The Best WinMerge AlternativesTop Diff Tools & File Comparison Tools like WinMerge

WinMerge is described as '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' and is a leading Diff Tool in the file management category. There are more than 50 alternatives to WinMerge for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and BSD apps. The best WinMerge alternative is Meld, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like WinMerge are Beyond Compare, KDiff3, P4Merge and Araxis Merge.

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WinMerge alternatives are mainly Diff Tools, but if you're looking for File Comparison Tools or Merge File Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Mac, Linux, Mac + Free and Mac + Open Source. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to WinMerge.
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Alternatives list

  1. Meld icon

    Meld

     422 likes
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    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.

    52 Meld alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Python
    • GTK
    File comparison
     
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    4
    67
    Comments about Meld as an Alternative to WinMerge
    Guest
    Positive
    2

    compares three files. it can not only compare three directories but also merge them!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    redtrillix
    Positive
    0

    Its a very nice looking app and it is compatible with a lot of OS's and is FOSS.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Very good alternative to WinMerge on linux

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 4 comments
    WinMerge Icon
    Meld icon

    • Most users think Meld is a great WinMerge alternative.

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

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

    • Meld is Free and Open SourceWinMerge is also Free and Open Source
    • Meld is LightweightWinMerge is not according to our users
  2. Beyond Compare icon

    Beyond Compare

     327 likes
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    File and folder comparison tool offering source control integration, 3-way merge support, and selective synchronization. Supports FTP, cloud, runs offline, uses simple commands for files, customization, and scripting for reporting. Lightweight, portable with CLI and built-in viewer.

    70 Beyond Compare alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Folder compare
     
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    4
    34
    Comments about Beyond Compare as an Alternative to WinMerge
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Payed. WinMerge is free as in free beer.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Everything included for comparison between folders and across files including line by line cross check

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    chuckh
    Positive
    0

    Very slick; intuitive. I far prefer the side-by side layout to the Winmerge layout, and given the amount I use it am happy to pay.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 4 comments
    WinMerge Icon
    Beyond Compare icon

    • Most users think Beyond Compare is a great WinMerge alternative.

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

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

    • Beyond Compare is Paid and ProprietaryWinMerge is Free and Open Source
    • Beyond Compare is LightweightWinMerge is not according to our users
  4. KDiff3 icon

    KDiff3

     118 likes
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    KDiff3 is a file and directory diff and merge tool.

    60 KDiff3 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • KDE Plasma
    KDiff3 screenshot 1
     
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    3
    10
    Comments about KDiff3 as an Alternative to WinMerge
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Lightweight, good 3 ways merge with 4 sub-windows. Really really visualization. I love it, it works from Linux, Windows to Mac.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    solid cross platform utility

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    does not diff files (checksum)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    WinMerge Icon
    KDiff3 icon

    • Most users think KDiff3 is a great WinMerge alternative.

    • KDiff3 is Free and Open SourceWinMerge is also Free and Open Source
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    Screenshot
    Code Compare icon
    Code Compare

    Free file and folder merge tool providing two-way comparison, Visual Studio and Atmel Studio integration, enhanced folder sync, syntax highlighting, batch operations, Intellisense, navigation by change type, command line support,...

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  6. P4Merge icon

    P4Merge

     27 likes
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    P4Merge uses color coding to allow users to visualize the differences between file or images. It allows three-way merging among files, and shows side-by-side file/image comparison.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    P4Merge screenshot 1
     
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    2
    Comments about P4Merge as an Alternative to WinMerge
    teknopaul23
    Positive
    0

    Very good tool IMHO: I have been using it for years, both as a visual diff and it integrates well as a 3 way merge tool for version control systems not just perforce, e.g. git , svn, bzr. Which is its primary purpose. AFAIK its QT based, only ugly if you think QT is. Default UI uses RedHat default laf, and Crystal icons from Everaldo

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Can not compare directories. Ugly as hell.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    WinMerge Icon
    P4Merge icon
    • P4Merge is Free and ProprietaryWinMerge is Free and Open Source
  7. Araxis Merge icon

    Araxis Merge

     43 likes
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    Merge is the visual file comparison (diff), merging and folder synchronization application from Araxis. Use it to compare and merge source code, web pages, XML and other text files with native application performance.

    62 Araxis Merge alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Overview
     
  8. WinMerge 2011 icon

    WinMerge 2011

     30 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • PortableApps.com
    • Wine
    WinMerge 2011 screenshot 1
     
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    1
    16
    Comments about WinMerge 2011 as an Alternative to WinMerge
    samzqca
    Positive
    -1

    It's the same original winmerge

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    WinMerge Icon
    WinMerge 2011 icon

    • Almost everyone thinks WinMerge 2011 is a great WinMerge alternative.

    • WinMerge 2011 is Free and Open SourceWinMerge is also Free and Open Source
  10. Diffinity icon

    Diffinity

     23 likes
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    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.

    47 Diffinity alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Diffinity screenshot 1
     
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    11
  11. Meld for OSX icon

    Meld for OSX

     11 likes
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    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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Meld for OSX screenshot 1
     
  12. WinMerge JP icon

    WinMerge JP

     15 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Differential indication.
     
  13. SemanticDiff icon

    SemanticDiff

     6 likes
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    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.

    53 SemanticDiff alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Moved code blocks are highlighted.
     

    • SemanticDiff is the most popular Web-based alternative to WinMerge.

    • SemanticDiff is Free and ProprietaryWinMerge is Free and Open Source
    • SemanticDiff is LightweightWinMerge is not according to our users
  15. UltraCompare icon

    UltraCompare

     6 likes
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    UltraCompare Professional is folder/file compare utility loaded with features to enable you to compare text files and folders, word documents, and even zip files and jar archives. UltraCompare includes text compare, binary file compare with the capability to merge differences...

    17 UltraCompare alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    UltraCompare screenshot 1
     
12 of 69 WinMerge alternatives