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Compare two PDFs: see what changed

A contract came back from the other side, a form was updated, a report has a new version: what is different? Add the original and the changed PDF and every added, removed and changed word is listed and marked on the pages, side by side. A second view compares how the pages look, which also catches pictures and layout. It all happens in your browser.

Files stay on your device. Free, with no sign-up.

  1. 1Add the original and the changed PDF
  2. 2Adjust
  3. 3Download

    How it works

    1. Add two PDFs: the original first, then the changed one. Use the arrows in the list to swap them.
    2. Read the list of differences, and click one to see it marked on both pages. Switch to "Look of the pages" to compare the pictures and layout.
    3. Press Save the report to download the pages that differ, side by side with the changes marked, and a copy of the changed PDF with the new words highlighted.

    When comparing two PDFs helps

    A rental agreement or loan contract that has come back with "minor changes", a new version of a syllabus or a tender, a form that was updated, a report that was sent twice. Reading both side by side is slow and easy to get wrong; a comparison shows every difference, including the small ones that matter, such as a changed amount, date or clause number.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are my files uploaded anywhere?

    No. Everything happens inside your browser, on your own device. Your files are never sent to a server, and you can confirm that in your browser's network tab. Close the tab and they're gone.

    What is the difference between "Words" and "Look of the pages"?

    Words reads the text of both PDFs and lists what was added, removed or changed, which is what you want for a contract or a report. Look of the pages draws each page of both PDFs and marks where they differ, so it also catches a changed picture, a moved table or a different logo, which have no words to compare. Use both when it matters.

    Which PDF goes first?

    The first is the original and the second is the changed one: additions are what is in the second and not in the first, removals the other way round. If you got them the wrong way round, use the arrows in the file list to swap them.

    Does it work on scanned PDFs?

    Words cannot read a scan, because a scan has no text. "Look of the pages" works on scans, and for a word comparison you can first make each scan searchable with OCR PDF.

    Why does a paragraph that moved show as removed and added?

    The comparison finds the fewest words to add and remove to turn one text into the other. A passage that moved has been taken out of one place and put in another, which is exactly a removal and an addition.

    Why are page numbers ignored?

    A page number in the margin changes whenever pages are added or removed, which would mark every page as different. By default, numbers in the top and bottom margin are left out. Untick the option to include them. You can also ignore capital letters and punctuation.

    What do I get when I save?

    A comparison PDF with a summary page and then each page that differs, original on the left and changed on the right, with the differences marked in red and green. If you leave the option ticked, you also get the changed PDF with the new and changed words highlighted in yellow.

    Can I use a password-protected PDF?

    Not directly. Use Unlock PDF on this site to remove the password (you need to know it), then add the unlocked copy here.

    Is there a file size limit?

    Each file can be up to 100 MB, and up to 300 MB in total. Because the work happens on your device, very large files depend on your available memory. A desktop browser handles them best.

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