Araxis Merge
Araxis Merge is a Windows and macOS application for comparing and merging files, plus synchronizing directory trees.
What Araxis Merge is
Araxis Merge is a Windows and macOS application for comparing and merging files, plus synchronizing directory trees. Standard supports two-way comparison and merging; Professional adds three-way comparison and merging. Text comparisons mark changes within lines and allow point-and-click merging and in-place editing. The software extracts text from Microsoft Office, OpenDocument, PDF, and RTF files, but those views do not show layout or formatting. It compares images at pixel level and binary files at byte level. Folder tools compare and synchronize directory trees, with archive comparison on Windows. Named integrations include Git, Mercurial, Subversion, and Perforce; Git and Mercurial plugins provide read-only access to earlier revisions in local repositories, not remote repositories. Command-line and platform-specific automation interfaces are included, along with comparison reports in several formats. Standard costs 129.00 USD once and Professional costs 269.00 USD once; both include one year of support and updates. A fully functional 30-day trial is available, and there is no free plan.
Good
- Compares text, images, binary files, and folders
- Professional includes three-way comparison and merging
- Integrates with Git and other named systems
- 30-day fully functional trial
Watch out
- No free plan
- Standard excludes three-way comparison and merging
- Text document views omit layout and formatting
- Git and Mercurial plugins do not access remote repositories
Who it suits
Merge suits developers, legal and publishing professionals, code reviewers, auditors, and release or quality-control managers. Professional is the relevant edition when three-way comparison and merging are needed.
Verdict
Araxis Merge covers file and folder comparison across Windows and macOS, with edition differences for two-way versus three-way work. Compare the one-time licence costs and scope limits before selecting an edition.
Plans and prices
From Araxis Merge's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $129, paid once | Windows & macOS · two-way comparison and merging · excludes three-way comparison/merging · One-time perpetual licence; includes one year of support and upgrades; optional renewal $29/year |
| Professional | $269, paid once | Windows & macOS · includes three-way comparison and merging · quantity discounts: $239 for 5–19, $219 for 20–99; contact for 100+ · One-time perpetual licence; includes one year of support and upgrades; optional renewal $49/year |
The facts
Each one read from Araxis Merge's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Automation
- Merge includes a command-line interface, a Windows Automation API, a macOS AppleScript API, and a Windows .NET assembly.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Edition limit
- Standard provides two-way comparison and merging; three-way comparison, merging, and related features are Professional-only.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Folder comparison
- It compares and synchronizes directory trees, and supports archive comparison on Windows.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Image and binary comparison
- It compares image files at the pixel level and binary files at the byte level.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The feature list names integrations with editors and version-control or configuration-management systems including Mercurial, Git, Subversion, and Perforce.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Araxis describes Merge as suited to software developers, legal and publishing professionals, code reviewers and auditors, and release and quality-control managers.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Licensing limit
- A standard non-site, non-enterprise licence is needed per machine, with the primary user permitted to use it on up to three additional computers.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Office and document formats
- It extracts and compares text from Microsoft Office, OpenDocument, PDF, and RTF files; document layout and formatting are not shown in text comparisons.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Araxis Merge is a Windows and macOS application for two-way and three-way file comparison, merging, and folder synchronization.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Reports
- File comparison reports can be created in HTML, HTML slideshow, XML, or UNIX diff format, while folder reports can be HTML or XML.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Repository access
- Git and Mercurial plugins provide read-only access to earlier revisions in local repositories; the product page says those plugins do not access remote repositories.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Security update
- Merge 2026.1 removed its own credential store and the Perforce, Subversion, and FTP file-system plugins after Araxis disclosed credential-storage security issues in earlier versions.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- New licences include one year of support and product updates, and renewal after the first year is optional.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Text comparison
- It compares text files, highlights changes within lines, and supports point-and-click merging and in-place editing.checked 8 Oct 2026
The company
- Headquarters
- Isle of Man, British Isleschecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Trial
- The evaluation is fully functional and expires after 30 days.checked 8 Oct 2026
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