Capability overview
How can I use jupyter notebook comparison in Diff Anything?
Compare two Jupyter notebooks (.ipynb) by their cells. Cells are matched by their content, so an inserted cell is one difference and the cells after it still match, and each difference names its cell, such as Cell 4 (code) changed or Cell 6 (code) moved to cell 9. Each cell's source is shown highlighted in the notebook's language; outputs, execution counts, and metadata are compared only when you ask.
Notebook comparison is complete on the free plan, in the app and, on Windows, on the command line, within the free plan's file size and daily session limits.
Cells
Changes named by cell, not by JSON line
A notebook file is JSON, and a text diff of two of them is mostly noise: escaped strings, outputs, and execution counts. Diff Anything compares notebooks by their cells instead. Cells are matched by their content, so an inserted cell is one difference and the cells after it still match.
Each difference names its cell: Cell 4 (code) changed, Cell 2 (markdown) added, Cell 5 (raw) removed, or Cell 6 (code) moved to cell 9. The notebooks are shown read-only as text, with a # %% [code] line before each cell and its source highlighted in the notebook's language.
Outputs and metadata
Compare outputs and metadata only when you want to
The source and type of each cell are always compared. Compare outputs and execution counts adds each code cell's outputs: stream text, errors, and each result as text, or, for images, by their length and SHA-256. Compare metadata adds the notebook's and each cell's metadata. Both are off by default, so rerunning a notebook does not bury the change in its code.
Free and Pro
Free in the app and on the command line
Notebook comparison is complete on the free plan, as JSON is, within 5 MB per file and 10 new comparison sessions a day. On Windows, the command line compares notebooks with --mode notebook, by their sources and types, and lists each cell that differs. Reports, profiles, and history need Pro.
In the workflow
How to use it
Open both notebooks
Choose the two .ipynb files; they open in Notebook mode.
Read the cell list
Each difference names a cell that was changed, added, removed, or moved.
Add outputs if needed
Turn on Compare outputs and execution counts when results matter, not only code.
Step through the cells
Use F7 and F8 or the Differences pane to move from cell to cell.
Useful in practice
When to use it
Related manual
Choose the right comparison mode
Choose sources, understand automatic detection, and select the engine that answers the question you are actually asking.
Read the guideDirect answers
Questions about jupyter notebook comparison.
Are notebook outputs compared?
Only when you turn on Compare outputs and execution counts. By default, cell sources and types are compared.
Can I edit a notebook in Diff Anything?
No. Notebooks are shown read-only; edit them in Jupyter or your editor.
Is notebook comparison free?
Yes, in the app and on the command line, within the free plan's file size and daily limits.
Free & Pro: what’s included
Available on the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store. Free desktop use lets you try every comparison engine for files up to 5 MiB per side and 10 new comparison sessions per local day; collection previews show the first 100 items, binary comparisons the first 100 byte differences, and PDF previews the first 3 pages. Plain text, JSON, and Jupyter notebook comparison are complete, and opening files from Finder or File Explorer, diffanything:// links, and AppleScript are free. The free CLI supports text, JSON, and notebooks. A one-time Pro purchase removes the preview and session limits and unlocks larger sources within technical limits, saved profiles and history, saving folder snapshots, report export and printing, JSON Patch export, applying patches, three-way merge and conflict resolution, the Git merge driver and merge tool, folder synchronization, batch manifests, trusted preprocessors, and every CLI mode.