Windows utility that combines directory compare and file compare

Beyond Compare

Beyond Compare

  -  26.43 MB  -  Trial
  • Latest Version

    Beyond Compare 5.1.0 Build 31016 LATEST

  • Review by

    Michael Reynolds

  • Operating System

    Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 10 / Windows 11

  • User Rating

    Click to vote
  • Author / Product

    Scooter Software, Inc. / External Link

  • Filename

    BCompare-5.1.0.31016.exe

  • MD5 Checksum

    16f6c1d70bb1c51cdde62b0ed13e3f85

Beyond Compare, developed by Scooter Software, is a powerful file and folder comparison tool for Windows designed to help users analyze differences between files, directories, and even entire drives.

It is widely used by software developers, IT professionals, and general users who need an efficient way to compare, synchronize, and merge files.

Beyond Compare Screenshot 1

The software provides an intuitive interface that makes side-by-side comparisons easy while offering deep customization for advanced users.

Key Features
  • File and Folder Comparison – Compare individual files or entire directories with a detailed, visual side-by-side comparison.
  • Merge Capabilities – Allows merging changes between two or three versions of a file, making it ideal for code collaboration.
  • Synchronization – Sync files and folders between different locations, including local storage, external drives, FTP, and cloud services.
  • Hex Comparison – Compare binary files at the hexadecimal level, useful for software engineers.
  • Text and Code Comparison – Highlight differences in plain text files, source code, and scripts with syntax highlighting.
  • Image Comparison – Compare images by pixel or overlay methods to identify even subtle changes.
  • Data Comparison – Support for structured data formats like CSV and tables, making it useful for database-related tasks.
  • Built-in FTP/SFTP Support – Compare and sync files directly on remote servers.
  • Automated and Scriptable Comparisons – Create scripts to automate recurring comparison and synchronization tasks.
  • Customizable Rules and Filters – Exclude specific files or file types from comparisons for more refined results.
User Interface

Beyond Compare offers a clean, structured UI with a dual-pane design for easy side-by-side comparisons.

Beyond Compare Screenshot 2

It uses color-coded highlighting to indicate differences, additions, and deletions in files or directories.

Users can customize the layout, apply filters, and configure keyboard shortcuts to enhance their workflow.

Installation and Setup
  • Download the setup file from the official Scooter Software website.
  • Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
  • Choose between a trial version (valid for 30 days) or activate it with a purchased license.
  • Configure preferences for comparison settings and integrations.
How to Use

Compare Files – Open Beyond Compare, select "New Session," choose "File Compare," and select two files to compare.

Compare Folders – Choose "Folder Compare," select two directories, and initiate the comparison.

Beyond Compare Screenshot 3

Merge Files – Select "Merge" from the menu and resolve differences between file versions.

Sync Files – Use "Folder Sync" to automatically synchronize differences between directories.

Use Scripts – Automate tasks by creating scripts for recurring comparisons and synchronizations.

FAQ

Is Beyond Compare free?
Beyond Compare offers a free 30-day trial, but a license must be purchased for continued use.

Can Beyond Compare be used for source code merging?
Yes, it supports merging of text-based source code and integrates with version control systems.

Does Beyond Compare support cloud storage comparison?
It supports FTP, SFTP, and some cloud services via third-party integrations, but not direct OneDrive or Google Drive support.

Can Beyond Compare compare Microsoft Word or PDF files?
It does not natively support Word or PDF comparisons but can convert them to text for basic analysis.

Does Beyond Compare work on macOS?
Yes, it has a macOS version in addition to the Windows version.

Alternatives

WinMerge – A free, open-source alternative for Windows users.

UltraCompare – A feature-rich alternative with FTP and cloud comparison support.

Pricing

Standard Edition – $35 (Single User License)

Pro Edition – $70 (Includes advanced features like three-way merging and SFTP support)

Enterprise Licensing – Custom pricing based on team size and features needed

System Requirements
  • OS: Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 (also available for macOS and Linux)
  • Processor: Intel/AMD 1 GHz or higher
  • RAM: 2GB or more recommended
  • Storage: 50MB of free disk space
  • Display: 1024x768 resolution or higher
PROS
  • Fast and reliable file/folder comparison
  • Advanced merge and sync features
  • Supports multiple file formats including binary and images
  • Highly customizable rules and filters
  • Supports automation via scripting
CONS
  • No direct cloud storage integration (except via FTP/SFTP)
  • Paid license required after trial expires
  • Can be overwhelming for beginners due to extensive features
Conclusion

Beyond Compare is one of the best file comparison and synchronization tools available for Windows. It provides deep customization, scripting capabilities, and robust features for both casual and professional users. While it comes with a learning curve and a price tag, its powerful performance makes it well worth the investment for those who regularly work with file comparisons, software development, or data analysis.

