Top 8 Excel Compare Solutions
A few month back we where evaluating a solution that can help with merging and comparing Excel files and which can save time to update files. And since we did quite a bit of effort, we decided to create a small website to help others to decide what might work best for them.
So here we go… excelmerge.com – Happy if it helps!
Reviewed solutions
In our evaluation we only included solutions, that can be installed locally on each PC. Therefore, applications that can be used on the internet, have not been part of our evaluation and review.
| Developer | XL Consulting GmbH |
| Year of first Release | 2000 |
| Latest Version | 11.2 |
| Single License | USD 109 |
Synkronizer is the solution that has been longest in the market and by the version history we can tell, that this company has put in a very serious effort to make their Excel Compare Software one of the best solutions.
Features and Highlights…
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Multiple filters and options to improve comparison accuracy. |
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High accuracy to identify nearly any type of difference. |
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Automatic updating of single differences and of entire difference groups. |
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Embedded in Excel as an Add-In, it supports a seamless work process with a single interface. |
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Matches and updates inserted columns and rows without any difficulty. |
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Compares workbooks with multiple worksheets and/or databases in a single step. |
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Ongoing product development and improvement. |
Our Conclusion…
A very powerful, professional solution that brings the comparison of Excel spreadsheets and databases to a whole new level. Its strengths are in finding nearly any type of differences and in enabling users to update Excel files automatically within a single user interface.
| Developer | Spreadsheet Tools |
| Year of first Release | n/a |
| Latest Version | 5.3.3 |
| Single License | USD 99.99 |
xlCompare is a powerful standalone solution which delivers instant results even for very large files. The software provides options to compare, merge or deduplicate records within worksheets and databases.
Features and Highlights…
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Allows multiple additional options beyond Excel file comparison. |
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Past projects are saved and can be repeated with a single click. |
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Basic automatic… updating of single differences and entire difference groups. |
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Several filters and options to improve comparison accuracy and to enhance results. |
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Clean and simple user interfaces with a good, intuitive navigation. |
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Compares workbooks with multiple worksheets and/or databases in a single step. |
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Standalone solution that enables a seamless work process with a single, easy to understand interface. |
Our Conclusion…
Good user interfaces that make navigation very convenient. Even though navigation is simple and easy, xlCompare is a strong solution for comparing Excel spreadsheets and databases. With some limitations, differences can be automatically updated.
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Year of first Release | 2012 |
| Latest Version | n/a |
| Single License | Free with Office Professional |
Spreadsheet Inquire is an Excel Add-In that is free with Office Professional. It analyzes and compares Excel spreadsheets and shows links between workbooks and worksheets. However, Spreadsheet Inquire does not support automatic updating of cell differences.
Features and Highlights…
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Free Excel Add-In but only available with Office Professional. |
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Analyzes and compares Excel workbooks and multiple worksheets. |
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Very good user interface. Easy and simple to understand and convenient navigation with hyperlinks. |
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Strong in visualizing differences and relationships between cells, worksheets and workbooks. |
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Identifies a wide range of difference types, including VBA and command lines. |
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Lacks features to compare and analyze databases and does not support updating of differences. |
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Capable of removing excess formatting and reducing file sizes. |
Our Conclusion…
When it comes to just analyzing and comparing Excel spreadsheets Spreadsheet Inquire is one of the leading solutions. Unfortunately it lacks filter and setting options as well as database features and it is not capable of updating differences.
| Developer | Sourceforge |
| Year of first Release | 2004 |
| Latest Version | 1.35.3 |
| Single License | free |
Excel Add-In that provides multiple options for comparison. It compares workbooks with multiple worksheets and validates spreadsheet names before comparison. It clearly shows differences but automatic updating is not possible.
