WinDiff AlternativesDiff Tools & File Comparison Tools like WinDiff

WinDiff is described as 'Graphical file-comparison program published by Microsoft (from 1992[1]), and is distributed with certain versions of Microsoft Visual Studio as well as in source-code form with the Platform SDK code samples' and is a Diff Tool in the development category. There are more than 10 alternatives to WinDiff for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and PortableApps.com apps. The best WinDiff alternative is WinMerge, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like WinDiff are Beyond Compare, SemanticDiff, Diffchecker and Compare.

filter to find the best alternatives

WinDiff alternatives are mainly Diff Tools but may also be File Comparison Tools or Folder Comparison Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of WinDiff.
WinDiff iconWinDiff
  3
  • ...

WinDiff is a graphical file-comparison program published by Microsoft (from 1992[1]), and is distributed with certain versions of Microsoft Visual Studio as well as in source-code form with the Platform SDK code samples.

More about WinDiff
WinDiff alternatives page was last updated Feb 15, 2023
  1. WinMerge icon
     546 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.  Ad-free
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Portable
    8.  Directory sync
    9.  Compare Text
    WinMerge iconWinDiff Icon

    WinMerge VS WinDiff

    Is WinMerge a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
    • Most users think WinMerge is a great WinDiff alternative.

    • WinMerge is the most popular Windows alternative to WinDiff.

    • WinMerge is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to WinDiff.

    • WinMerge is Free and Open SourceWinDiff is Free and Proprietary
  2. Beyond Compare icon
     318 likes

    Easily compare files and folders on FTP, local and cloud storage with source control integration and 3-way merge support.

    63 Beyond Compare alternatives
    Folder compare

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Folder Comparison
    2.  File Sync
    3.  Folder Sync
    4.  Support for FTP
    5.  Syntax Highlighting
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Portable
    8.  Full-Text Search
    9.  Built-in viewer
    10.  Command line interface
    11.  Selective Synchronization
    12. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    Beyond Compare iconWinDiff Icon

    Beyond Compare VS WinDiff

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

    Intuitive interface many options for looking at the data such that it makes sense to the end user, easy to determine the next step for the user based on their initial objective. I love the drag and drop from either side to the other and the way it displays the status of the job in real time.

    Positive commentMar 14, 2019
    0
    WinDiff Icon
    Beyond Compare icon
    • Beyond Compare is the most popular Mac & Linux alternative to WinDiff.

    • Beyond Compare is the most popular commercial alternative to WinDiff.

    • Beyond Compare is Paid and ProprietaryWinDiff is Free and Proprietary
    • Beyond Compare is LightweightWinDiff is not according to our users
  3. SemanticDiff icon
     5 likes

    SemanticDiff is a programming language aware diff for Visual Studio Code and GitHub. It helps software developers understand code changes faster by hiding irrelevant changes, detecting moved code, and highlighting refactorings.

    46 SemanticDiff alternatives
    Moved code blocks are highlighted.

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1. Git icon  Git Support
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Portable
    6.  VSCode
    7.  Compare Source Code
    8.  Side-by-Side Comparison
    9.  Text Wrapping
    10. GitHub icon  GitHub Integration
    11.  Version Control Integration
    SemanticDiff iconWinDiff Icon

    SemanticDiff VS WinDiff

    Is SemanticDiff a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
    • SemanticDiff is the most popular Web-based alternative to WinDiff.

    • SemanticDiff is Free and ProprietaryWinDiff is also Free and Proprietary
    • SemanticDiff is LightweightWinDiff is not according to our users
  4. Diffchecker icon
     15 likes

    Diffchecker Pro enables you to compare various types of content, on your desktop or directly in the browser.

    49 Diffchecker alternatives
    Compare text

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online

    Diffchecker Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Syntax Highlighting
    4.  Image Comparison
    5.  Compare Text
    Diffchecker iconWinDiff Icon

    Diffchecker VS WinDiff

    Is Diffchecker a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
  5. Compare icon
     37 likes

    Comparison plugin for Notepad++ editor.

    55 Compare alternatives
    Settings

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Notepad++

    Compare Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Side-by-Side Comparison
    Discontinued

    Last commit in 2017.

    Compare iconWinDiff Icon

    Compare VS WinDiff

    Is Compare a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
  6. GNU Diff Utilities icon
     8 likes

    GNU Diffutils is a package of several programs related to finding differences between files.

    57 GNU Diff Utilities alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    GNU Diff Utilities iconWinDiff Icon

    GNU Diff Utilities VS WinDiff

    Is GNU Diff Utilities a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
  7. mergely icon
     15 likes

    Merge is an online merge and diff tool that allows you to share and save your documents.

    25 mergely alternatives
    mergely screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    mergely iconWinDiff Icon

    mergely VS WinDiff

    Is mergely a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
  8. DirEqual icon
     3 likes

    DirEqual is a Folder Compare Tool that makes it extremely easy to compare local files and folders on your Mac.

    47 DirEqual alternatives
    DirEqual screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac

    DirEqual Features

    DirEqual iconWinDiff Icon

    DirEqual VS WinDiff

    Is DirEqual a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
  9. WinMerge 2011 icon
     30 likes

    WinMerge 2011 series is a fork of the original WinMerge application that compiles without ATL/MFC dependencies to enable zero-budget developers to build WinMerge from sources using Visual C++ Express editions.

    51 WinMerge 2011 alternatives
    WinMerge 2011 screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • Wine

    WinMerge 2011 Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Support for FTP
    WinMerge 2011 iconWinDiff Icon

    WinMerge 2011 VS WinDiff

    Is WinMerge 2011 a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
  10. WinMerge JP icon
     14 likes

    WinMerge JP is a fork of the original WinMerge, but after 2018 the two are nearly identical. WinMerge JP's features including 3-way compare has been merged into the original.

    51 WinMerge JP alternatives
    Differential indication.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    WinMerge JP Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Compare Source Code
    3.  High-dpi support
    WinMerge JP iconWinDiff Icon

    WinMerge JP VS WinDiff

    Is WinMerge JP a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
  11. AptDiff icon
     2 likes

    AptDiff is a visual text / binary files comparison and merging utility for Windows. It is highly useful for web designers, software developers, and other professionals.

    51 AptDiff alternatives
    Text Files Comparison

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows

    AptDiff Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    2. File Explorer icon  Windows Explorer Extension
    3.  Portable
    4.  Search and Replace
    5.  Compare Text
    6.  Support for Unicode
    Discontinued

    The official website is no longer accessible, but has been archived by Archive.org: https://web.archive.org/web/20150826022017/http://www.code-tools.com/comparetwo.htm

    AptDiff iconWinDiff Icon

    AptDiff VS WinDiff

    Is AptDiff a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
  12. Compare It! icon
     8 likes

    Easily compare and merge text files; compare doc, xls and pdf files; prepare comparison reports and printouts.

    48 Compare It! alternatives
    Compare It! screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Compare It! Features

    1.  Syntax Highlighting
    Discontinued

    The program is no longer updated, but last version, 4.2, released in November 2010, can be still bought from the official website and it's reportedly still working.

    Compare It! iconWinDiff Icon

    Compare It! VS WinDiff

    Is Compare It! a good alternative to WinDiff?
     
12 of 20 WinDiff alternatives