To compare two Excel files, you have several effective methods depending on your tools and needs:
1. Use Microsoft Spreadsheet Compare (for Office Professional Plus or
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise)
- Open Spreadsheet Compare from the Start menu.
- Click Home > Compare Files.
- Browse to select the earlier version of your workbook in the Compare box.
- Browse to select the newer workbook in the To box.
- Choose comparison options like Formulas , Macros , or Cell Format.
- Click OK to run the comparison.
- The results appear side-by-side with differences highlighted by color, showing changes in formulas, values, formatting, etc.
- Note: This tool is only available in certain Office editions (Professional Plus 2013/2016/2019 or Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise)
2. View Side by Side in Excel
- Open both Excel workbooks.
- Go to the View tab, click View Side by Side.
- Optionally, use Synchronous Scrolling to scroll both files simultaneously.
- This method is manual and visual, suitable for smaller files or quick checks
3. Use Excel Formulas and Conditional Formatting
- Use formulas like
=IF(Sheet1!A1<>Sheet2!A1, "Difference", "")to flag differences. - Apply conditional formatting rules to highlight cells that differ between two sheets or files.
- This approach is flexible and does not require additional tools but can be labor-intensive for large files
4. Use Third-Party Add-ins and Tools
- Synkronizer Excel Compare : A powerful add-in that compares, merges, and updates Excel files, highlighting differences in values, formats, and more, with detailed reports.
- xlCompare : Compares and merges workbooks, sheets, and VBA projects, highlighting differences and allowing merges.
- Change pro for Excel : Compares sheets on desktop and mobile, identifying formula, value, and layout differences.
- Online tools like Diffchecker can also compare Excel files for free
Summary
Method| Description| Best for| Requirements
---|---|---|---
Spreadsheet Compare| Automated detailed comparison with color-coded results|
Professional use, complex workbooks| Office Professional Plus or Microsoft 365
Apps for enterprise
View Side by Side| Manual visual comparison| Quick checks, small files| Any
Excel version
Formulas & Conditional Formatting| Custom formula-based difference detection|
Users comfortable with Excel formulas| Any Excel version
Third-Party Add-ins (Synkronizer, xlCompare)| Advanced comparison, merging,
and reporting| Frequent comparison, large or complex files| Add-in purchase or
download
These methods cover a range of needs from quick visual checks to detailed automated comparisons with reports and merging capabilities
