Diffract vs icdiff

Diffract is a desktop tool for comparing code, folders, documents and binary files on Linux, macOS and Windows. Text and code comparisons include syntax highlighting for more than 30 languages, word-level changes, moved-block detection and collapsible unchanged regions. Folder comparisons traverse directory trees, show added, removed and modified files, and allow inspection of file contents. The command-line interface supports standard, Myers and patience diff algorithms for scripts, Git hooks and CI pipelines. Pro adds three-way Git merge conflict resolution, document comparisons for PDF, Word and Excel, semantic code comparison, and Git history and commit browsing. The Free tier includes unlimited file and directory comparisons, desktop and CLI tools, three algorithms, and hex or binary comparison. The maker says comparisons run locally and files stay on the computer. Free is $0 forever and permits commercial use, but not redistribution. Pro costs $34, paid once per seat; its license key specifies a seat count and version ceiling, and includes all v1.x updates. A full refund can be requested within 30 days of purchase.

icdiff is a free, open-source command-line program for comparing two files in a side-by-side terminal view. It emphasizes small changes within existing lines that may be difficult to spot with standard diff, rather than replacing diff for every situation. Users can highlight changes with foreground or background colors and customize the color map. Display options include line numbers, labels, whole-file output, whitespace highlighting, line truncation, and recursive directory comparison. The tool works with Git, Subversion, and Mercurial and supports two-way comparisons, not three-way merges. Installation methods listed by the maker include pip, apt, Homebrew, AUR, and Nix. It runs on Linux and macOS as a command-line tool that can be placed on the PATH. Input and output default to UTF-8, with command-line encoding options. Screen-width autodetection is Unix-only, and exclude-lines cannot be combined with line numbers.