Compare PDFs
Put two versions side by side. Inserted, deleted and changed words are highlighted on both, with a change list you can click through and a pixel overlay for scans and drawings.
What Compare PDFs does
Compare PDFs shows what changed between two versions of a document, such as two drafts of a contract. It matches the pages of both files, lists every inserted, deleted and replaced passage, and highlights the changes on both sides.
A visual comparison of the rendered pages catches changes that aren't text, such as moved images or altered drawings.
How to compare two PDFs
- Drop the earlier version under Original and the newer one under Revised.
- Turn on Ignore spacing and line breaks or Ignore upper and lower case if those differences don't matter, then select Compare.
- Go through the change list. Inserted, deleted and changed text is highlighted on both versions; turn on Pixel overlay to see changes that aren't text.
What it compares
| Text changes | Inserted, deleted and changed words, highlighted on both versions, with a change list you can filter and click through. |
|---|---|
| Pages | Pages are matched by content, so added or removed pages are reported as such. |
| Pixel overlay | Rendered pages are compared pixel by pixel and changed areas are tinted. |
| Options | Ignore spacing and line breaks. Ignore upper and lower case. |
Limits
- Scanned PDFs have no text to compare until you run OCR PDF on both versions; the visual comparison still works.
- Formatting-only changes, such as a different font, show up in the visual comparison, not in the text list.
Where your file goes
Both files are compared in this browser tab. Neither document is uploaded.
Questions
Can I compare two versions of a contract?
Yes. Add the earlier and the later version. The change list shows each inserted, deleted or replaced passage with its page in both files.
Does it work if pages were added or removed?
Yes. Pages are matched by their content rather than their number, so an inserted page is reported as added instead of shifting every comparison after it.
Can it compare scanned PDFs?
The visual comparison works on scans. For a text comparison, run OCR PDF on both files first.
Are my documents uploaded to compare them?
No. Text extraction, matching and rendering all run in this browser tab.