Note: 30 days trial version.

Also Available: Download Beyond Compare for Mac

Why is this app published on FileHorse? (More info)
  • Beyond Compare 5.1.0 Build 31016 Screenshots

    The images below have been resized. Click on them to view the screenshots in full size.

    Beyond Compare 5.1.0 Build 31016 Screenshot 1
  • Beyond Compare 5.1.0 Build 31016 Screenshot 2
  • Beyond Compare 5.1.0 Build 31016 Screenshot 3
  • Beyond Compare 5.1.0 Build 31016 Screenshot 4
  • Beyond Compare 5.1.0 Build 31016 Screenshot 5

What's new in this version:

Notable Changes:
- Re-added support for disjointed row selection to Table Compare
- Improved Home View to make less common comparison types more discoverable
- Various other enhancements and stability improvements

Appearance:
- Windows: Crosshatching used for missing lines and after the end of the file is now scaled on high DPI displays
- Windows: Fixed Home View buttons in dark mode incorrectly drawing as pressed after starting a drag & drop
- Windows: Fixed Home View buttons in dark mode not showing a focus rectangle

File Views:
- Fixed using the mouse wheel over the comparison thumbnail. If the thumbnail has "Allow Scrolling" enabled, it will scroll the thumbnail view. If not it will scroll the main comparison window
- Fixed using the mouse wheel over the main comparison editor/grid scrollbars

Home View:
- All comparison types are now shown by default
- Removed secondary page under the > button in favor of making favorited icons large and making the rest smaller and on a second row
- Added "Text Edit" button

Misc:
- Fixed flickering hints on Session toolbar button's dropdown window
- macOS/Linux: Fixed popup hints for truncated items not matching the font for the underlying control
- Fixed view tab scroll buttons continuing to draw as hot when the mouse leaves the control
- Showing long hints no longer adds a trailing ellipsis

Table Compare:
- Added support for disjointed row selection
- Added "Next/Previous Difference Sheet" commands
- Added "Select Sheet" submenu to sheet tab control's context menu
- "Unhide Column" list now includes columns hidden because of "Hide Same Columns"
- Improved "File Info" regional handling
- macOS/Linux: Added support for configuring Unicode characters for date, time, thousands, and decimal separators
- Removed maximum limit on column widths
- Current cell is now drawn with a border rather than a fake selection
- Editor status bar now includes current column as well as current row
- Cells will now show a hint if they're clipped by the right edge of the editor
- Fixed comparison drawing incorrectly until it's invalidated when performing a slow compare or using key columns
- Fixed handling of really long rows
- Fixed popup hint/tooltip for shortened header cells not showing entire text
- Fixed moving into a cell to scroll to make the column fully visible
- "Align With" will no longer trigger a horizontal scroll
- Improved size/appearance of sheet tab control's scroll buttons
- Changed sheet tab's scroll buttons to show colored arrows instead of a color spot when there are offscreen differences
- macOS/Linux: Fixed multi-sheet scroll buttons not appearing
- Fixed popup hints for extremely long cells displaying worse than v4
- Fixed Session Settings "Columns" and "Sheets" pages not scaling column widths when moving between monitors with different scale factors

Text Views:
- Gutter buttons now draw as hot when the mouse is over them even if they're pressed. (e.g., Text Merge "Conflict" state

Crashes:
- macOS/Linux: Increased the maximum stack size saved when a crash occurs
- Fixed Text Compare crash or incorrect comparison when comparing a file with a byte order mark to itself
- Fixed Text Merge crash after pressing backspace when positioned at the beginning of a line immediately after a missing one
- Fixed Table Compare crash when mouse dragging causes current row to change quickly
- Fixed Table Compare crash when using "Hide Same Columns" with a row fully selected
- macOS/Linux: Fixed "Control '' has no parent form or frame" crash