delta

Delta is a command-line pager that makes Git diffs, search results, and blame output easier to scan. It suits developers who work in a terminal and want syntax-aware comparisons without a software fee. The main caveat is that paging depends on a reasonably recent version of less.

Overview

Delta focuses on presenting differences and related command-line output, rather than offering a general-purpose graphical comparison workspace. Its reach beyond Git diffs—to grep, ripgrep JSON, and blame output—makes it a useful choice for developers who move between reviewing changes and searching code in the terminal.

Its MIT license permits use, modification, redistribution, sublicensing, and sale subject to the license conditions. That is a practical fit for personal use as well as team workflows. The trade-off is the less dependency: anyone choosing Delta needs to account for a reasonably recent version of that pager.

Key features

Diffs that make edits easier to locate

Side-by-side views combine line numbers with automatic wrapping, helping keep long lines readable without losing their context. For edits within a line, Delta uses a Levenshtein edit inference algorithm to highlight the changed text. That makes small revisions easier to distinguish from unchanged surroundings, though the presentation is aimed at terminal workflows rather than a standalone visual diff application.

Syntax highlighting uses the themes available with bat, giving users an established set of styles for code. Delta can also highlight grep, git grep, ripgrep, and ripgrep JSON output, which is useful when a developer wants search results to remain readable in the same command-line environment.

Git and surrounding tools

The project documents configuring Delta as Git's pager and interactive diff filter, and using zdiff3 for merge conflicts. Its blame and diff hyperlinks support GitHub, GitLab, SourceHut, and Codeberg, making it easier to move from terminal output to hosted code. Documentation also covers Magit and VS Code, as well as tmux and GNU Screen, so Delta can fit into several common editor and terminal arrangements.

Installation options include executables for Linux glibc, Linux musl, macOS, and Windows, alongside package-manager instructions. The 0.20.0 release adds OSC1717 diff-line metadata support for TUIs such as lazygit, a targeted improvement for users of terminal interfaces that can consume that metadata.

Pricing

Delta is free and open source. The git-delta plan costs nothing and provides MIT-licensed software, installable through a package manager or by downloading an executable. There is no paid tier or trial to weigh against a free-plan cap; the relevant practical requirement is having a reasonably recent less installed.

Platforms

Delta supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its command-line focus makes it most appropriate for users who already work with terminal tools, rather than readers looking for a primarily graphical comparison app.

Who it's for

Choose Delta if you review Git changes in a terminal and want line-level highlighting, syntax themes, and useful coverage of search and blame output without paying for a license. It is also a strong fit for workflows that use supported Git hosting links or the documented editor and terminal integrations. Look elsewhere if you need a pager independent of less or a general-purpose graphical comparison workspace.

Pros and cons

• Broad command-line coverage: highlights Git diffs, blame, grep, and ripgrep output, so it serves more than one review task.
• Useful detail in diffs: side-by-side views, wrapping, line numbers, and within-line change highlighting help clarify what changed.
• Permissive, free license: the MIT terms allow modification and redistribution subject to their conditions, with no software charge.
• Pager dependency: Delta uses less and calls for a reasonably recent version, so it is not self-contained.
• Terminal-oriented scope: its command-line integrations are a strength for terminal users, but it is not positioned as a general graphical diff suite.

Alternatives

Diffchecker is worth considering for a freemium option available on the web as well as Linux, macOS, and Windows; its free Basic plan has limited access to Pro features and some features are constrained by monthly try counts. Its Pro + Desktop plan costs $15 a month.

Diffract is another freemium option with a free plan and trial across Linux, macOS, and Windows. Difftastic is a free, MIT-licensed alternative for readers comparing open-source tools across those same desktop platforms.

KDiff3 is a free, open-source option for Linux, macOS, and Windows. SourceGear DiffMerge is free to use across those platforms. For readers focused on Linux and Windows, Meld is free under GPLv2 or later.

Code Compare offers a free version and a paid Pro tier, with Windows and extension support. Compare Suite is a Windows freemium alternative with a free Light plan for basic file comparison.

For more options, browse Diff and Merge Tools.