Kaleidoscope

Free trial Mac

What Kaleidoscope is

Kaleidoscope is a macOS app for comparing and merging text, images, and folders. Git integration provides repository, changeset, file-history, and conflict-resolution views, including three-way merge. Text Compare highlights character-level differences, hides unchanged areas, and lets you move between changes. Image Compare offers split, blink, drag, and diff views, while Pixel Comparison shows formats and color profiles. Folder comparison displays trees with inline diffs, Quick Look, and copying between sides. Integrations include Subversion, Mercurial, Xcode, Safari, VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Android Studio, several Git clients, and more. The ksdiff command-line tool opens files from commands or scripts for diff and merge operations. A seven-day trial includes all features and requires macOS Sequoia (15.x) or later. Yearly costs $8 a year for one user and three devices; Team costs $10 a year with team management.

Who it suits

Kaleidoscope suits Mac developers, designers, and teams comparing source files, images, folders, and Git changes. Its integrations and command-line tool support workflows built around developer applications.

What it does well

Compares text, images, and folders
Includes Git conflict and three-way merge views
Provides multiple image comparison modes
Folder view supports copying between sides
Command-line diff and merge tool included

What to know first

macOS-only platform
Current app requires an active subscription
Trial requires macOS Sequoia (15.x) or later

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Trial	Free for 7 days · all features · macOS Sequoia (15.x) or later	Free
Team	Billed Yearly · Same as Yearly Plan · team management · volume discount (5+ users)	$10 a year
Yearly	Yearly · 1 user · 3 devices · unlimited app updates	$8 a year
Monthly	Monthly · 1 user · 3 devices · unlimited app updates	On request

As kaleidoscope.app lists them, read 5 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

Kaleidoscope brings detailed comparison and merge views to text, images, folders, and Git projects on macOS. Confirm your macOS version and subscription requirements before moving from the trial.

Facts from Kaleidoscope's own pages

Command-line tool: Kaleidoscope includes ksdiff to open files from the command line or scripts, including diff and merge operations. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Company: The legal notice identifies Leitmotif GmbH at Glanzweg 22, 9872 Millstatt, Austria. · cloud.kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Folder comparison: Folder comparison displays folder trees and supports inline diffs, Quick Look, and copying items between sides. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Founded: 2022 · kaleidoscope.app, 28 Sept 2026
Git: The app integrates with Git and provides repository, changeset, file history, and conflict resolution views. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Git client integrations: The download setup guide lists Tower, Fork, GitFox, GitKraken, Sourcetree, GitHub Desktop, Sublime Merge, and the Git command-line client. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Headquarters: Millstatt, Austria · kaleidoscope.app, 28 Sept 2026
Image comparison: Image Compare offers split, blink, drag, and diff views, and Pixel Comparison shows formats and color profiles. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Other integrations: The Integration window documents Git, Subversion, Mercurial, Python, Xcode, Safari, VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Android Studio, Alfred, BBEdit, Versions, Bazaar, and TextMate. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Privacy and security: The privacy policy says the company does not sell personal information and describes reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards; it was last updated May 22, 2023. · cloud.kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Purpose: Kaleidoscope compares and merges text, image, and folder contents. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Subscription limit: An active subscription is required to use the current app, and access ends when the subscription ends; older Kaleidoscope 2 or 3 licenses remain usable indefinitely. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Support: Users can contact support or send feedback from the app’s Help menu, or email [email protected]. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026
Text comparison: Text Compare highlights character-level differences, collapses unchanged areas, and supports navigation between changes. · kaleidoscope.app, 5 Oct 2026

Where Kaleidoscope stands on Freedom251

File Comparison Software#32 of 33
Diff and Merge Tools#29 of 29