Verified product reference
Clear answers about DiffPeek
This page states what DiffPeek does, how comparison data is handled, and where the browser tools have limits. It is written for people first and is also suitable as a factual citation source.
Selected comparison content is processed by JavaScript in the browser, not uploaded to DiffPeek.
The public comparison tools require no account and have no paywall on the core workflow.
Compare folders, text, code, structured JSON, parsed CSV, image pixels, XML text, and HTML source.
What is DiffPeek?
DiffPeek is a free collection of browser-based comparison tools. It can compare two folders, texts, text files, source files, JSON documents, CSV or TSV tables, XML text, HTML source, and images. Each tool presents changes in a format suited to that content type.
Does DiffPeek upload my comparison content?
No. Selected files, folder entries, images, pasted values, and generated comparison results are processed locally in your browser and are not uploaded to a DiffPeek server. Limited anonymous analytics are enabled by default, can be disabled in the footer, and never contain filenames, paths, pasted content, images, or diff output. Read the privacy policy for the complete boundary.
Which DiffPeek tool should I use?
| What you have | Best tool | What it reports |
|---|---|---|
| Two directory versions | Folder Diff | Added, deleted, modified, unchanged, renamed, binary, and unreadable items |
| Two text passages | Text Compare | Line and character changes in split or unified view |
| Two local text files | File Compare | Line and character changes, editable rows, per-change merge, and patch export |
| Two source-code versions | Code Compare | Textual source changes and per-change merge; it does not parse program semantics |
| Two JSON documents | JSON Compare | Structural changes by JSON Pointer plus RFC 6902 patch export |
| Two CSV or TSV tables | CSV Compare | Parsed rows, columns, and cells, with optional key-based row alignment |
| Two images | Image Compare | Pixel differences, changed-pixel counts, heatmap, overlay, slider, and PNG export |
| Two XML documents | XML Compare | Source-text changes, not semantic XML equivalence |
| Two HTML documents | HTML Compare | HTML source changes; code is not rendered or executed |
How do I compare two folders online?
- Open the folder comparison tool and select the original folder.
- Select the changed folder, adjust ignore patterns or rename detection if needed, and choose Find Differences.
- Filter the tree, inspect supported text previews or binary metadata, then export the local report if required.
Can DiffPeek compare binary files?
Yes, with limits. Folder mode compares generic binary files byte by byte and reports whether they match, but it shows safe metadata instead of rendering binary content as text. For image files, use Image Compare to inspect pixel-level differences visually.
Can DiffPeek edit and merge text changes?
Yes. In text, file, code, XML, and HTML results, select a changed row to edit either browser-side copy or merge that one change left-to-right or right-to-left. Undo and redo are available. These actions change the comparison copies in the tab; they do not overwrite the original disk files or provide three-way conflict resolution.
Is DiffPeek free and does it require an account?
The core browser comparison tools are free and require no account. DiffPeek currently offers optional sponsorship and team enquiries, but those do not change the public comparison workflow.
What are the current limitations?
- Folder selection support and permission behavior vary by browser and device.
- XML and HTML comparisons are text or source comparisons, not semantic DOM/XML comparisons.
- Source-code comparison highlights textual differences but does not understand program behavior.
- DiffPeek does not currently provide cloud storage, accounts, three-way conflict resolution, folder file writes, or repository synchronization.
- Very large previews may be paused or condensed to keep the browser tab responsive.
Who publishes DiffPeek and how can facts be corrected?
DiffPeek publishes and maintains the tools and this product reference. If a capability or limitation is inaccurate, email hello@diffpeek.com. See About DiffPeek for the product background.