How to use the text compare tool
- Paste the earlier text (original) in the left box and the changed text (revised) in the right box. If you are new, press Sample to see how it looks.
- Pick the compare unit. Use Lines for documents or code, Words to see changed expressions inside sentences, and Characters to find typos.
- Red is what disappeared and green is what is new. The summary on top shows how many items were added or removed and how much stayed the same.
- For long texts, turn on Changed lines only to fold identical lines and see just the areas around changes. Press Copy result if you need the output.
How differences are found
The tool finds the longest run of text that stays the same in both and marks everything in between as removed or added. It is the same kind of calculation widely used by line comparison programs, so one short edit does not make every following line look different, and it points exactly at what changed.
The comparison happens only inside this page and the text never leaves your device. Drafts of contracts, manuscripts and meeting notes that should not go out can be compared with peace of mind. You can also use it just to check quickly whether two texts are identical.
When it helps
When merging a document edited by several people, finding who changed what is harder than it seems. This tool shines when you want to see at a glance what differs from the last file you received, when you want to check whether a contract or terms changed quietly, or when you want to compare an essay or manuscript with its earlier version after revising.
It is also handy for code and configuration files. Line mode immediately shows which lines changed, and inside a changed line the differing words are highlighted separately, so a single changed value is not missed. To filter out lines where only the indentation differs, turn on Ignore whitespace.
Character mode is good for names, phone numbers and addresses where a single character matters. Finding the difference between two similar-looking sentences by eye is tiring and error-prone, but color marking finishes the job in seconds.
Writers benefit too. Comparing before and after editing shows what you cut and what you added, helping you check whether the flow improved. You can also place a translation next to the original and skim for missing sentences.
Tips for accurate comparison
- If the two texts use different line breaks, every line looks different. If line mode seems odd, switch to word mode.
- If leading or trailing spaces got mixed in while copying, turn on Ignore whitespace.
- If you do not care about English capitalization, turn on Ignore case.
- Putting original and revised in the wrong boxes swaps the add and remove colors. Use Swap to flip them back.
- For long texts, Changed lines only makes skimming much faster.
FAQ
How do lines, words and characters differ?
Line mode treats each whole line as one unit and shows which lines changed; within a changed line, the changed words are also highlighted. Word mode finds changed words inside sentences, and character mode finds even a single-letter typo.
What do the colors mean?
Red is text only in the original that is gone from the revision, and green is text newly added in the revision. Parts with no color are the same in both.
What if only trailing spaces or indentation differ?
Turn on Ignore whitespace to treat runs of spaces and spaces at line edges as the same. This helps filter out code where only the indentation changed.
Can very long texts be compared?
A few thousand lines are fine. If the two texts are almost entirely different and the differences exceed a few thousand places, part of it is shown as fully replaced to limit computation.
Is my pasted text saved?
No. It is neither sent to a server nor kept in your browser. Even sensitive texts such as contracts or manuscripts are compared only on this device.
Notes & limitations
This tool compares the shape of the text only and does not judge whether content is right or what it means legally. Always check the original for contracts and terms. Pasted text is processed only in your browser and is never sent or stored. BTSPACE WAGLE is an unofficial information site. To count characters, also try the Character Counter.