Spot what changed between two PDF versions
Choose an earlier and a later version of a document and see which text was added or removed, page by page. The comparison runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
- Files never leave your browser.
- No account needed
- No watermark added
- Works on any device
How it works
Step 1: Choose or drop the first PDF (the older or original version).
Step 2: Add the second PDF (the newer or revised version).
Step 3: Select Compare PDF and wait for the text to be read.
Step 4: Review the added and removed text page by page.
How the comparison works
The tool extracts the text of both files page by page, then lines the two texts up and marks what differs. Text that appears only in the second file is shown as added, and text that appears only in the first is shown as removed. Counts of additions and removals are shown, and you can move from page to page to review each difference in context.
This is a text comparison. It looks at words, not at how the page looks, so a moved logo, a changed colour or a different margin will not be flagged, while a reworded sentence or a changed figure will. Both files are read in your browser and neither is sent to a server.
Why use this tool
Changes you can see
Additions and removals are marked in the text, so you do not have to read two documents side by side hunting for edits.
Counts and page navigation
Totals tell you how large the change is, and page-by-page navigation lets you jump straight to where it happened.
Nothing uploaded
Both documents are compared locally in your browser, which matters when the drafts are confidential.
No account, no software
Open the page, choose two files, and read the result; there is nothing to install.
Common uses
Contract redlines from the other side
A counterparty returns a contract as a fresh PDF with no tracked changes. Compare it with your last version to see which clauses were quietly altered.
Policy or terms updates
A supplier sends revised terms and conditions. Compare them to the old ones to see whether a price, a notice period or a liability limit changed.
Proofreading a reprint
A publisher sends corrected proofs. Compare them with the first proofs to make sure only the requested fixes were made.
Checking that an export matches
You regenerated a report from the source data and want to confirm that the numbers in the new PDF match the previous one except where you expect changes.
Supported formats
- Input
- Two PDF files (.pdf) that contain a text layer.
- Output
- An on-screen difference view with added and removed text, counts and per-page navigation.
Scanned PDFs have no text layer; run OCR PDF on them first.
Good to know
- Only text is compared. Layout, images, colours, fonts and formatting changes are not detected.
- Scanned PDFs contain pictures instead of text, so the comparison finds nothing to read until you run OCR PDF.
- Text order in tables and multi-column pages follows how the file is built, so a change of layout can show up as removed and added text even when the wording is the same.
- Password-protected files must be unlocked first with Unlock PDF.
- Very long documents depend on your device's memory and may take a while.
Your files never leave your browser
This tool runs entirely on your device using your browser. Your files are not uploaded to our servers and are not stored anywhere. Closing the tab discards everything.
Frequently asked questions
Does Compare PDF check the visual layout as well?
No. It compares text only. A changed image, colour, margin or font will not be reported, but any added or removed words will.
Are my PDFs uploaded to be compared?
No. The text is extracted and compared in your browser, and neither file is sent to a server.
Why does it say nothing was found in my scanned PDF?
A scan is an image of the page and has no text to read. Run OCR PDF on it to recognize the text, then compare the searchable result.
Can I compare files with different page counts?
Yes. Extra or missing pages simply appear as added or removed text, so a page inserted into the newer version is easy to spot.
Why are unchanged paragraphs shown as different?
Usually because the layout changed: text that moved between columns, pages or table cells can be read in a different order. Check the surrounding text to confirm whether the wording really changed.