Diffract vs NextDiff

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.

NextDiff is a free Windows utility for comparing files, text documents, source code, and folders. It places text files side by side, marking changed lines and changes inside lines. Folder comparisons include subfolders, reveal files found on only one side, and can identify the newer file. You can edit text in the comparison view, copy differences in either direction, and undo recent merge or editing actions. Comparison settings can ignore letter case, whitespace, leading or trailing spaces, and blank lines. Supported encodings include ANSI, ASCII, UTF-8, UTF-8 with BOM, and UTF-16. Optional Apache Tika support extracts readable text from PDF, DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files for comparison. Version 2.2 is dated September 23, 2026. NextDiff is freeware for personal and commercial use on Windows 10 and 11, with direct installer links and no account or email requirement.