Freedom251 › File Comparison Software
Beyond Compare
What Beyond Compare is
Beyond Compare is a desktop application for comparing folders, text files, images, and tables, then reviewing differences and merging changes. Folder comparisons can include subfolders and apply filters based on modified time, size, filename case, or file content. Text tools offer syntax highlighting and inline editing, with options to ignore whitespace and comment differences; Pro adds two-way and three-way text merging. It also compares CSV and tab-delimited data, HTML tables, Excel worksheets, binary files, images, and audio tag data.
Folder Sync reconciles data and can copy to or from disks, FTP servers, and zip files. Command-line scripts can schedule syncs. Pro includes secure FTP connections, remote Subversion repositories, and cloud storage options such as WebDAV, Amazon S3, Dropbox, and OneDrive. It can launch comparisons from major version control systems, and the site lists integration resources and a Visual Studio Code extension. Beyond Compare runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. A free evaluation is available, but continued use requires a license. Per-user Standard costs $35 as a one-time purchase; per-user Pro costs $70 as a one-time purchase.
Who it suits
Beyond Compare suits developers and other users who need to inspect differences across folders, text, and structured or visual data. Pro is relevant for teams that need text merging, remote repositories, or cloud storage connections.
What it does well
- Compares folders recursively with configurable filters and criteria.
- Text comparison includes syntax highlighting and inline editing.
- Pro supports two-way and three-way text merge.
- Folder Sync works with disks, FTP servers, and zip files.
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What to know first
- There is no free plan; continued use requires a license.
- Pro features require the higher-priced Pro Edition.
- Site and Enterprise licenses have substantially higher one-time prices.
Limits
The free evaluation does not permit continued use without purchasing a license. Standard does not include the Pro text-merge features or the listed Pro remote and cloud access options.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Edition — Site | One-time purchase; no annual renewal fees. · Unlimited users at a single named location | $10,500, paid once |
| Standard Edition — Enterprise | One-time purchase; no annual renewal fees. · All users of an organization worldwide | $21,000, paid once |
| Standard Edition — Per-User | One-time purchase; no annual renewal fees. · Per user · each licensed user may use Beyond Compare on any number of computers | $35, paid once |
| Pro Edition — Enterprise | One-time purchase; no annual renewal fees. · All users of an organization worldwide | $42,000, paid once |
| Standard Edition — Site | One-time purchase; no annual renewal fees. · Unlimited users at a single named location | $5,250, paid once |
| Pro Edition — Per-User | One-time purchase; no annual renewal fees. · Per user · each licensed user may use Beyond Compare on any number of computers | $70, paid once |
As scootersoftware.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Beyond Compare website.
- Choose Standard or Pro, with per-user, Site, and Enterprise licensing options available.
- Use the free evaluation before purchasing a license for continued use.
- Install it on Linux, macOS, or Windows.
Verdict
Choose Beyond Compare if you need desktop comparison and merge tools across folders and multiple file formats. Look elsewhere if you need a free ongoing plan or require Pro-only merge and remote-access features at the Standard price.
Questions
Does Beyond Compare have a free plan?
No. A free evaluation is available, but continued use requires a license.
How much does Beyond Compare cost?
Per-user Standard Edition is $35 as a one-time purchase, and per-user Pro Edition is $70 as a one-time purchase. Site and Enterprise licenses are also available.
Which platforms does it support?
Beyond Compare runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What does Pro add?
Pro adds two-way and three-way text merge, secure FTP, remote Subversion repositories, and cloud storage options including WebDAV, Amazon S3, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
Can Beyond Compare integrate with version control?
It can launch comparisons from major version control systems. The site also lists integration resources and a Visual Studio Code extension.
Is the license a subscription?
The listed licenses are one-time purchases with no annual renewal fees. Minor updates are free within the licensed major version; major upgrades are generally half price.
Facts from Beyond Compare's own pages
- Customer base
- Scooter Software says Beyond Compare has over a million users worldwide, ranging from individual developers to Fortune 500 personnel. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Folder comparison
- Folder comparison supports filters, recursive subfolder comparison, and criteria including modified time, size, filename case, and file content. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Free evaluation
- Beyond Compare may be evaluated for free, but a license must be purchased for continued use; the site does not state a trial duration. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Madison, Wisconsin, USA · scootersoftware.com, 23 Sept 2026
- License updates
- The license is a one-time purchase, minor updates are free within the licensed major version, and major version upgrades are generally half price. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Other formats
- The feature list includes comparisons for CSV, tab-delimited, HTML table, Excel worksheet, binary, image, and audio tag data. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Scooter Software says it does not sell, trade, or rent personal information and states that its handling of personal information is GDPR compliant. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Beyond Compare compares folders, text files, images, and tables, and helps users review differences and merge changes. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Remote and cloud access
- Pro includes secure FTP connections, remote Subversion repositories, and cloud storage options including WebDAV, Amazon S3, Dropbox, and OneDrive. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Support resources include a help file, video tutorials, articles, user forums, problem reporting, and direct contact options. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Synchronization
- Folder Sync can reconcile data and copy to or from disks, FTP servers, and zip files, while scripts can be run from the command line for scheduled syncs. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Text and merges
- Text comparisons support syntax highlighting, inline editing, and ignoring differences such as whitespace and comments; Pro adds two-way and three-way text merge. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Version control integration
- Beyond Compare can launch comparisons from major version control systems, and its site lists resources for version control integration and a Visual Studio Code extension. · scootersoftware.com, 4 Oct 2026
Where Beyond Compare stands on Freedom251
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