Free Online Folder Compare Tool

Compare two folders and see what changed

Two folders that should be the same, but somehow aren't. A backup next to the original. Last week's version of a project next to today's. The folder on your laptop next to the copy on a USB stick. Folder Compare puts them side by side and shows you in a few seconds which files were added, which were removed and which were changed. No more clicking through both folders and hoping you spot the difference.

How to compare two folders

1. Pick two folders - choose one on the left and one on the right, or simply drag them onto the boxes.
2. Click Compare - both folders are read and lined up in two file trees, row by row.
3. Spot the differences - a file that only exists on the left turns red, a file that only exists on the right turns green, and changed files get their own label. Folders with differences open by themselves, and a closed folder tells you how many changes are inside.
4. Open a file - click a changed file to see both versions next to each other, with every changed line and character highlighted.

Changed something in the meantime? One click on Compare again and you're looking at the new situation.

Your files stay on your computer

Most online tools want you to upload your files first. Folder Compare doesn't. It reads the folders straight from your own disk, inside the browser tab, and nothing is sent to a server. There's no account to create and nothing to install. That makes it just as safe for client work or private photos as for a folder full of game sprites.

What makes it handy

• Exact results - files are compared byte by byte, not by date. A fresh copy gets new dates, but if the content is the same, Folder Compare tells you it's the same.
• Side-by-side diff - read changes in text and code files line by line and jump from one change to the next. Different line endings or extra spaces don't get in the way.
• Images too - changed images are shown next to each other, so you can see what's different.
• Filters - show only the changed files, or only what's missing on one side, or search for a path.
• Skip the clutter - folders like .git and node_modules and files like .DS_Store are ignored. Add your own names or * patterns to the list.
• Recent comparisons - Folder Compare remembers your folders, so you can run the same check again later with a single click.

When to use it

• Checking if a backup or a copy to an external drive is complete
• Finding missing files after moving or syncing a folder
• Seeing what changed between two versions of a project
• Digging through old projects that never made it into version control

Frequently asked questions

Is Folder Compare free?

Yes. It's free to use, without an account and without a limit on the number of comparisons.

Are my files uploaded?

No. Everything happens in your browser, on your own computer. Your files never leave your machine.

Which browsers and systems does it work on?

Folder Compare works in Chrome, Edge and Opera on a computer, on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chromebook. Safari and Firefox can't open folders from your disk yet, and neither can browsers on phones.

Can it handle big folders?

Yes. Files with a different size are marked as changed right away, without reading them. Files over 25 MB are skipped, with a button to compare them anyway.

Is this an alternative to WinMerge or Beyond Compare?

For finding out what's different between two folders: yes, and without installing anything. Folder Compare doesn't copy or merge files between the two sides, so if you need that, a desktop program is still your friend.

Give it a try above. Missing something? Let us know in the comments below, we'd love to hear what you're comparing!