Free Text Diff Checker
Compare two versions of any text or code and see exactly what was added, removed and changed, side by side or inline, down to the word or character.
Text Diff Checker: Compare two versions of any text or code and see exactly what was added, removed and changed, side by side or inline, down to the word or character. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs in your browser. How to use it: 1) paste the original text on the left and the changed text on the right; 2) choose the view, the level of detail and any ignore options; 3) review the highlights and stats, then download the patch if needed. The tool uses the Myers difference algorithm, the same approach behind Git, to find the smallest set of changes that turns the original text into the new one. Removed parts are shown in red and added parts in green.
How the diff checker works
The tool uses the Myers difference algorithm, the same approach behind Git, to find the smallest set of changes that turns the original text into the new one. Removed parts are shown in red and added parts in green.
Three levels of detail
- Lines compares line by line with line numbers. When a line was edited rather than replaced, the changed words inside it are highlighted too.
- Words is best for prose, contracts and web copy.
- Characters catches single letter typos, punctuation and number changes.
Views and options
Side by side shows the two versions in columns. Inline shows one combined list, like a code review. You can ignore whitespace differences such as double spaces or indentation, ignore upper and lower case, and collapse long unchanged parts so you only see the changes with three lines of context.
Stats and export
The summary counts added, removed, changed and unchanged lines (or words and characters) and gives a similarity percentage. You can copy or download a standard unified diff file, which tools such as Git and patch understand.
Limitations
Very large or very different texts can take a few seconds; the comparison stops after 5 seconds and suggests line mode. The similarity score is a simple share of unchanged content, not a plagiarism score. Formatting such as bold text is not compared, only the plain text.
Text Diff Checker FAQs
How do I compare two texts for differences?
Paste the original version into the left box and the new version into the right box, then click Compare texts. Removed text is highlighted in red and added text in green. Switch between line, word and character mode to see more or less detail.
Can I ignore spaces and capital letters when comparing?
Yes. Tick Ignore whitespace differences to treat runs of spaces, tabs and indentation as equal, and Ignore upper and lower case to treat Hello and hello as the same. This is useful when comparing code that was reformatted or text that was copied from different sources.
What is a unified diff file?
A unified diff lists the changed lines with a minus for removed and a plus for added lines, plus a few lines of context. Developers share it as a .diff or .patch file, and tools such as Git can apply it to the original file to recreate the new version.
Are my texts saved or uploaded?
No. The comparison runs in your browser and works offline. Nothing is stored after you close the page, so you can safely compare contracts, drafts or code. If you need to keep a record of the changes, download the .diff file.
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