Direct answer
Which archive formats can Diff Anything compare?
Diff Anything archive mode compares entry paths and SHA-256 content hashes for ZIP, TAR, TGZ, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, and GZ files. It reports entries that were added, removed, or changed without extracting them into either source directory. Deeper semantic review requires extracting the relevant files separately.
Accuracy note: reviewed against Diff Anything 1.2 on .
Best for
Where this workflow fits.
- Checking release packages before distribution
- Finding changed entries between two archive builds
- Inspecting private archives without uploading them
No accounts, cloud comparison service, analytics, or telemetry.
Relevant capabilities
What Diff Anything brings to the job.
Practical workflow
From setup to a reviewed result.
Choose sources
Open files or folders, paste content, or use Pro to load a saved profile with known options.
Select a mode
Use automatic detection or explicitly choose text, structured, folder, archive, document, image, binary, or API comparison.
Review and resolve
Navigate stable differences, apply supported changes, resolve three-way conflicts, or approve a folder synchronization plan without losing source context.
Save or automate
Use Pro to export a report or retain a profile, invoke the CLI, or wire the comparison into Git and CI.
Useful in practice
Related searches
One workflow, several common names.
This page focuses on archive compare tool. People also describe the same or closely related job as compare ZIP files, TAR diff tool, archive content comparison, offline archive diff.
Direct answers
Questions about archive compare tool.
Which archive formats can Diff Anything compare?
Diff Anything archive mode compares entry paths and SHA-256 content hashes for ZIP, TAR, TGZ, TAR.GZ, TAR.BZ2, and GZ files. It reports entries that were added, removed, or changed without extracting them into either source directory. Deeper semantic review requires extracting the relevant files separately.
Do compared files leave the computer?
No. Comparison is local. The application has no account, cloud comparison service, analytics, or telemetry.
How does automatic mode choose a comparison?
Matching structured formats use their semantic engine, two folders use folder comparison, and other compatible inputs fall back to text. You can always choose a concrete mode.
Go deeper
Review release trees, archives, documents, and visual assets with purpose-built navigation, safety checks, and rollback.
Read Compare folders, archives, and images