# Beyond Compare

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Data comparison software

Beyond Compare Developer Scooter Software Stable release 5.2.2[1] / 20 May 2026; 37 days ago (20 May 2026) Operating system Windows, Mac, Linux Platform Cross-platform Size 27 MB Type Data comparison License Proprietary Website www.scootersoftware.com

**Beyond Compare** is a cross-platform [proprietary](/source/Proprietary_software) [data comparison](/source/Data_comparison) utility. The program is able to compare files and multiple types of [directories](/source/Directory_(file_systems)), as well as [archives](/source/Archive_file).[2] Beyond Compare can be configured as a difftool and mergetool of [version control systems](/source/Version_control_systems), such as [git](/source/Git_(software)).[3]

## Reception

In an April 2009 review, Beyond Compare received four out of five rating stars from [CNET](/source/CNET_Networks). The reviewers initially found the [user interface](/source/Graphical_user_interface) to be "a little overwhelming", but they "quickly got the hang of it" after using the program for a while.[4] *[PC World](/source/PC_World_(magazine))* writer Michael Desmond included the program in a 2005 list of utilities for a "Trouble-Free PC" and praised its "watch list" feature.[5] Beyond Compare also was featured in the March 2005 issue of the *Windows IT Pro magazine* in the "What's Hot" section.[6]

Scott Mitchell, writing for *[MSDN Magazine](/source/MSDN_Magazine)*, identified the program's comparison rules as its most powerful feature.[7] The customizable rules control which differences between two files should be flagged as such. A set of predefined rules is included for the comparison of common file types, such as [C++](/source/C%2B%2B) source code, [XML](/source/XML), and [HTML](/source/HTML) files.[7]

[Steve Gibson](/source/Steve_Gibson_(computer_programmer)) of GRC described it as "a really cool ... very smart Windows-based source comparison tool".[8]

## See also

- [Comparison of file comparison tools](/source/Comparison_of_file_comparison_tools)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-1a664fd02de7a64babcf5497456ab9cff30056d1-v20_1-0)** [https://www.scootersoftware.com/download/v5changelog](https://www.scootersoftware.com/download/v5changelog). Retrieved 20 May 2026. {{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: Missing or empty |title= ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#citation_missing_title))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-scootersoftware_2-0)** ["Access Data Anywhere"](http://www.scootersoftware.com/features.php?zz=features_agile). Scooter Software. Retrieved 2014-09-05.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-superuser_3-0)** ["Configure Git to use Beyond Compare for image diff"](http://superuser.com/questions/643426/configure-git-to-use-beyond-compare-for-image-diff). 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2014-10-16.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-cnet_4-0)** ["CNET editors' review"](https://download.cnet.com/Beyond-Compare/3000-2242_4-10015731.html). [CNET](/source/CNET_Networks). 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-10-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pcworld2_5-0)** Desmond, Michael (2005-05-03). ["The Trouble-Free PC"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110606043956/http://www.pcworld.com/article/120340-6/the_troublefree_pc). [PC World](/source/PC_World_(magazine)). Archived from [the original](http://www.pcworld.com/article/120340-6/the_troublefree_pc) on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-10-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-itpro_6-0)** Mader, Carolyn (February 22, 2005). ["What's Hot"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120914232257/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/exchange-server/what-s-hot45294-45294). Windows IT Pro. Archived from [the original](http://windowsitpro.com/Windows/article/articleid/45294/whats-hot.html) on 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2009-10-20.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-msdn_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-msdn_7-1) Mitchell, Scott (November 2006). ["Toolbox: Synchronize Files, Rich Textboxes, and More"](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc163525.aspx). [MSDN Magazine](/source/MSDN_Magazine). Retrieved 2009-10-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Security Now! Transcript of Episode #855"](https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-855.htm).

## External links

- [Scooter Software, maker of Beyond Compare](http://www.scootersoftware.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Beyond Compare](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_Compare) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_Compare?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.