01 / Workflow detail
Compare a Mac folder with its USB copy, then update both
Compare the folder on your Mac with its copy on a USB drive. Each folder shows how many of its files differ. Turn on Preview to read a file’s changes below the list, then use the next-difference arrow to review the next file.
With Pro, select the entries to synchronize and choose Update both. Each side receives files only the other has and the newer version of changed files. Review the preview before applying it. Nothing is deleted, and the app keeps a backup for one undo. Moved or renamed files and changes that the dates cannot decide are left for you to review.
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Where Diff Anything is different
Diff Anything is built around the kinds of files that line-by-line text comparison handles poorly:
- Spreadsheets: compare XLSX, OpenDocument, and Apple Numbers workbooks row by row without converting either file first, with rows matched by content or key columns.
- Archives: compare ZIP, 7z, RAR, TAR, and compressed archives by their extracted content, including encrypted and multipart archives, instead of by packaging metadata.
- Structured data: compare JSON, YAML, TOML, INI, property lists, XML, CSV, and environment files by their parsed content, even across formats, so reordered keys do not show up as changes.
- Code: switch between Smart Diff and Line Diff across 117 editor languages. Smart Diff connects changes through reformatting and reflow while keeping the exact source text.
- Documents and images: compare Office documents and PDFs, and review image changes with overlays and pixel heatmaps.
03 / Workflow detail
How the two tools compare
Both tools compare files and folders and are sold as a one-time purchase. The main differences are the platforms, where the files can come from, and which file types each tool treats specially.
Diff Anything and Beyond Compare at a glance| Topic | Diff Anything | Beyond Compare |
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| Platforms | Windows 10 version 1809 or later, Windows 11, and macOS 13 Ventura or later | Windows, macOS, and Linux |
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| Where to get it | Microsoft Store or Mac App Store | Scooter Software website |
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| Price | Free version, plus a one-time Pro purchase priced in your local store currency | Standard $35 per user, Pro $70 per user, one-time purchase; free evaluation available |
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| Where files come from | Files and folders on your computer | Local files, plus SFTP, FTP over SSL, WebDAV, Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon S3, and Subversion in Pro |
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| Merging | Three-way merge from Base, Ours, and Theirs in Pro, with JSON, YAML, TOML, and INI merged by their data and files with conflict markers resolved in the same workspace | Two- and three-way merging for text files and folders in Pro |
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When Beyond Compare is the better choice
Choose Beyond Compare if you work on Linux, if you compare files directly on remote servers or cloud storage, or if you need three-way folder merges or Windows registry comparison. Diff Anything does not cover those tasks.
Choose Diff Anything if your comparisons are mostly local files and folders, and you often deal with spreadsheets in different formats, archives, structured configuration, or reformatted code.
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What you can do in Free and Pro
Free lets you try every comparison type with files up to 5 MiB per side and 10 new comparison sessions per local day. Folder and archive previews show the first 100 items, and PDF previews show the first 3 pages.
A one-time Pro purchase removes those limits and unlocks larger sources within technical limits. Pro also adds folder synchronization, report export and printing, three-way merge, and saved comparison profiles and history.