Features and Highlights…
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Excel Add-In with three different comparison options. |
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Compares multiple worksheets of a workbook at once. |
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Matches the most essential difference types. |
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It is a free solution and, even basic, does the job for simple, easy tasks. |
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It displays spreadsheets side by side and allows parallel scrolling for convenient result viewing. |
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Automatic updating of individual differences or difference types is not possible. |
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Very limited filter and option settings. Comparison on databases is possible on a very basic level. |
Our Conclusion…
Excel Add-In that provides multiple options for comparison. It compares workbooks with multiple worksheets and validates spreadsheet names before comparison. It clearly shows differences without automatic updating features.
| Developer | Florencesoft |
| Year of first Release | 2011 |
| Latest Version | 3.12 |
| Single License | USD 80.00 |
DiffEngine X is a standalone solution, that allows to compare all worksheets within a workbook. Multiple filter and option settings make sure, that a good number of difference types are identified. Automatic updating of individual differences and difference types is not possible.
Features and Highlights…
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Display of results and applying these results can be challenging. |
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Identifies most essential difference types and summarizes them in a report. |
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Standalone solution that compares all worksheets within a workbook at once. |
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Offers a good amount of filter and option settings to improve matching accuracy. |
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Updating of individual differences and difference types is not possible. Only entire workbooks can be updated. |
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Basic but easy to understand interfaces that guide the user through the comparison process. |
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Capable of aligning columns and validating worksheet names before comparison. |
Our Conclusion…
A robust solution that allows multiple filter and option settings in a single interface, which guides the user through the comparison process. Essential difference types are correctly identified. However, even correctly identified, understanding and applying results is a bit of a challenge.
| Developer | Office Assistance LLC |
| Year of first Release | 2006 |
| Latest Version | 1.1.9 |
| Single License | USD 59.00 |
Excel Add-In that allows to compare single worksheets of a workbook and allows to select ranges of a worksheet to be compared. It is a simple, easy to understand solution that clearly shows differences.
Features and Highlights…
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Excel Add-In that allows to compare single worksheets. |
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Allows to select ranges of a worksheet to be compared. |
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Basic but clean and clear interface and a well guided process through the comparison task. |
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Identifies a good amount of difference types and displays them in an easy to understand way. |
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Simultaneous scrolling is certainly a plus and makes result viewing convenient. |
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Does not allow to update differences and has very few filter and option settings. |
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Good for simple, very basic needs of Excel file comparison. |
Our Conclusion…
Compare Spreadsheets for Excel does exactly what the name indicates and identifies a good range of difference types correctly. It is easy to use, but fairly basic. It is good for simple, basic spreadsheets and it shows identified differences in an easy to understand way.
| Developer | Formula Software |
| Year of first Release | 2001 |
| Latest Version | 3.8 |
| Single License | USD 39.95 |
FormulaSoft is a standalone Excel compare solution which allows the comparison of multiple worksheets simultaneously. The new version 3.8 has been just released in April 2018.
Features and Highlights…
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Standalone Excel compare solution with a resent version release in April 2018. |
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Allows to save comparison tasks as projects and the creation of comparison templates of a basic scope. |
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The solution updates all identified differences at once without the option to control or manage these changes. |
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Automatic updating of individual differences or difference types is not possible. |
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Solution is capable to identify a basic set of differences but misses several differences types. |
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Even though a new version has been just released, no significant product improvement could be recognized. |
Our Conclusion…
Excel Compare from Formula Software has a basic set of options and features to compare workbooks. However, differences are updated for the entire workbook only and without the chance to control these updates, which is, in our opinion, a very risky feature and devalues the solution substantially.
| Developer | Agora Software |
| Year of first Release | n/a |
| Latest Version | 3.2 |
| Single License | USD 69.00 |
4Tops is a simple Excel compare standalone solution that works best for simple comparison tasks. It allows to compare single worksheets only. It has a very basic but easy to use interface.
Features and Highlights…
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4Tops will work best for private use. |
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Selection of ranges to be compared within a worksheet. |
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Simple, easy to understand interfaces that do not require further explanations. |
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Comparison results can be displayed in a customizable report. |
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Does the job for simple comparison tasks that do not have a big variety of difference types. |
Our Conclusion…
This solution is rather basic but does the job for simple comparison tasks. Even though it allows the user to select ranges to be compared it only permits to compare worksheet by worksheet and not entire workbooks. For larger files it runs very slowly and requires quite a bit of waiting.