Question 1

How does the text comparison tool work?

Accepted Answer

Our tool uses the Myers diff algorithm to compare two texts and find the minimal set of differences. It processes text line by line, then performs word-level analysis within changed lines to highlight exactly what changed. Everything runs in your browser using a Web Worker.

Question 2

Is my text data safe and private?

Accepted Answer

Yes, 100%. All text comparison happens entirely in your browser using a Web Worker. Your text is never sent to any server, never stored, and never tracked. The tool works completely offline once loaded.

Question 3

What is the maximum file size I can compare?

Accepted Answer

There is no hard limit on file size. Our tool uses virtualized rendering (only visible lines are in the DOM) and Web Workers (computation runs off the main thread), so it can handle texts with 100,000+ lines efficiently.

Question 4

What is the difference between unified and side-by-side view?

Accepted Answer

Unified view shows all changes in a single column with additions and deletions interleaved, similar to git diff output. Side-by-side view displays the original text on the left and modified text on the right, making it easier to see corresponding changes.

Question 5

Can I compare code with this tool?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Our text comparison tool works with any text, including source code in any programming language. The line-by-line comparison and word-level highlighting make it great for code reviews.

Question 6

Can I compare documents in different formats (Word, PDF)?

Accepted Answer

The tool supports plain text and Word (.docx) files — you can upload Word documents directly using the file upload feature. For PDF files, you'll need to copy the text content and paste it into the comparison panels.

Question 7

How do I export or share the diff results?

Accepted Answer

You can copy the diff output to your clipboard using the Copy button, or download it as a standard .patch file using the Download button. The patch file can be applied using standard diff/patch tools.

Question 8

Does the tool support dark mode?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The tool automatically follows your system's dark mode preference. All diff colors (additions, deletions, highlights) are optimized for both light and dark backgrounds.

Question 9

What comparison modes are available?

Accepted Answer

We use line-by-line comparison with automatic word-level inline highlighting, so you can see exactly which words changed within each line. You can view results in either unified or side-by-side mode.

Question 10

Is this tool free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, TextCompare is completely free to use with no limitations. There are no sign-ups, no premium tiers, and no usage limits. It will always be free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions