Diffract vs WinMerge
Diffract
getdiffract.com
WinMerge
winmerge.ioSide by side
| Figure | Diffract | WinMerge |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · File Comparison Software | 8.2 (#9) | 7.0 (#28) |
| Folder comparison | It recursively compares directory trees and shows added, removed and modified files with content-level drill-down. | Folder comparison supports recursive or single-level views, regex filters, binary awareness, and three-way comparison. |
| Integrations | The documentation describes OS context-menu integration and Git difftool use; remote URL comparisons are a Pro feature. | WinMerge offers 64-bit Windows Explorer shell integration, 7-Zip archive browsing, plugins, and use as an external diff tool alongside version control tools. |
| Purpose | Diffract is a desktop tool for comparing code, folders, documents and binary files side by side. | WinMerge is a free, open-source tool for visually comparing and merging files and folders on Windows. |
| Support | The terms say the maker is not obligated to provide maintenance or technical support; the site invites questions and bug reports by email. | The site provides FAQ, step-by-step guides, and antivirus troubleshooting guidance. |
Plans
In their own words
Diffract
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.
WinMerge
WinMerge is a free, open-source Windows application for visually comparing and merging files and folders. File comparison uses side-by-side panes, inline difference highlights, syntax highlighting, a difference pane, and moved-line detection. Folder comparison can be recursive or single-level, apply regular-expression filters, recognize binary files, and compare three versions. Image comparison offers block highlights and overlay mode, while CSV and TSV files appear in table form. WinMerge creates Normal, Context, and Unified patches and can resolve conflict files produced by other tools. It includes 64-bit Windows Explorer shell integration, 7-Zip archive browsing, plugins, and use as an external diff tool with version-control tools. Current 32-bit builds require Windows XP SP3 or newer; 64-bit builds require Windows 7 or newer. Official cross-platform support is not planned. GPLv2 licensing, source archives, release SHA-256 checksums, guides, and FAQ support are provided.