Compare Two CSV Files
Paste the old and the new version, choose the column that identifies each row, and get a list of added rows, removed rows and every cell that changed, with its old and new value.
Drag a file here or choose one
Drag a file here or choose one
Worked examples
A price change and a new row
Old: ID,Price / 1,2.50 / 2,3.10 New: ID,Price / 1,2.75 / 3,4.00
Changed: ID 1, Price, 2.50 to 2.75. Removed: ID 2. Added: ID 3.
Matched on ID.
About Compare Two CSV Files
When a price list, a customer file or a report is updated, you want to know what changed. Paste the old and the new version, choose the column that identifies each row, such as an ID or a reference, and the tool lists the rows that were added, the rows that were removed and every cell that changed, with its old and new value. Rows are matched on the key and columns on their names, so the order of rows and columns does not matter.
Use a second key column when one is not enough, for example a customer and a month. Numbers can be treated as the same when only the formatting differs, so 5 and 5.00 are equal. Choose which view to see and download: the list of changed cells, the changed rows as they now stand, the rows added, the rows removed or the rows that are the same. Columns that exist in only one version are listed, so you do not miss a renamed heading.
How to use Compare Two CSV Files
- Paste or open the old version, then the new version.
- Choose the key column, and a second one if you need it. The column names must be the same in both tables.
- Choose what to see: changed cells, changed rows, added, removed or unchanged.
- Download the view you need.
Common uses
- Seeing what changed between two price lists
- Checking an updated customer export against the last one
- Finding records removed from a system
- Auditing changes before importing a new file
Frequently asked questions
What is a key column?
A column whose value identifies a row, such as an ID, an email address or a reference. It must be in both tables and should not repeat.
What if a key repeats?
Only the first row for each key is compared and the number of skipped rows is reported. Choose a second key column to tell such rows apart.
How are changes shown?
As a list with the key, the column, the value before and the value after. A price changing from 2.50 to 2.75 appears as one line.
Are 5 and 5.00 different?
Not by default. The box Treat 5 and 5.00 as the same is ticked, so numbers are compared by value. Untick it to compare the text exactly.
What if the column names differ?
Only columns with the same name in both tables are compared, ignoring capitals and spaces at the ends. Columns found in only one version are listed in the note.