Free WinMerge Alternatives for Windows

There are many alternatives to WinMerge for Windows if you are looking for a replacement. The best free Windows alternative is Meld, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to WinMerge and many of them are free and available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free Windows alternatives to WinMerge are KDiff3, P4Merge, WinMerge 2011 and Diffinity.

filter to find the best alternatives

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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    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. 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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    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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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.
     
  9. 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
  10. Compare icon

    Compare

     37 likes
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    Comparison plugin for Notepad++ editor.

    60 Compare alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Notepad++
    About
     
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    1
    7
    Comments about Compare as an Alternative to WinMerge
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Compares line by line for coding or config files.

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

    • Almost everyone thinks Compare is a great WinMerge alternative.

    • Compare is Free and Open SourceWinMerge is also Free and Open Source
  12. Difftastic icon

    Difftastic

     3 likes
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    Difftastic is a diff tool that compares files based on their syntax. It supports over 20 programming languages and when it works, it's fantastic.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Difftastic screenshot 1
     
  13. ForskScope icon

    ForskScope

     2 likes
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    GUI tool with cross-platform support named after "forske forskjell" (research difference) 🤍

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    ForskScope screenshot 1
     
  14. DiffPlug icon

    DiffPlug

     2 likes
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    DiffPlug is a free text editor/differ and image viewer/differ. Purchasing a license allows you to diff other kinds of files such as Simulink.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    DiffPlug screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about DiffPlug as an Alternative to WinMerge
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Not just Windows. Multiple OS Support. Free & OSS except for the "Matlib" and/or "Simulink" diffs. Free version supports diff for: File, Folder, Archive, Image, GIT, SVN, (maybe more?)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    WinMerge Icon
    DiffPlug icon
    • DiffPlug is Freemium and ProprietaryWinMerge is Free and Open Source
12 of 26 WinMerge alternatives