Best CSV Diff Tool to compare CSV files for differences

xlCompare is very easy to use and has intuitive interface, build in the close interaction with our customers. You don't need to spend your time learning the tool. Just install and use. In case of any questions our technical stuff will be happy to provide you with online demo of the product.

We don't give you a CSV comparison tool, we are saving your working time and increasing productivity. This is primary aspect of xlCompare.

In the modern world we are greatly overloaded, so working time is a critical resource.

xlCompare works on thousands of computers around the world and is chosen by leading companies.

xlCompare is a tool for all common Excel users. If you are an Excel expert or advanced user, probably you don't need a diff tool for Excel files at all. You can do everything yourself. But xlCompare is an option for common Excel users that are not familiar with Conditional Formatting, VLOOKUP function, Visual Basic for Automation programming language and so on.

Your files are not uploaded to the web. They are compared directly on your computer.

Database tables are often stored in the CSV files and Excel worksheets. Records that were exported from the database usually saved and transmitted as CSV.

xlCompare allows you to define primary key columns and heading rows in your tables and compare them as structured data, not like a usual spreadsheet model with formulas and calculations.

Lifetime license is an important advantage. You are getting a software that will work for you forever. xlCompare is not a subscription, so there will be no future payments.

Your license gives you ability to upgrade the software to all future versions of the software for free.

How to open two CSV files in xlCompare? Just drop them from the Windows explorer into the xlCompare window. The software will open them for you.

Once you have your files opened, you need to make sure that Primary Keys are configured properly. This is highly important option to get the accurate results.

Each Primary Key column is marked with Key icon in the heading and highlighted with color.

If you think that you need another selection for your table, than the default one - do the right click on the column heading and set or unset the Key flag.

If you mark your column as Standard column - it will not be considered as Key.

Use Compare Sheets command on the Ribbon.

It brings you Comparison Wizard window that contains summary of the data to be compared. After your Primary Keys are selected, just close it by pressing the Compare button and proceed to Comparison Report.

Two changed cells are highlighted with Orange fill color.

For the numeric values xlCompare adds tendency icon that indicates increase or decrease of the value.

All identical rows with equal or changed cells are aligned on the worksheets one versus one.

All rows that are not identified in the other worksheet are highlighted with green color in the left file and with a red color in the right file.

Unique Rows (this term is used for added and deleted rows) doesn't have a corresponding row, so xlCompare inserts empty space into the corresponding worksheet to keep the alignment for the matching rows.

Move your mouse over the orange cell and xlCompare will give you detailed information about what was changed in this cell in the Tooltip window.

This is easy and convenient way to get the details of the comparison.

This is the default selection. No filtering is applied, all cells on the worksheets are visible.

xlCompare displays only rows with identical cells.

xlCompare display only rows that contains at least one updated cell. These rows have orange background in the heading.

This filter shows mismatched rows on two worksheets. So, if you apply this command xlCompare shows you only green and red rows in the compared CSV files. This is usually called - difference between the CSV files.

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is very powerful feature that is present in Excel application. If you know programming, you can use it to implement the comparison and highlighting algorithm for your CSV files. Also, you can look for the macro on the web. There are a lot of free examples.

But this method doesn't allow you use some advanced features that are present in xlCompare:

Ignore specific characters

Numeric accuracy (ignore minor changed in your numbers)

Also, you need to spend you time by creating and adjusting the macro, while xlCompare gives you immediate results.

There are several websites that offer free on-line comparison for CSV files. This is a perfect alternative to xlCompare and to Visual Basic for Applications.

Again, if you need to just find the difference in two CSV files, you can use this method. It will work well you for.

Why doesn't Spreadsheet Tools offer free on-line comparison for CSV files?

Our company provides a professional and feature rich solution that allows not only to point you to the difference, but to analyze the data and save presentation report for the comparison.

At this moment this can be done only in a form of desktop application.

Here is a direct link you can use to download CSV file comparison tool.

If you have any questions on the product or you need a short on-line demo of the product, please contact us.