The PDF file format has made sending and sharing documents on the web much easier. It also allows users to password protect files and prevent others from making changes to the original document. But how do you compare and find changes made in a PDF file when you read it or feel that something has changed without your knowledge/approval?
You can compare single-page PDF files by opening them side by side. But what if both files have lots of pages? There are numerous apps for desktop and web to compare two PDF files side by side.
Let’s start.
1. Adobe Acrobat (Web and Desktop)
You can find or easily get Adobe Reader pre-installed on your computer, but there is no comparison option. Adobe Acrobat DC supports PDF file comparison among other features and is paid software.
You can browse Adobe Acrobat DC to compare PDF files. Install and launch from the link shared below. You will find the Compare option in the Tools menu. After that, open the two PDF files you want to compare in Acrobat DC.
Adobe will not only highlight the changes, but will also generate a report on the result for your review.
Adobe Acrobat DC is available for both Windows, macOS, and the web. The $179.88 yearly price tag is more suitable for those who already have access to the Adobe suite or work with PDF files every day. Otherwise, there are other alternatives to compare PDF files that we will share below.
2. Difference checker (Web and Desktop)
Diffchecker, as the name suggests, is a purpose-built site that focuses on comparing all types of files – PDF, Word, Excel, images, plain text and even folders. Diffchecker works on both Windows and macOS and has a web app that I use below.
Start by uploading the two PDF files and click the Find difference button.
Rather than just highlighting the differences, Diffchecker will highlight the entire paragraph and then highlight the changes, albeit in a different shade of green. However, the web app works flawlessly and was quick to load as well.
The free plan will let you use the web app, while desktop apps and certain advanced features will cost $9 per month. They also have an enterprise plan with cloud storage, but it’s hard to beat Adobe on this front.
3. DiffPDF (Windows Only)
We’ve covered DiffPDF earlier in GT and continue to recommend it to our readers to do a side-by-side analysis of PDF files to find inconsistencies. The free version is valid for 20 days, after which you have to purchase the paid version for $160 once.
4. Draft (Web and Windows)
Draftable is a popular PDF software that offers an enterprise-grade document comparison solution. You can compare PDF, Word, and PowerPoint files, making it a powerful app for someone who has to compare documents a lot.
Draftable can detect changes to the document’s content, text, font, and style and present them for side-by-side analysis. There is also the option to download the report in PDF format making it a versatile choice.
The best part about Draftable is that the web version is completely free.
Open Draftable from the link below, drag and drop the two PDF file apps and click the Compare button to start the process.
Draftable will highlight the changes in green, which is their site’s theme color. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can choose to highlight only content differences, style changes, or content and style differences in the right sidebar. Another great feature is Synchronous Scrolling, where both old and new documents will scroll side-by-side so you don’t have to do this separately when comparing and searching for changes in PDF files.
The web app is free, while the desktop version will cost $129 per year, but will bring with it additional features and work offline.
5. ASPOSE (Web Only)
ASPOSE offers a number of PDF tools for free on their website and is supported by donations. Among these tools you will find the Comparison tool. The premise remains the same. Open the site using the link below, drag and drop the two PDF files into the boxes provided and hit the Compare button.
After running ASPOSE diagnostics, you can download the results in PDF format, view the differences online and also send them to an email ID of your choice.
ASPOSE works flawlessly and highlights the differences in the PDF file, but there is no side-by-side comparison available as you may have noticed in the screenshot above. It’s a bit limiting, but you can still use it for a quick PDF file comparison.
Note the Changes
There are many applications for comparing PDF files side by side. Like Adobe and Draftable, some work on both the web and desktop, while others only work on the web. If you’re okay with using a web app, we recommend Draftable. The user interface is polished, feature-rich, and really lets you make side-by-side comparisons between PDF files and Word and PowerPoint. It’s a unique feature that’s missing from the other apps we’ve covered here. Adobe Acrobat DC is expensive but powerful and useful for enterprise users.
So what tool do you use to compare PDF files?
Next: Received a PDF that you need to edit and send back? Here is how you can convert a PDF file to a Word document using online tools.
Support our work ❤️
If you enjoyed this article, consider leaving a tip to help us keep publishing great content.
