For legal redlines, localization QA, and student revision review, see our Compare Text guide — including when to ignore whitespace and how to read the stats bar.
How to compare two text versions
When you need to see exactly what changed between drafts — not just how many words were added or removed — a line diff clarifies additions, deletions, and untouched lines. Paste the original on the left and the updated version on the right; the table highlights differences and lists line numbers for both sides.
- Paste original text — enter the baseline in the left textarea.
- Paste changed text — add the revised copy on the right.
- Set comparison options — toggle Ignore case or Ignore whitespace when formatting differences should not count.
- Click Compare — or edit either side; comparison can run on input depending on your workflow.
- Review the diff table — added lines, removed lines, and unchanged lines appear with line numbers and color cues.
Reading the diff output
Each row represents a line-level change between the two inputs:
| Row type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Added (highlighted) | Line appears only in the changed version. |
| Removed (highlighted) | Line appears only in the original. |
| Unchanged | Line matches in both versions (may be hidden or muted depending on length). |
The stats bar summarizes totals: how many lines were added, removed, and left unchanged. Use these numbers for quick stand-ups; use the table when you need to quote or revert specific edits.
Comparison options explained
- Ignore case — treats Hello and hello as the same line. Useful for case-insensitive config files or casual copy edits.
- Ignore whitespace — trims leading and trailing spaces and collapses internal whitespace differences. Helpful when only indentation changed.
Leave both unchecked when you need a strict character-for-character line comparison — for example, verifying code snippets or legal clauses where spacing matters.
Pair with Edit Counter
Compare Text answers where edits happened; the Edit Counter summarizes how many words and characters changed overall. Run both when reviewing subcontractor deliverables, translation updates, or policy revisions — diff first for detail, counter second for totals.
Privacy note
Diffing happens entirely in your browser. Neither version of your text is uploaded to ShoutingNow. Confidential contracts, unpublished manuscripts, and internal specs stay on your device — clear the textareas when you finish on a shared workstation.
Related writing tools
- Full guide article for this tool
- Writing Tools Playbook — when to use each utility
- Edit Counter
- Webpage Word Count
- Grammar Checker