Text Compare: Find the Differences Between Two Texts
Text Compare lets you paste two versions of any text side by side and instantly highlights what was added, removed, or changed. Drop the original into one panel and the modified version into the other, and the diff runs on its own as you type.
It is built for anyone who needs to spot exactly what changed between two versions: developers reviewing code or config edits, writers and editors tracking draft revisions, students comparing notes, and QA testers verifying output. You can compare by character, word, or line, view the result in parallel panels or as a unified diff, and ignore case or whitespace when those differences do not matter.
How to Compare Two Texts
Add your text
Type or paste the first version into the Original panel and the second into Modified. You can also use the Paste button, or load a file with the folder icon (up to 5 MB; .txt, .md, .json, .js, .py, .php, .html, .css, .yaml and more). New to the tool? Click Try Example to load sample text with differences.
Choose mode and options
Pick a comparison mode: Word (default) for prose, Line for code or config, or Character for precise edits. Toggle Ignore Case or Ignore Whitespace to focus on meaningful changes, and switch between the side-by-side and inline views.
Review the differences
The comparison runs automatically. Added text is highlighted in green and removed text in red, while the status bar reports whether the texts are identical or how many differences were found. The toolbar counts additions, deletions, and change groups.
Navigate and copy
Use the Previous and Next buttons (or press Ctrl+↑ / Ctrl+↓) to jump between changes; the counter shows your position. When you are done, click Copy Diff to copy the result as a unified diff for sharing or documentation.
Features
Comparison Modes
Compare by Character for precise edits, by Word (default) for documents and articles, or by Line for code and configuration files.
View Modes
See changes in parallel Side by Side panels, or switch to the compact Inline unified diff that shows every change in one column with + and − markers.
Comparison Options
Ignore Case treats upper and lower case as equal, while Ignore Whitespace skips spacing and tab differences so you only see meaningful changes.
Change Navigation
Jump between changes with Previous and Next buttons or the Ctrl+↑ / Ctrl+↓ shortcuts, and watch the counter track your position through every change group.
Synchronized Scrolling
With Sync Scroll on, scrolling one panel scrolls the other in step, keeping corresponding lines aligned through long documents.
Visual Highlighting
Additions appear in green and deletions in red, with color-coded line numbers and a status bar that tells you instantly whether the texts match.
File and Clipboard Input
Load text files directly from your device (.txt, .md, .json, .js, .py, .php, .html, .css, .yaml and more, up to 5 MB) or paste from the clipboard into either panel.
Swap and Copy Diff
Swap the Original and Modified text in one click, or copy the whole comparison as a standard unified diff with + and − prefixes for sharing.
Clear and Try Example
Reset one panel or both to start fresh, or load the built-in sample to see how the comparison works before pasting your own text.
Private and In-Browser
All processing runs locally in JavaScript with nothing uploaded, and your mode and option preferences are remembered in your own browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compare two texts online?
Paste or type the first version into the Original panel and the second into the Modified panel. The comparison runs automatically and highlights the differences. There is nothing to install or sign up for.
How does the tool highlight added versus removed text?
Text added in the Modified version is highlighted in green, and text removed from the Original is highlighted in red. Line numbers are color-coded the same way, and the inline view marks additions with a + and deletions with a −.
Is my text stored or private?
Your text stays private. All processing happens locally in your browser using JavaScript, so nothing is uploaded to a server, stored in a database, or sent to third parties. You can safely compare confidential documents or proprietary code.
Does it compare by word or by character?
You choose. Word mode is the default and works best for documents and articles, Line mode suits code and configuration files, and Character mode finds typos and single-character edits. Switch modes from the toolbar at any time.
Can I see a similarity percentage?
The tool does not show a single similarity percentage. Instead it reports the exact counts of additions, deletions, and change groups, and tells you when the two texts are identical, which gives a precise picture of what differs.
Is there a limit on text or file size?
Pasted or typed text has no fixed limit, though very long documents with thousands of lines may take a moment to process. Files loaded with the folder icon can be up to 5 MB each.
Why are some differences not highlighted?
Check your options. When Ignore Case is on, upper and lower case differences are not flagged, and when Ignore Whitespace is on, spacing differences are skipped. Turn these off to see every difference.
Can I save or share my comparison?
Click Copy Diff to copy the result as a standard unified diff, with additions prefixed by + and deletions by −. You can paste it into emails, documents, or issue trackers.
Does this tool work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, every comparison runs in your browser, so you do not need an internet connection to compare text.
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