Compare Excel Files and Find Every Difference
No formulas. No Conditional Formatting. No Power Query. No manual work.
Comparison report for two Excel files with highlighted differences (click 
for details)
Row 1910 is not present in the right panel.
xlCompare highlights it with green background color.
Empty row is inserted into the right sheet to put same rows on the same level side-by-side.
First row is a heading row in this table.
xlCompare highlights it with light blue background color.
The heading row helps xlCompare produce accurate results when columns appear in a different order.
Column C (SKU) is a key column in this table.
xlCompare highlights it with light blue background color.
Key columns help xlCompare identify matching rows and align them correctly in the comparison report.
Column D (Price) is highlighted with light orange color.
This means that column D contains changed cells.
xlCompare highlights heading area with color, if there are changed cells in this column.
Cell E520 is highlighted with light orange color.
Its value was changed from 144.26 to 156.34.
Every changed cell is highlighted with background color.
Depending on the Changed Value and Display Difference options, xlCompare shows corresponding value or difference below the original.
In this example difference -12.08 is shown.
Red Triangle icon means that this value is less than the corresponding one.
Heading of the row 520 is highlighted with light orange color.
This means that row 520 contains changed cells (E520).
Highlighted heading areas help you to quickly identify where the changed cells are.
This also lets you quickly see whether a specific row contains any changed cells.
Move the mouse pointer over a changed cell to see detailed information about the modification.
Tooltip window shows that cell E520 corresponds to cell E6.
Value was changed from 144.26 to 156.34.
The difference between the values is -12.08.
Worksheet Price List contains 403 modifications.
Changed cells, inserted and removed rows and columns are counted.
This helps you to see on the Sheet Tab, how the modifications are split between sheets.
Complete list of changes found between 2 Excel files (click for details)
Complete list of all changes found between left and right file.
There are 403 modifications.
Click the Drop List to filter modifications found only on the specific sheet.
The Legend provides a summary of the differences between the two files, including the number of changed values and formulas, as well as inserted rows and columns.
Click any item in the Legend to filter the comparison results and display only differences of the selected type.
Copy contents of the list below or Export it into the XLSX file.
Row 1910 was inserted into the left file.
SKU of this item is US-001908.
Row 22 was inserted into the right file.
SKU of this item is US-003049.
Value in cell E6 was changed from 144.26 to 156.34.
MSRP Price column in SKU US-000519 was modified.
The difference is -12.08 in the absolute value or -8.37%.
How to Compare Two Excel Files for Differences
Manually finding differences between Excel files requires knowledge of Excel features such as Conditional Formatting, formulas, and Power Query. It also carries a significant risk of errors.
Below, we'll show you how to compare two Excel files automatically with xlCompare and generate a clear comparison report.
1. Open two Excel Files
To open two files in xlCompare, simply launch the application and drag and drop your files from File Explorer into the xlCompare window.
xlCompare has a familiar, Microsoft Excel-like interface, making it easy and intuitive to work with your spreadsheet data.
2. Click the Compare Files button
To see the comparison results, simply click the Compare Files button in the main menu. xlCompare will give you the option to review and adjust the comparison settings, but you can skip this step and proceed with the default settings.
3. View the Comparison Report
The comparison results are now displayed on the screen. xlCompare compares all worksheets in both Excel files and highlights every difference with color.
xlCompare detects changes in cell values, formulas, fonts, text and background colors, other cell formatting properties, and comments.
What Differences Can xlCompare Find?
Changed cells
Cells with changed values are highlighted with an orange background. Use the Changed Value and Display Difference commands to display the changed value together with the original value.
Inserted and Removed Rows
Rows that are missing from the other file are highlighted with color. In the left file, xlCompare highlights these rows with a green background, while in the right file they are highlighted with a red background.
You can customize these colors in the application settings.
