Are my PDFs uploaded anywhere?

No. Both files are read and compared inside your browser tab. Nothing is sent to a server, so there is nothing for us to store or delete.

What does the text comparison catch?

Words and numbers that were added, removed or edited, line by line, with the changed words highlighted. Differences in fonts, colours, images or layout aren't part of the text — the Visual tab shows those.

Can it compare scanned PDFs?

The Visual tab can, because it compares the pages as pictures. The text comparison needs selectable text; run a scan through OCR PDF first if you want it word by word.

Why does it show changes on pages I didn't touch?

If text was added or removed early on, everything after it can move to a different page. The text comparison follows the lines, not the page numbers, so only real edits are listed. The Visual tab compares page one against page one, so a shift will light up every later page.

Why does it say 'Ignore page numbers'?

A footer such as 'Page 3 of 10' changes on every page that moved. It is on by default so those lines don't drown out the real changes; switch it off to see them.

Does it work if the two PDFs have a different number of pages?

Yes. The text comparison doesn't need matching pages. In the Visual tab a page that exists in only one file is shown as entirely added or removed.

PDF Tool

Compare PDFs

Pick the original and the revised version. See every added, removed and changed line, highlighted word by word, plus a page-by-page visual difference. Runs entirely in your browser — your documents are never uploaded.

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Original (older)

Drag a PDF here, or click to browse

Single file · Max 100.0 MB

Revised (newer)

Drag a PDF here, or click to browse

Single file · Max 100.0 MB

How it works

1
Add the original (older) PDF, then the revised (newer) one.
2
Read the Text changes tab: removed lines, added lines and edited lines, with the exact words that changed highlighted and the page each one is on.
3
Open the Visual tab to see each page laid over the other — red is only in the original, blue is only in the revised — with a percentage of change for every page.
4
Optionally download the change list as a text file to share.

Compare PDFs — frequently asked questions

Are my PDFs uploaded anywhere?: No. Both files are read and compared inside your browser tab. Nothing is sent to a server, so there is nothing for us to store or delete.
What does the text comparison catch?: Words and numbers that were added, removed or edited, line by line, with the changed words highlighted. Differences in fonts, colours, images or layout aren't part of the text — the Visual tab shows those.
Can it compare scanned PDFs?: The Visual tab can, because it compares the pages as pictures. The text comparison needs selectable text; run a scan through OCR PDF first if you want it word by word.
Why does it show changes on pages I didn't touch?: If text was added or removed early on, everything after it can move to a different page. The text comparison follows the lines, not the page numbers, so only real edits are listed. The Visual tab compares page one against page one, so a shift will light up every later page.
Why does it say 'Ignore page numbers'?: A footer such as 'Page 3 of 10' changes on every page that moved. It is on by default so those lines don't drown out the real changes; switch it off to see them.
Does it work if the two PDFs have a different number of pages?: Yes. The text comparison doesn't need matching pages. In the Visual tab a page that exists in only one file is shown as entirely added or removed.