Beyond Compare Reviews & Product Details

This application allows us to compare files, directories, texts, images, among others, using different comparison methods. Among its best features, we have binary comparison, via CRC, and through rules based on attributes and properties. It also provides us the possibility to synchronize changes at the file, directory, and text levels.

Additionally, it accepts parameters from the command line, which allows us to automate actions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

When we try to compare several directories simultaneously and they have many files, the comparator often marks some transfers as failed, and we have to relaunch the process for those that have failed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The range of features that even a free version of BeyondCompare offers is quite splendid. I like the fact that they offer support for a wide range of file extensions. So beyond code comparison, it even compares photographs, which is a feat. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I haven't noticed any significant flaw that makes me dislike it. It fulfills all types of uses that I can have from a comparison software. But yes, large files take a while to process and detect differences. Have to be careful about spaces and new lines. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The ability to align different lines from the files being compared. Many other diff tools don't have that. It's also useful for comparing folders and one can specify what files types or subfolders need to be excluded or included. Lastly, the pickrules feature is useful for file comparisons depending on the language. I have created my own to compare files with the same number of lines. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I don't have much that I dislike, but I would suggest having a default rule to compare files with the same number of lines. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Saves a lot of files when merging contents from one file to another. Compares very large size files very quick. Binary comparison is best in comparing large file contents without taking any time. Provides options to chose each individual file for differences. Context menu option to select a folder/directory for comparison. Very wide scope of file types under its comparison. Compares program files, text, xml, xsl, and It even can compare bigger excel if needed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

After some installs of higher version and lower version together, Context menu option to select file for comparison disappears. This only comes when you uninstall both the versions and install again. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

As a software developer, I'm comparing and merging files pretty much on a daily basis. I've tried many others (mostly free ones) and decided this one was more than worth the money. Beyond Compare (BC) lets you compare folders and/or files for differences and allows in-place merging of files. The interface is intuitive and assists you in looping through the differences. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I haven't run into anything that really jumps out at me as a problem. I'm sure I don't use BC to its fullest potential -- there are many other file type comparisons that I don't use (MP3 compare, picture compare, registry compare, etc). Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

This tool has lots of features that I find to be helpful for various needs including, moving data and comparing data. It's a really good comprehensive tool. It will even allow you to compare text in documents to determine differences. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It would be nice to be able to move data around that perhaps doesn't exactly match up in a folder-to-folder comparison. Ex: having a text file that corresponds to a PDF, but is located in a different subfolder. It would be really awesome if the tool could find the text file and move it to the same folder as the PDF. Not necessarily a dislike, but more of a suggestion for the next version :-) Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Beyond Compare is the best directory file comparison tool I've found. It has been a critical tool for developing software and websites for me and my company for years.

Things I love:

* Clean User Interface

* Directory Comparison

* Compare with a remote FTP server

* Compare the contents of files in a directory compare

* Ability to compare images and other binary formats

* Save past sessions to quickly pick up where you left off

The price is reasonable and the product has always worked great without any bugs or issues. Licensing is straightforward and it is very easy to try out with their free trial. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

This is understandable, but in large directories the comparison can take a significant amount of time. I wish it was a bit faster. Other than that, it's great. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Multi tab results. Very fast and efficient comparison of entire directory/folders using different comparison methods CRC, binary, Rule based comparison. Take only few seconds to complete the binary or text comparison. Compare all kinds of files like text, Programming files like C, C#, VB etc. Works as third party comparison tool for source controls like SVN and supports these tools in merging the code indirectly. Gives lot of options to perform on comparison window. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It needs manual inspection for any complicated and unorganised text. Does not compare dlls and sql table data very efficiently. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The "smart" comparison of things like zip files is great...it allows for comparisons that are independent of compression settings. Also, comparing images allows you to "see" differences even between file formats. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The XML comparison could be better. It would be nice if it would match elements and attributes regardless of physical order in the file. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

This is a very powerful tool to compare for comparison. I like the comparison of hex files or binary files with this. You can compare: Folders, Text, Database, Hex, MP3, Picture, and Version. The GUI is very good! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Sometimes the tool gets confused at complex situations. You would have to tell the tool to match the lines. But this is acceptable. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.