Compare Excel Formulas, Not Just Values
Two cells can display the same value while containing different formulas. xlCompare compares formula expressions and helps you find changes in spreadsheet logic that a simple value comparison can miss.
Compare Large Excel and CSV Files
xlCompare is built on its own high-performance spreadsheet engine written in C++. This architecture is designed specifically for fast and stable processing of large datasets, allowing xlCompare to load and compare data that exceeds Excel's worksheet limit of approximately one million rows.
Its memory-efficient architecture minimizes RAM usage and keeps comparison performance high even when working with very large files. This is especially important for CSV files containing millions of records, such as large datasets exported from databases.
Because xlCompare does not depend on Microsoft Excel or its internal architecture, it is not constrained by many of Excel's limitations when processing large datasets. The result is faster comparison, lower memory consumption, and greater stability when working with very large Excel and CSV files.
Compare Excel Sheets by Key Columns
Tables containing database-style records - such as price lists, transaction records, customer data, accounting statements, and other structured lists - require a different comparison algorithm.
A best-match algorithm does not work well for this type of data. Two entries in a price list either have the same product name or they do not - similarity is not enough. Two different product names must be treated as two different records in the table.
For this type of data, use key-column comparison. By specifying one or more key columns in xlCompare, you define how corresponding rows should be matched between the two tables.
For example, if SKU is the key column, rows with the same SKU will be treated as matching records, while rows with different SKUs will be treated as different records.
For the most accurate results, use key-column comparison whenever your tables contain fields that can uniquely identify corresponding records.
Composite Keys (Multiple Identification Columns)
xlCompare natively supports Composite Keys (using two or more columns together as a single identifier). For example, if you have a staff roster, "John" or "Smith" alone isn't unique. You can select both the "First Name" and "Last Name" columns as keys. xlCompare combines these columns into a composite key to identify the corresponding row in the other sheet.
How to Choose Key Columns on the Sheet
Right-click the column header, then select Key Column from the shortcut menu.
xlCompare highlights the key column in blue.
To remove the Key Column setting, select the same command from the context menu again.
If your sheet has a Composite Key (Key that contains multiple columns), repeat this procedure for each of the columns.
Key Customization Rules
xlCompare lets you categorize columns into three distinct types simultaneously: Primary Key (for row alignment), Standard (important data to compare), and Ignored (data like timestamps that should be ignored during comparison).
xlCompare treats columns as a relational database, making it easier to map mismatched columns on the fly.
How to Specify Header Rows on the Sheet
Select the rows you want to use as headers, then right-click the row header and select Heading from the context menu.
The table header rows will be highlighted in blue, just like the key columns.
Your worksheet can have multiple heading rows. Select the rows you need and mark them as heading using Shortcut Menu | Heading command.
Do I Need to Specify a Header Row?
If your table has a header row, we recommend specifying it. This tells xlCompare that the row contains the field names for your data.
xlCompare can then correctly match corresponding columns even if they appear in a different order in the left and right tables. This is especially useful when comparing data exported from different sources.
Comparison Results
Once the table header is specified, xlCompare can accurately match the data and produce the correct comparison results.
In this example, the rows appear in a different order in the left and right files. For instance, row 1779 in the left file corresponds to row 74 in the right file.
Because key columns have been specified, xlCompare can correctly match and align the corresponding rows in both files. For structured tables, key-based matching provides more predictable results because corresponding records are identified by their unique fields rather than by their position or similarity.
If your data looks like this, specify the columns that uniquely identify each record. xlCompare will use these key columns to correctly match corresponding rows between the two tables, regardless of their position.
Can I Do This Directly in Excel?
You can achieve a similar result using Excel's built-in functions, such as VSTACK, FILTER, UNIQUE, and SORT, to extract, combine, and organize your data.
However, building a complete comparison workflow this way requires a good understanding of Excel's advanced features and can take considerable time to set up. If you need an accurate comparison right away, xlCompare provides a much faster and more straightforward solution.
