Beyond Compare AlternativesOnly Free apps categorised as Diff Tools

If that doesn't work for you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Beyond Compare, but unfortunately only zero of them are free Diff Tools. If you can't find an alternative you can try to remove all filters.

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Beyond Compare alternatives are mainly Diff Tools but may also be File Comparison Tools or Folder Comparison Tools.  Other popular filters includes Mac + Open Source and Linux + Open Source and Online + Free + Diff Tool. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Beyond Compare.
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Compares files with source control integration, supports FTP and cloud storage, offers 3-way merge, and uses commands to manage syncs and differences.

More about Beyond Compare
Beyond Compare alternatives page was last updated Feb 13, 2025
  1. Meld icon
     412 likes

    Meld is an open-source, Python-based visual diff and merge tool that allows you to compare and edit files, supports syntax highlighting, and integrates with version control systems like CVS, Subversion, and Mercurial for dynamic diff updates. It works offline, is lightweight, portable, and ad-free.

    46 Meld alternatives
    File comparison

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Python
    • GTK

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Compare Source Code
    2.  Folder Comparison
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Comparing folders
    5.  3 way merge
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  No registration required
    9.  One-click merging
    10.  Real Time Comparison
    11.  Portable
    Meld iconBeyond Compare Icon

    Meld VS Beyond Compare

    Is Meld a good alternative to Beyond Compare?
     
    Comments about Meld as an Alternative to Beyond Compare
     
       
    Guest

    Free. but it lacks FTP compare function

    Top positive commentDec 8, 2016
    6
    Guest

    Cannot be added to context menu. Sometimes folder comparison doesn't work. Says empty folder.

    Top negative commentApr 6, 2018
    6
    Guest

    I work on Linux Mint and Meld work fine for me

    Positive commentJan 5, 2025
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 5 comments
    Beyond Compare Icon
    Meld icon
    • Most users think Meld is a great Beyond Compare alternative.

    • Meld is the most popular Windows & Linux alternative to Beyond Compare.

    • Meld is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Beyond Compare.

    • Meld is Free and Open SourceBeyond Compare is Paid and Proprietary
    • Meld is LightweightBeyond Compare is not according to our users
  2. WinMerge icon
     547 likes

    WinMerge is an open source differencing and merging tool for Windows. WinMerge can compare both folders and files, presenting differences in a visual text format that is easy to understand and handle.

    62 WinMerge alternatives
    File Comparison

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • Wine

    WinMerge Features

    1.  Folder Comparison
    2.  Diff detection
    3.  Image-Diff
    4.  Shell integration
    5.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Portable
    8.  Directory sync
    9.  Compare Text
    WinMerge iconBeyond Compare Icon

    WinMerge VS Beyond Compare

    Is WinMerge a good alternative to Beyond Compare?
     
    Comments about WinMerge as an Alternative to Beyond Compare
     
    Guest

    doesnt even show text differences

    Negative commentAug 10, 2020
    -3
    Guest

    It's does most of what BC does.

    Positive commentNov 12, 2015
    -5
    Beyond Compare Icon
    WinMerge icon
    • Most users think WinMerge is a great Beyond Compare alternative.

    • WinMerge is Free and Open SourceBeyond Compare is Paid and Proprietary
  3. KDiff3 icon
     117 likes

    KDiff3 is a file and directory diff and merge tool.

    54 KDiff3 alternatives
    KDiff3 screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    KDiff3 Features

    1.  3 way merge
    2.  Side-by-Side Comparison
    3.  Text Wrapping
    KDiff3 iconBeyond Compare Icon

    KDiff3 VS Beyond Compare

    Is KDiff3 a good alternative to Beyond Compare?
     
    Comments about KDiff3 as an Alternative to Beyond Compare
     
       
    Guest

    As BC and unlike Meld, it align changes by adding lines, which is a key feature to visually compare code. Meld explicitly states it does not do that. kdiff3 also supports multiple platforms (as stated). Unfortunately, it does not support on-click line/block merging (merge from side to side visually) like Meld or BC.

    Positive commentJan 10, 2017
    3
    Guest

    Who pays for software in 2023? Only iLuddites. This type of software is done. New “features” nowadays are merely capitalist job creation schemes. Failing attempts to justify still taking money for an abundant resource.

    Positive commentNov 12, 2023
    0
    Guest

    its got lovely windows context menu file comparison option. it gets my vote.

    Positive commentJun 21, 2020
    0
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    3 of 4 comments
    Beyond Compare Icon
    KDiff3 icon
    • Most users think KDiff3 is a great Beyond Compare alternative.

    • KDiff3 is the most popular Mac alternative to Beyond Compare.

    • KDiff3 is Free and Open SourceBeyond Compare is Paid and Proprietary
  4. Diffinity icon
     23 likes

    Diffinity is a diff and merging tool with focus on accurate and easy to read source code diffs. It will compare the content of two files and present the differences in an easy to read line by line and char by char basis.

    42 Diffinity alternatives
    Diffinity screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Diffinity Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2.  Portable
    3.  Readability
    4.  XAML
    Diffinity iconBeyond Compare Icon

    Diffinity VS Beyond Compare

    Is Diffinity a good alternative to Beyond Compare?
     
  5. Meld for OSX icon
     11 likes

    Meld is a visual diff and merge tool targeted at developers. Meld helps you compare files, directories, and version controlled projects. It provides two- and three-way comparison of both files and directories, and has support for many...

    41 Meld for OSX alternatives
    Meld for OSX screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Portable
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    Meld for OSX iconBeyond Compare Icon

    Meld for OSX VS Beyond Compare

    Is Meld for OSX a good alternative to Beyond Compare?
     
  6. DiffMerge icon
     39 likes

    DiffMerge is a graphical file comparison program for Windows, Mac OS X and Unix, published by SourceGear.

    50 DiffMerge alternatives
    DiffMerge screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    DiffMerge Features

    1. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    2. Git icon  Git Support
    3.  Support for Unicode
    4.  Side-by-Side Comparison
    Discontinued

    The program is no longer updated. Last version, 4.2.0, released in October 2013, can be still downloaded from the official website

    DiffMerge iconBeyond Compare Icon

    DiffMerge VS Beyond Compare

    Is DiffMerge a good alternative to Beyond Compare?
     
  7. Riff icon
     3 likes

    A diff filter highlighting which parts of lines have changed.

    32 Riff alternatives
    Riff screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Riff Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Rust
    Riff iconBeyond Compare Icon

    Riff VS Beyond Compare

    Is Riff a good alternative to Beyond Compare?
     
  8. xxdiff icon
     1 like

    xxdiff is a QT based graphical file and directories comparator and merge tool. It provides comparing two files, three files.

    39 xxdiff alternatives
    xxdiff screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    xxdiff Features

    1.  Visual Comparison
    xxdiff iconBeyond Compare Icon

    xxdiff VS Beyond Compare

    Is xxdiff a good alternative to Beyond Compare?
     
8 of 8 Beyond Compare alternatives