How to use the Text Compare
- Paste the original text on the left.
- Paste the changed text on the right.
- Click Compare.
- Review highlighted differences; changed words within lines are marked too.
Example
| Input | Original: “red apple” · Changed: “green apple” |
|---|---|
| Result | Line marked as changed, “red” → “green” highlighted |
How the comparison works
Paste the original on the left and the changed version on the right, then click Compare. The tool lines the two texts up and highlights what is different: lines that were added, lines that were removed, and lines that changed. Inside a changed line, the individual words that differ are marked as well, so you can see exactly what was edited.
Reading the results
- Added text appears only in the changed version, and removed text only in the original.
- A changed line shows both versions, with the differing words highlighted.
- Switch between Side by side and Inline views depending on how much you need to see at once.
- Tick “Only show changed lines” to hide everything that stayed the same in long documents.
Options that reduce noise
- Ignore case: treats “Hello” and “hello” as the same.
- Ignore whitespace: skips differences caused only by extra spaces or tabs.
These are useful when a document was reformatted but the wording did not change.
What people compare
- Two drafts of an essay, article or contract to see what an editor changed.
- Configuration files or code snippets before and after an edit.
- Versions of copy for a website, an email or an ad.
- Text you copied from the web against the original, to check for changes.
Choosing the right comparison tool
For a classic diff with context lines that you can copy or download as a .diff file, use the Text Diff Checker. To compare word by word or character by character, try the Word Difference Checker. If you only want to know how alike two texts are, the Text Similarity Checker gives a percentage, and for lists of items the Compare Lists shows what is unique and what is shared.
Tips for an accurate comparison
- Paste both versions in the same format. Comparing text copied from a formatted document with plain text can show differences you cannot see, such as curly versus straight quotation marks.
- Use “Ignore whitespace” when a file was re-indented or copied with trailing spaces, so that only real wording changes are highlighted.
- For long documents, compare one chapter or section at a time and use “Only show changed lines”.
- Swap the two boxes if you pasted them the wrong way round. Added and removed text will switch places.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see only the lines that changed?
Yes. Tick “Only show changed lines” to hide unchanged lines, and switch between side-by-side and inline views. You can also open or drop files instead of pasting.
Is my text uploaded?
No. The comparison runs entirely in your browser, so it is safe to compare private documents.
Can I ignore whitespace or case?
Yes. Use the options to ignore letter case and differences in spacing.
Can I compare files instead of pasting?
Yes. Use “Open file” above either box, or drag and drop a text file. Plain text, Markdown, CSV, JSON, HTML and similar files up to 5 MB are supported.
What if the two texts are very long?
It works on long documents, and “Only show changed lines” keeps the result short. Very large inputs may take a moment on slower devices.