Review and Export Differences in Excel Files
After the comparison is complete, xlCompare lets you review every difference, filter the results, extract matching or changed records, and export the comparison report to Excel.
All Differences in a Single List
The bottom panel displays a list of all differences found between the two files. Above the list, the Legend lets you filter changes by type - such as changed values, formulas, or added rows - and group them by column or row.
Review Changes One by One
Select any item in the list, and xlCompare will automatically navigate to the corresponding cell in the worksheet. You can also move between differences using the commands in the Navigator menu or the Ctrl+6 and Ctrl+7 keyboard shortcuts.
Extract Matching and Changed Records
The xlCompare main menu includes filtering commands that let you display only changed rows, completely identical rows, or newly added records.
To extract the filtered records into a new file, right-click the table and select Save | Only Visible Rows from the context menu.
Export Report
xlCompare provides several options for saving your comparison results. The Report XLSX command in the main menu saves a comparison report containing all detected changes to disk.
The Export XLSX command saves the selected worksheet as an Excel file with all differences highlighted by color.
Merge and Reconcile Changes Between Excel Files
If you need to synchronize changes across multiple Excel files, xlCompare is an ideal solution for the task.
Merge Changes One By One
As you navigate through the list of differences, you can transfer any change to the other file by clicking the corresponding arrow button directly in the worksheet.
Automatic Reconciliation
For automatic change transfer, xlCompare provides a set of commands in the Merge menu.
Merge Only Selected Changes
Select the changes you want to transfer from the list of differences, then use the Merge Selected command in the context menu to apply them to the other file.
xlCompare and Other Solutions
You can use formulas, Conditional Formatting, or Power Query to find differences between Excel files. These methods are covered in detail in many Excel expert tutorials. Each approach has its own advantages and limitations, and none of them works equally well in every comparison scenario.
Below, we provide a comparison table showing the differences between xlCompare, AI assistants, and Excel's built-in tools.
| Excel features | Spreadsheet Compare Add-in | AI Assistants | Online Tools | xlCompare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Changes in values | + | + | + | + | + |
| Changes in formulas | + | + | + | ||
| Inserted columns | + | + | + | + | |
| Removed columns | + | + | + | + | |
| Inserted rows | + | + | + | + | |
| Removed rows | + | + | + | + | |
| Compare by key columns | + | + | + | ||
| Changes in formatting | + | + | |||
| Changes in VBA macros | + | ||||
| Changes in VBA forms | + | ||||
| Interactive report | + | + | + | + | |
| List of changes | + | + | + | ||
| Create report | + | + | |||
| Filter changes | + | + | |||
| Extract inserted rows | + | + | |||
| Extract matching rows | + | + | |||
| Merge changes | + | + | |||
| Command line interface | + | ||||
| Integrate into repository | + | ||||
| Free | Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise | SAAS | SAAS\Free | One time payment |
Built for Professional Excel Comparison
What are the advantages of xlCompare?
Download and Install xlCompare
Download xlCompare
12.05
Build Date:
Version:
Name:
Full Path:
Size:
Publisher:
Evaluation Period:
September 15, 2026
12.05
xlcompare-12-05.msi
https://xlCompare.com/xlcompare-12-05.msi
8.9 Mb
15 days
Get xlCompare from the Microsoft Store
The evaluation version is fully functional for 15 days, giving you enough time to test xlCompare with your own Excel and CSV files before purchasing a license.
Excel File Comparison F.A.Q.
xlCompare is a professional desktop application for comparing Excel files and spreadsheets. In this section, we answer the most frequently asked questions about xlCompare.
If you can't find the answer you're looking for, please use the contact form below to send us your question.
How do I compare two Excel files?
xlCompare's key strengths are its ease of use and clear, intuitive presentation of comparison results.
Simply drag and drop your files into the application window and click the Compare Files menu command. xlCompare will instantly display the results in a clear, easy-to-analyze format.
