File Compare Tool

Compare two text files and highlight differences — upload or paste content directly

What Is File Comparison?

File comparison (file diffing) analyzes two text files and identifies every difference between them: lines that were added, lines that were removed, and lines that were modified. The comparison produces a visual report where changes are highlighted in context, making it easy to see exactly what is different between two versions of a file. This works for any text-based format: source code, configuration files, CSV data, log files, documentation, and plain text.

File comparison is a broader use case than code diffing — it covers comparing log files from two different time periods, verifying that data exports match expected output, auditing configuration changes between environments, checking that document revisions contain the intended modifications, and reconciling data files from different sources. Any situation where you need to answer the question of what changed between two versions of a text file is a file comparison task.

How to Compare Two Files

1. Upload your first file or paste its contents into the left panel
2. Upload your second file or paste its contents into the right panel
3. The diff engine compares both files and highlights all differences
4. Scroll through the results — additions in green, deletions in red, changes in yellow
5. Use navigation arrows to jump between changes without scrolling through identical sections

Why Use PinusX File Compare?

PinusX compares your files with 100% client-side processing. Both files are read locally in your browser using the File API and compared using JavaScript — nothing is uploaded to any server. This is critical when comparing sensitive files: configuration files with credentials, data exports with customer information, log files with system details, or any proprietary documents. In November 2025, jsonformatter.org leaked over 80,000 user credentials from server-side processing. PinusX eliminates this risk by keeping all file data in your browser tab throughout the entire comparison process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file types can I compare?

Any text-based file: .txt, .json, .yaml, .xml, .csv, .tsv, .md, .html, .css, .js, .py, .java, .go, .rs, .sh, .sql, .log, .env, .ini, .cfg, and more. The tool reads files as text and compares them line by line. Binary files (images, PDFs, executables) are not supported since they require specialized comparison tools.

How large a file can I compare?

Since processing is client-side, you can compare files up to several megabytes each. Both files need to fit in browser memory simultaneously. For typical development workflows — configuration files, source code, data exports under 5MB — the comparison is instant. Very large files (50MB+) may require more processing time.

Can I compare files with different line endings?

Yes. The tool normalizes line endings (CRLF, LF, CR) before comparison so that files from Windows (CRLF) and Unix/Mac (LF) systems are compared by content rather than flagging every line as different due to line ending style. You can optionally show line ending differences if needed.

Can I save or share the diff results?

You can copy the diff output or take a screenshot. Since all processing is client-side, there is no server-generated shareable link. This is by design — your file contents remain on your device and are never stored on any server. For sharing, copy the relevant diff sections into your communication tool.

Your data never leaves your browser. 100% client-side processing.