Compare Documents
Compare two files line by line or word by word — additions in green, deletions in red.
Use Compare Documents online to see exactly what changed between two versions of a file. Add the original and the revised copy, then read the difference side by side line by line, or as one merged document with the edits marked in place — new content in green, removed content in red.
How to compare documents
- Add the original. Drag the first version onto the Original drop zone, or click to browse for it. PDF, Word, text, Markdown, CSV, HTML, and Excel files are all read for their text.
- Add the revised copy. Drop the second version onto the Revised drop zone. The two files don’t have to be the same format — a PDF can be compared against a Word document.
- Choose a comparison method. Side by side lines the two files up in two columns, line by line. Content merges them into one readable document with the edits in place. Both mark added text green and removed text red.
- Read or download the result. Fold away the unchanged text to jump between edits, or download a plain-text report of every difference. Nothing leaves your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is Compare Documents free?
Yes. Compare Documents is completely free to use, with no sign-up, no watermarks, and no limits on how often you use it.
Is it safe to use Compare Documents?
Yes. Compare Documents runs entirely in your browser, so your document is processed on your own device and isn’t uploaded to a server.
Do I need to install anything or create an account?
No. Compare Documents works in any modern web browser — there’s nothing to download and no account required.
What files can I use with Compare Documents?
Compare Documents accepts documents. Files up to 100 MB are supported.
What’s the difference between the two comparison methods?
Side by side puts the two files in two numbered columns and aligns them line by line, so you can see where each edit falls in the document. Content merges them into a single readable flow with the old wording struck through in red and the new wording in green, which is easier when the text has been rewritten rather than rearranged.
Can I compare a PDF against a Word document?
Yes. Compare Documents reads the text out of each file first, so any two supported formats can be compared with each other — a PDF against a .docx, a Markdown draft against the exported PDF, and so on.
Why does my scanned PDF come up empty?
A scan is a picture of a page, so there is no text to compare. Run it through OCR PDF first to add a text layer, then compare the result.
How is this different from Compare PDF?
Compare PDF looks at the pages as images and highlights anything that moved or looks different, which catches layout and graphics changes. Compare Documents reads the words and reports exactly which text was added, removed, or reworded.