Compare PDF

Show a side-by-side document comparison.

How it works
  1. 1Add the originalDrop in the first version of the document.
  2. 2Add the new versionChoose the second file. Both open side by side and the comparison runs right away.
  3. 3Review and downloadClick a change in the report to jump to it, then download the new version with every change marked.
At a glance
two versions with synced scrolling
Side by side
every edit, addition and deletion listed
Change report
uploaded: both files stay on your device
0 bytes
no sign-up, no watermark
Free

Questions and answers

How do I compare two PDF files for differences?

Add the original, then the new version. Pagestro shows them side by side, highlights the differences and lists every change in a report.

What kinds of changes does it find?

Text that was edited, added or removed, page by page, and layout shifts: text that stayed the same but moved, such as paragraphs pushed down by an insertion, is grouped into one change that says how far it moved. Changes to images, colors or fonts aren’t reported.

What if a page was added or removed?

Pages are compared in order, page 1 with page 1 and so on. If the new version gains or loses a page, text after that point may show as removed on one side and added on the other.

Does it work with scanned PDFs?

Yes. Any page with little or no text is read with OCR, on every page of both files, and Deep Scan runs OCR on all pages. Recognition is in English.

Can I save the comparison?

Yes. Download the marked PDF: the new version with every change outlined in red.

Are my files uploaded?

No. Both PDFs are read and compared in your browser and never leave your device.

Related tools

At a glance

two versions with synced scrolling
Side by side
every edit, addition and deletion listed
Change report
uploaded: both files stay on your device
0 bytes
no sign-up, no watermark
Free

Compare two PDFs in three steps

  1. 1

    Add the original

    Drop in the first version of the document.

    Compare PDF drop zone
  2. 2

    Add the new version

    Choose the second file. Both open side by side and the comparison runs right away.

    Two PDF versions side by side with changes highlighted
  3. 3

    Review and download

    Click a change in the report to jump to it, then download the new version with every change marked.

    Change report and marked PDF download

What you get

Nothing slips through between drafts

Built for the moment a “final” version comes back with edits nobody mentioned.

  • Changes highlighted on the page

    Edited, added, removed and moved text is marked on both documents, so you see each change in context.

  • A list of every change

    The change report shows old and new wording, grouped by page. Click one to jump there.

  • Scroll both at once

    Synced scrolling and shared zoom keep the two versions lined up.

  • Download a marked copy

    Save the new version with each change outlined in red, ready to send back with your questions.

  • Search the changes

    Filter the report by a word or phrase.

  • Private

    Both files stay on your device.

Confidential by design

Compare contracts without sharing them

The documents worth comparing are usually the sensitive ones: agreements, offers, policies. Pagestro reads and compares both files in your browser, so neither version is uploaded anywhere.

  • Both files processed on your device
  • Old and new wording shown for each change
  • Marked copy saved straight to your computer

Best on a bigger screen

Room for two documents

Comparing means reading two pages at once next to a list of changes. It works best on a laptop, desktop or a tablet held sideways, where both versions and the report fit on screen together.

  • Two pages and the change report in one view
  • Zoom to fit width or height
  • Nothing to install
Compare PDF on a tablet

Know exactly what changed

  • Differences found

    Lawyers and paralegals

    Check a returned draft

    See which clauses the other side changed before you sign off.

  • Differences found

    Freelancers

    Review a revised scope

    Catch quiet changes to deliverables, dates or fees in a client’s new version.

  • Differences found

    Editors and teachers

    Track revisions

    See what a writer or student changed between two submissions.

How Pagestro compares

How Pagestro compares
PagestroDesktop softwareUpload-based sites
Files stay on your deviceYesYesNo
Nothing to installYesNoYes
Downloadable marked copyYesVariesVaries
Compares images and formattingNoVariesVaries
PriceFreeOften a paid licenseOften free with limits

Compare PDF questions

Didn't find your answer? Write to us and we'll reply by email.

How do I compare two PDF files for differences?

Add the original, then the new version. Pagestro shows them side by side, highlights the differences and lists every change in a report.

What kinds of changes does it find?

Text that was edited, added or removed, page by page, and layout shifts: text that stayed the same but moved, such as paragraphs pushed down by an insertion, is grouped into one change that says how far it moved. Changes to images, colors or fonts aren’t reported.

What if a page was added or removed?

Pages are compared in order, page 1 with page 1 and so on. If the new version gains or loses a page, text after that point may show as removed on one side and added on the other.

Does it work with scanned PDFs?

Yes. Any page with little or no text is read with OCR, on every page of both files, and Deep Scan runs OCR on all pages. Recognition is in English.

Can I save the comparison?

Yes. Download the marked PDF: the new version with every change outlined in red.

Are my files uploaded?

No. Both PDFs are read and compared in your browser and never leave your device.