Compare Two Excel Files and Find Every Difference

Find changed values, formulas and formatting, added and deleted rows automatically.
No formulas. No Conditional Formatting. No Power Query. No manual work.
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Example of the comparison report Comparison report for two Excel files generated by xlCompare

How to Find differences in Excel Files Automatically

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.

Application Window

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.
Compare Files command in menu

3. Get the Report on your screen

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.

Comparison Report

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.

Changed cell in the report

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.

Inserted rows with green background in the report

You can customize these colors in the application settings.

Removed rows with green background in the report

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.

Review and Export Differences in Excel Files

xlCompare is a dedicated application that effectively compares Excel files for the difference.

All Differences as 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.

All differences as single list

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.

Navigator menu

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.

Filter commands in menu

To extract the filtered records into a new file, right-click the table and select Save | Only Visible Rows from the context menu.

Save As command in 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.

Export commands in menu

Reconcile the Changes in 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.
Merge command on the worksheet

Automatic Reconciliation

For automatic change transfer, xlCompare provides a set of commands in the Merge menu.
Merge commands in 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.
Merge selected changed

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 + +
Extact inserted rows + +
Extract matching rows + +
Merge changes + +
Command line interface +
Integrate into repository +
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Built for Professional Excel Comparison

xlCompare is designed for users who regularly compare large or complex Excel workbooks. Review changes visually, filter differences, export reports, transfer changes between files and automate comparisons from the command line. It is a solution to the problem - "how to compare two Excel files or sheets".

What are the advantages of xlCompare?

xlCompare makes comparing Excel files effortless. Open your Excel files, click the Compare button, and instantly see the results. Unlike formulas, macros, AI tools, or other comparison methods, xlCompare presents all changes in a clear, visual report that's easy to understand. You don't have to search for differences manually or build complex formulas - the results are available immediately. Most comparison tasks require no configuration at all. Just a few clicks are enough to get accurate results. Advanced options are available when you need them, but they stay out of the way for everyday use. link

Download and Install xlCompare

xlCompare is the best desktop solution to compare Excel files. Install xlCompare on your PC to compare your spreadsheets privately. xlCompare is a portable application, enabling fast private comparison of Excel files directly on your computer.

download Download xlCompare 12.05

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September 15, 2026

12.05

xlcompare-12-05.msi

https://xlCompare.com/xlcompare-12-05.msi

8.9 Mb

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15 days

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Evaluation version is fully-functional. Its working period is limited to 15 days. So you can see how our product works for you. This helps you to decide if you need a dedicated professional tool to compare Excel and CSV files.

Excel Diff for Git and Version Control

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