Can I compare Excel files by a key column?
Comparing data using a set of key columns is one of the features that distinguishes xlCompare from Spreadsheet Inquire. According to our user surveys, key-based comparison is one of the most frequently requested comparison methods.
This approach allows xlCompare to correctly match corresponding rows between two different files, even when the rows appear in a different order.
How do I compare Excel files if the rows are in a different order?
If the rows appear in a different order in your files, you are most likely working with tabular data that should be compared using one or more key columns. xlCompare handles this automatically by matching corresponding rows between the two files.
Simply specify the key columns, and xlCompare will produce an accurate comparison regardless of the row order. With xlCompare, you don't need to sort your files or make sure the rows appear in the same sequence before running the comparison.
Can xlCompare compare formulas?
Accurate formula comparison is one of xlCompare's key strengths and sets it apart from many other Excel comparison tools.
xlCompare does not simply compare formulas as text. Instead, it parses each formula into individual expressions and analyzes them to determine whether the underlying calculations are equivalent.
This approach helps eliminate false differences caused by inserted or deleted rows and columns. As a result, xlCompare identifies formula differences only where the formulas have actually changed.
Can I compare large Excel files?
xlCompare is designed to compare Excel files containing more then one million rows. It can efficiently open and compare very large Excel and CSV files.
CSV is commonly used for exporting large datasets from databases and other business systems, where files can contain millions of records. xlCompare is built to handle these massive datasets efficiently, making it a practical solution for comparing large Excel and CSV files.
Can xlCompare compare font, color and other cell formatting options?
xlCompare provides a comprehensive comparison of two Excel files. Cell properties such as fonts, text and background colors, borders, hyperlinks, and comments can all be included in the comparison.
xlCompare also offers a wide range of comparison settings, so you can disable cell formatting comparison whenever you want to focus only on the data or formulas.
Can I compare all worksheets at once?
The Compare Files command lets you compare all worksheets in two Excel files at once. You can also select specific worksheets if you only need to compare certain parts of the workbooks.
How do I compare two worksheets within the same Excel file?
Drag and drop the same Excel file into both the left and right panels, then open the worksheets you want to compare. Click the Compare Sheets menu command, and xlCompare will compare only the two active worksheets.
Can I export the comparison results?
xlCompare provides several options for exporting comparison results. You can export a list of differences, save a complete comparison report, save a file with all differences highlighted by color, or extract only the changed or matching data.
Can I merge differences between two Excel files?
xlCompare lets you review changes made by your colleagues and easily merge them into your own workbook. Transferring changes from one Excel file to another is one of xlCompare's core features.
Privacy and Licensing Questions
Private by design - your Excel files never leave your computer
Are my Excel files uploaded to a server?
xlCompare is a desktop application that runs entirely on your computer. It does not require a web browser or an Internet connection, and all comparison operations are performed locally without sending your files or data to a server.
Your data stays on your computer, making xlCompare a secure and private solution for comparing confidential Excel files.
Do I need a credit card to evaluate xlCompare?
No registration, personal information, or credit card is required to try xlCompare. Simply download and install the application and start using the fully functional trial version right away.
Does the xlCompare license include future updates?
Users who purchase an xlCompare license receive access to all future updates published on the xlCompare website.
Is this a subscription or a perpetual license?
xlCompare requires only a one-time payment - there is no subscription. You pay once and can continue using the product indefinitely. Your license never expires.
Are there any future payments?
An xlCompare license does not require renewals or recurring payments. Unlike SaaS products that charge an ongoing subscription fee, xlCompare is sold with a perpetual license—you pay once and can continue using the software indefinitely.
For users who compare Excel files regularly, this can be more cost-effective over time than paying for a recurring subscription.
Can I transfer my license to the a computer?
Yes. If you get a new computer, you can transfer xlCompare and your license to the new device. Your license remains valid and does not expire when you replace your computer.