare is a graphical difference viewer that lets you compare two text files It’s included in the KDE Software Development Kit.
UltraCompare is a file and folder compare utility that works for text files, Word documents, zip files, and jar archives. In addition to local/network directory compare, it also supports FTP compare. It’s available for Windows for $49.95.
This is a free, bare-bones, web-based comparison tool. Just enter the master text and the second text and choose whether you want it compared inline or side-by-side.
Diffuse is a free Python text comparison and merge tool for Windows and Linux.
Compare & Merge is a file comparison and merging utility for source code, HTML, XML, and other text-based files. It’s available for Windows for $39.95.
Active File Compare has syntax highlighting support for C++, C#, Java, Visual Basic, HTML, PHP, XML, and many other programming languages. It can also compare files that exist in Zip, Tar, and GZip archives. It’s available for Windows for $15.95 for a business license or $9.95 for a personal license.
Colored Diffs is a Thunderbird plugin for highlighting differences in CVS or SVN email notifications about changes made by other users.
Compare It! lets you compare not only text files, but also binary and image files, and includes an editing engine. It’s available for Windows for $29.
Compare PDF has support for both PDF and text file comparisons. It can be integrated with other software products. Compare PDF is available for Windows for $35 for a single user license.
DiffPDF is a free program that lets you compare two PDF files, with both text and appearance views (to check things like reformatting of a paragraph or if an image is changed). There are versions for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
Meld is a free visual comparison and merging tool for Linux. It allows for comparison of two or three documents, and in-place edits. It also allows folder comparisons.
Files Compare Tool is a visual comparison app for files and directories. It offers color-coded side-by-side comparison and a powerful editing engine.
Quick Diff is a simple, free online comparison tool. Just copy and paste the two bits of text you want to compare, and indicate whether you want it to compare side-by-side or inline.
FourierRocks is a graphical WAV file comparison tool. It’s open source, and works on the .NET framework.
Conclusion
The tools above can be a great way to compare documents and files. But don’t overlook the document comparison tools built into many programs developers and designers already use. Dreamweaver has built-in tools for comparing documents. So does Google Docs. Even WordPress has comparison tools for posts and pages. Leave us a comment and tell us what your favorite comparison tools are?
(rb)