Check documents. Spot every change.
The most expensive change is the one you miss.
CompareDesk compares Word, PDF and Excel. On your own computer. Without upload.
25 comparisons free, no sign-up.
WWord PPDF XExcel
Compare Word, PDF and Excel.
Every insertion, every deletion, every move. CompareDesk sets two or more versions side by side, for law firms, businesses and public administration.
This is how CompareDesk works. Drop in two versions, take out the result. On your computer, without any upload.
On the deadline:
The contractor shall complete the work by 30 September 2026
by 31 October 2026
. In case of default, a penalty of 0.5 percent of the contract sum per working day applies.
On the consequences of default:
In case of default, a penalty of 0.5 percent of the contract sum per working day applies.
The warranty period is three years from acceptance.
Comparison completeFormats
Not just contracts.
CompareDesk Everything where every word and every figure counts. CompareDesk accepts Word, PDF and Excel, also in mixed pairs: a Word draft and the PDF printed from it yield the same clear result.
Word and text
DOCX, DOC, RTF and TXT. The result is a Word file with genuine tracked changes that you accept or reject one by one.
PDF, including scans
Two PDFs, or a PDF against a Word document. Scanned deeds are opened up by text recognition that runs entirely on your computer.
Excel and spreadsheets
XLSX, XLSM, XLS, ODS and CSV. The comparison runs sheet by sheet and cell by cell; every finding names the cell reference so you can verify it at once.
Mixed pairs
Word against PDF, PDF against scan, draft against execution version. You do not have to bring the files into the same format first.
Your benefit
Six reasons that pay off on the first day.
Minutes instead of hours
A full contract comparison is done in under a minute. Reading two versions against each other by hand costs half a day and still misses passages.
No Office add-in
CompareDesk is a stand-alone program. It does not interfere with your Office installation and therefore does not break when Office is updated.
Nothing leaves your computer
Every comparison runs locally. No upload, no cloud, no third-party server. Even text recognition of scanned deeds works without a network connection.
Whole folders at once
Drop two folders into the fields and CompareDesk forms the pairs itself, compares them and presents an overview table linking to each individual report.
Figures stay figures
Amounts, dates, account numbers and clause references are always compared character by character. Where others smooth over, CompareDesk reports.
At home in ten languages
Interface, reports and text recognition in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Turkish and Croatian.
When two files are not enough
Whole contract packages. Whole negotiations.
Batch comparison
Two folders instead of two files. CompareDesk forms the pairs itself, submits the assignment for confirmation and compares in a single run.
Version chain
Comparing the first with the last version does not show what happened in between. The version history records for each clause which version brought it and which removed it.
Signed comparison certificate
Every output carries the SHA-256 checksums of both versions and a signed certificate. Years later it still shows which versions were compared with which result, and it can be checked without a network connection.
Two stages, one clear result
First the structure, then the word.
CompareDesk first recognises which paragraphs match and where they are. Only in the differing sections is a word-by-word comparison performed. This keeps the comparison clear and reliable even for large, rearranged documents.
- Unchanged sections remain unmarked.
- Changed paragraphs are shown word-precisely.
- Moves are recognised as such.
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Deletion | by 30 September 2026 |
| Insertion | by 31 October 2026 |
| Move | In case of default, a penalty of 0.5 percent of the contract sum per working day applies. |
| Insertion | three years |
Pricing
Clearly priced, no surprises.
All prices per workstation, plus VAT. See all prices
Try it now for free.
25 comparisons without signing up. For Windows and macOS.
Frequently asked questions
What you should know about CompareDesk.
Which file formats can I compare?
Word files (DOCX, DOC), RTF, TXT and PDF, as well as workbooks in the XLSX, XLSM, XLS, ODS and CSV formats. You receive the result as a Word file with tracked changes or as a comparison PDF; when workbooks are compared the result is delivered as a workbook.
Are my documents uploaded?
No. The comparison runs entirely on your own computer. Your documents do not leave your workstation.
How does the free plan work?
You may carry out twenty-five complete comparisons free of charge and without registration, with every function: single comparison, batch comparison and version chain. A batch run or a version chain counts as a single comparison. Thereafter a licence unlocks unlimited use.
Is there a macOS version?
CompareDesk is currently available for Windows. A macOS version is in preparation.
What are the system requirements?
CompareDesk requires Windows 10 from version 1809 or Windows 11 in the 64-bit edition. Word and Excel need not be present; the Word file with tracked changes and the comparison PDF are produced without additional software. Microsoft Word or, alternatively, LibreOffice is needed only for the legacy formats DOC and RTF, because these have to be converted first.
How is formatting handled?
With Word files (DOCX) the formatting is largely preserved, including font, size, bold, indentation, tables, headers and footers and the numbering. From PDF originals the font, size, italics and indentation level are taken over and tables are rendered as tables again; there the presentation is a reconstruction approximating the original. Pure formatting changes form a category of their own and do not mix with the text changes. Watermarks and background stationery are recognised and kept out of the compared text.
How do I compare a Word document with a PDF?
Place both files in the two fields; the formats may differ. If one side is a Word file, it serves as the format-true carrier of the result, so numbering, tables and headers are preserved.
Can CompareDesk compare scanned documents?
Yes. Scanned PDF files without a text layer are read before the comparison by text recognition that works entirely on your computer. Differences stemming from recognition alone are held back; numbers, dates and amounts are checked exactly.
How do I compare many documents or whole folders at once?
With the batch comparison: place one folder in each field. CompareDesk forms the pairs from the file names, presents them for confirmation and compares pair by pair. The result is an overview with one row per pair and an individual report for each.
Can I compare several versions of the same document in sequence?
Yes, with the version comparison: place all versions in one field. They are arranged in time, every transition is compared, and a version history shows which version introduced each clause and which one removed it.
How can I prove which versions were compared?
Every output states the SHA-256 checksum of both files and carries a signed comparison certificate that is embedded in the output itself and also stored alongside it. With the command CompareDesk verify it can be checked at any time without a network connection; it proves that exactly these files were compared at this time with this result.
Can I use CompareDesk alongside another comparison tool?
Yes. CompareDesk is a stand-alone Windows program without an add-in; it does not interfere with Word or Excel and can be run alongside any other tool. Whether it meets your requirements is best checked with your own documents; the first twenty-five comparisons are free.
Is the document comparison GDPR-compliant?
The documents are never transmitted to a server, neither for the comparison nor for text recognition; there is no processing by third parties. The only outbound connection is for the licence check and the search for a new program version. Details are in the privacy policy.
Can I start the comparison from Windows Explorer?
Yes. The context menu of the supported file types and of folders offers the entries "Remember as original version" and "Compare with CompareDesk". On Windows 11 they appear under "Show more options". The comparison can also be run from the command line.