Compare Excel Files & Spreadsheets

Find the difference between two Excel files, CSV, ODS, and other spreadsheets. Upload your files and instantly see every change, addition, and removal.

Supported formats: .xlsx, .xls, .xlsm, .xlsb, .csv, .txt, .dif, .ods

Original File

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Drop file here
xlsx, xls, xlsm, xlsb, csv, txt, dif, ods

Changed File

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Drop file here
xlsx, xls, xlsm, xlsb, csv, txt, dif, ods
0 changed +0 rows added −0 rows removed 0 unchanged

What Is an Excel File Comparison Tool?

An Excel file comparison tool (or spreadsheet diff checker) lets you compare two Excel files or other spreadsheet formats side by side to find every difference between them. It identifies which cells have been changed, which rows have been added or removed, and highlights the exact modifications — saving hours of manual review.

How to Compare Excel Files Online

Using our free Excel comparison tool is straightforward:

  1. Upload your original spreadsheet — drag and drop or click the upload button on the left panel. Supports .xlsx, .xls, .xlsm, .xlsb, .csv, .txt, .dif, and .ods files.
  2. Upload your changed spreadsheet — do the same on the right panel with the updated version of your file.
  3. Click "Find Differences" — the tool instantly parses both files and compares them cell by cell.
  4. Review the results — changed cells are highlighted in yellow, added rows in green, and removed rows in red.

Supported File Formats

Our tool supports all major spreadsheet and data file formats:

FormatExtensionDescription
Excel Workbook.xlsxModern Excel format (Office 2007+)
Excel 97-2003.xlsLegacy Excel binary format
Excel Macro-Enabled.xlsmExcel with macros
Excel Binary.xlsbBinary Excel workbook (faster for large files)
CSV.csvComma-separated values
Text.txtTab-delimited text files
DIF.difData Interchange Format
OpenDocument.odsLibreOffice / OpenOffice spreadsheets

Use Cases for Comparing Spreadsheets

Financial Reporting & Auditing

Compare monthly or quarterly financial reports to spot discrepancies in revenue, expenses, and budget allocations. Auditors use spreadsheet comparison to verify data integrity between report versions, ensuring no unauthorized changes were made to financial records.

Data Migration & Validation

When migrating data between systems, compare the source and destination Excel files to verify that all records transferred correctly. Instantly identify missing rows, altered values, or formatting issues that could impact downstream processes.

Version Control for Business Documents

Track changes between different versions of pricing sheets, inventory lists, project plans, or employee rosters. Instead of manually scanning hundreds of rows, our tool highlights every modification at a glance.

Quality Assurance & Testing

QA teams compare expected vs. actual output data exported from applications. Upload both files and immediately see where test results diverge from expected values — speeding up bug identification and regression testing.

Academic & Research Data

Researchers compare datasets across experiment iterations or survey rounds. Quickly identify which data points changed, were added, or were removed between collection periods.

How the Comparison Algorithm Works

Our Excel comparison tool works in several steps:

  1. File Parsing: Both files are parsed using the SheetJS library directly in your browser — no data is ever sent to a server.
  2. Sheet Selection: If your workbook contains multiple sheets, you can select which sheet to compare using the tab selector below each preview.
  3. Cell-by-Cell Comparison: The tool normalizes both sheets into a grid and compares each cell value. Rows are matched by position (row index).
  4. Difference Classification: Each row is classified as unchanged, changed (at least one cell differs), added (only in the changed file), or removed (only in the original file).
  5. Visual Output: Results are displayed in a unified table with color-coded highlighting: yellow for changed cells, green for added rows, and red for removed rows.

Why Use Our Free Spreadsheet Comparison Tool?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I compare two Excel files?

Upload your original Excel file on the left panel and the changed file on the right panel (drag & drop or use the upload button), then click "Find Differences." The tool will parse both files and display a color-coded comparison showing every change, addition, and removal.

What file formats can I compare?

You can compare Excel files (.xlsx, .xls, .xlsm, .xlsb), CSV files (.csv), text files (.txt), DIF files (.dif), and OpenDocument spreadsheets (.ods). You can even compare files of different formats — for example, an .xlsx against a .csv.

Is my data safe when comparing files?

Yes, completely. All file processing happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your spreadsheet data is never uploaded to any server, never stored, and never shared. Your files stay on your device at all times.

Can I compare Excel files with multiple sheets?

Yes. When you upload a workbook with multiple sheets, tabs appear below the preview letting you select which sheet to view and compare. You can switch sheets independently for each file.

What types of differences does it detect?

The tool detects three types of differences: changed cells (same row, different values — highlighted in yellow), added rows (rows only in the changed file — highlighted in green), and removed rows (rows only in the original file — highlighted in red).

Can I compare CSV files?

Yes. CSV is one of the supported formats. Simply upload your two CSV files and click "Find Differences." The tool will parse and compare them just like Excel files.

Is there a file size limit?

There is no hard limit. Since all processing happens in your browser, the practical limit depends on your device's memory. Files with up to 100,000 rows work well on modern devices.

Can I download the comparison results?

You can copy the diff results to your clipboard using the "Copy Diff" button. You can also download individual file data as CSV using the download button on each panel.

Do I need to install anything?

No. The tool runs entirely in your web browser. No plugins, extensions, or desktop software required.

Can I compare files on my phone?

Yes. The tool is fully responsive. On mobile devices the upload panels stack vertically, and all features including drag-and-drop, preview, and comparison work on phones and tablets.

Can I compare spreadsheets of different formats?

Yes. You can compare any combination of supported formats. For example, compare an .xlsx file against a .csv or an .ods file against an .xls — the tool normalizes both to a table grid before comparison.