SIDETRACK
SIDETRACK is a Windows desktop application for comparing Word documents with Microsoft Word’s comparison engine.
What SIDETRACK is
SIDETRACK is a Windows desktop application for comparing Word documents with Microsoft Word’s comparison engine. It creates a marked-up PDF and an editable redline DOCX, while its Change List identifies change types and page numbers, supports navigation, and allows individual changes to be accepted or rejected. One original can be compared with up to five returned versions, which can then be combined into a redline or clean copy. The maker specifies Windows 10/11 and requires Microsoft Word. Word reflows text PDFs, and local OCR makes scanned, image-only PDFs searchable. A metadata scan checks for personal data, prior authors, custom XML, watermarks, and AI signatures before cleaning a copy. Processing runs on the user’s PC, with documents not uploaded. A 14-day free trial costs nothing. Monthly costs $19.95 a month, and Yearly costs $199.95 a year; each subscription covers one installation.
Good
- Marked-up PDF and redline DOCX
- Compares up to five returned versions
- Individual change acceptance or rejection
- Local OCR for scanned PDFs
- Documents stay on the PC
Watch out
- Requires Windows 10/11
- Requires Microsoft Word
- One installation per subscription
- No free plan after trial
Who it suits
SIDETRACK suits Windows users, especially legal professionals, who compare Word, PDF, and Office documents. It is useful when reviews require navigable changes, redlines, metadata cleanup, and local processing.
Verdict
SIDETRACK focuses on detailed document comparison and review within Microsoft Word on Windows. Its local processing, redline output, and multi-version comparison support structured editing workflows.
Plans and prices
From SIDETRACK's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| 14-day free trial | Free | Full features · no card · no watermark for 14 days · 14 days |
| Monthly | $19.95 a month | Unlimited comparisons · no watermark · free updates · one installation · per month · cancel anytime |
| Yearly | $199.95 a year | Everything in Monthly · one installation · per year · ~2 months free · cancel anytime |
The facts
Each one read from SIDETRACK's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Account requirement
- The maker says no account is required to download and start using the trial.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Change review
- Its Change List shows change types and page numbers, supports navigation, and lets users accept or reject individual changes.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Checkout
- Subscriptions are activated inside SIDETRACK and checkout is handled by PayPal.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Email integration
- SIDETRACK can bundle output files into a prefilled Outlook draft or copy them to the clipboard for sharing elsewhere.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes SIDETRACK as a lightweight desktop tool for lawyers' everyday document comparison and review workflow.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License scope
- One subscription covers one installation.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Local processing
- The maker says SIDETRACK runs on the user's PC and documents are not uploaded.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Metadata cleanup
- A built-in scan checks for personal data, prior authors, custom XML, watermarks, and AI signatures, and can clean a copy.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Multi-reviewer comparison
- SIDETRACK compares one original against up to five returned versions and can combine the edits into a redline or clean copy.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Operating system
- The maker specifies Windows 10/11 and says SIDETRACK requires Microsoft Word.checked 8 Oct 2026
- PDF and OCR
- The maker says Word reflows text PDFs and built-in local OCR makes scanned, image-only PDFs searchable.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- SIDETRACK compares Word documents and creates a marked-up PDF and an editable redline DOCX using Microsoft Word's comparison engine.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Updates
- The maker says the app installs in seconds and updates itself, with free updates included in the Monthly plan.checked 8 Oct 2026
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