18.2
Diffchecker compares text, code, and data, either in a browser or with its desktop app.
Free planiOSWebAPI
Best Diff and Merge Tools in 2026
Diff and merge tools compare files or folders and combine changes; platform support and merge features decide which fit your workflow. Check Android support before choosing: the platform facts here cover Windows, Linux, macOS, web, APIs and extensions. Compare free access, paid pricing, Git integration and syntax highlighting too.
27.3
Free planOpen sourceWebLinuxmacOS
37.3
Code Compare compares and merges files and folders, with structural and lexical source code comparison.
Free planAPIExtensionWindows
- 4
KDiff3
KDiff3 compares two or three files or folders and helps resolve merge conflicts.
Free planOpen sourceLinuxmacOSWindows7.3Free plan - 5
UltraCompare
LinuxmacOSWindows7.1From $99.95 a year - 6
Diffract
Diffract compares code, folders, documents, and binary files, with recursive folder comparisons.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.8$34 one-time - 7
Compare Suite
Compare Suite is a Windows file comparison tool for office professionals, software developers, and webmasters.
Free planWindows6.6$70 one-time - 8
Beyond Compare
Beyond Compare checks folders, text, images, and tables, with filters and text merging.
LinuxmacOSWindows6.4$35 one-time - 9
DeltaWalker
Compares, syncs, and merges files and folders on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with image comparison.
LinuxmacOSWindows6.4$39.99 one-time - 10
Altova DiffDog
Windows app for text, XML, JSON, Word, directory, and database-schema diffs and merges.
Windows6.3$189 one-time - 11
Araxis Merge
Compares, merges, and syncs files and folders on Windows and macOS, including Office, PDF, and RTF text.
macOSWindows6.3$129 one-time - 12
delta
Delta is a free, open-source pager for Git and related command-line output, including diffs, grep, ripgrep JSON and blame.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.3Free plan - 13
DiffMerge
Compares and merges files and folders on Linux, macOS, and Windows with side-by-side change highlights.
LinuxmacOSWindows6.3$30 one-time - 14
Guiffy
Visual source-file diff and merge tool for Linux, macOS, and Windows, supporting 150+ encodings.
LinuxmacOSWindows6.3$24 one-time - 15
Kaleidoscope
macOS app for text, image, and folder diffs, with Git history and conflict-resolution views.
macOS6.3From $8 a year - 16
Meld
Meld is a free visual diff and merge tool for comparing files, folders, and version-controlled projects.
Free planLinuxWindows6.2Free plan - 17
ExamDiff Pro
Windows diff and merge tool for text, binary, folder, Word, Excel, and PDF files.
Windows6.1$37.99 one-time - 18
Mergely
Mergely is a browser-based editor and JavaScript library for comparing and merging text.
Free planWebAPISelf-hosted6.1Free plan - 19
SourceGear DiffMerge
DiffMerge visually compares and edits files, and supports automatic three-way merging when safe.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.1Free plan - 20
Difftastic
Difftastic is a command-line tool that compares code by syntax rather than line by line.
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.0Free plan - 215.9Free plan
- 22
Diffinity
Diffinity is a free Windows utility for comparing and merging text files, with folder comparison for reviewing differences across directories.
Free planWindows5.9Free plan - 23
icdiff
icdiff shows differences between files side by side in a terminal, highlighting small changes within lines.
Free planLinuxmacOS5.9Free plan - 24
Meld
Meld provides two-way and three-way comparison of files and directories, with merge assistance.
Free planLinuxWindows5.9Free plan - 25
Kompare
Kompare graphically compares files or folder contents and can create and apply patches.
Free planLinux5.8Free plan
Choosing well
Which platforms does it need to run on?
Start with the platforms you need: Windows, Linux and macOS appear across the platform data, with web, API and extension options also listed.
Does it offer a free plan or trial?
Choose a tool whose free plan, trial and paid price match your work. Pricing notes include freemium plans, free software, paid starting prices and trial periods.
For example, Diffchecker lists a free plan, $15 per user per month pricing and a 14-day trial; Compare Suite lists a free plan, $70 pricing and a 30-day trial.
Can it compare folders and perform three-way merges?
Check folder comparison and three-way merge support when you work with directories or changes from three versions.
The list compares both capabilities, along with merge scope, so you can match the tool to file-level or broader project work.
Does it support Git and syntax highlighting?
Git integration and syntax highlighting matter when you review source changes. Check both comparison fields before choosing a code-focused tool.
A tool can fit file comparison without covering the Git workflow or language-aware display you need.
Is an open-source licence important?
Check the licence information if you need to read or change the code. Pricing notes identify open-source tools such as KDiff3, delta and Difftastic.
Free access and open-source status are separate checks, so review both before deciding.
Questions people ask
Which diff and merge tools work on Android?
Android support is not included in the platform facts for this list. Check the individual tool page before choosing it for an Android phone or tablet.
What should I compare when choosing a diff tool?
Compare free access, paid pricing, trial terms, three-way merge, folder comparison, Git integration, syntax highlighting, platform support and merge scope.
Are there free diff and merge tools?
Yes. The list includes tools marked with a free plan or free pricing model. Check the pricing note for limits, paid starting prices and trial terms.
Which diff tools support folder comparison?
Folder comparison is one of the fields used for comparison. Check the individual entry to confirm that it matches the directory workflow you need.
Do diff tools support Git integration?
Git integration is a comparison field for this list. Review the individual tool details before relying on it for your Git workflow.