Files Read in Your Browser
Your selected spreadsheets are read locally and are not sent to the Compare2Word document-processing API.
Compare Excel Files Online
Choose two Excel files, select the sheets you want to check, and review changed cell values in a clear spreadsheet diff.
Click to select or drag file
Supports .xlsx, .xls
MAX 50MBRead and compared on this device.
Click to select or drag file
Supports .xlsx, .xls
MAX 50MBRead and compared on this device.
Value-by-Value Comparison
Compare displayed cell values in XLSX and XLS files by worksheet, row, and column position.
Focused Difference Review
See added, removed, and changed values without opening two Excel windows or checking cells manually.
Find the Values That Changed Between Two Excel Files
Useful for reports, exports, and revised workbooks
Compare two versions of a budget, inventory list, report, or data export when you need to know which displayed values changed. Upload the original and revised files, then choose the relevant worksheet in each workbook.
How the Excel diff works
The tool lines up cells by their row and column positions and compares the values it can read. This makes it well suited to workbooks that keep the same basic structure between versions.
What the comparison does not include
This is a content check, not a full Excel audit. It does not compare formulas themselves, formatting, charts, macros, comments, or workbook behavior, and comparison results cannot be exported.
Worked example
What an Excel value comparison actually checks
Compare2Word reads the formatted value stored at each worksheet position. That makes the result useful for two versions of the same report, but it is not the same as a formula audit or a database-style record match.
Sample files
Download the exact XLSX pair
Both workbooks contain Summary and Budget sheets, live formulas, formatted currency values, and three changed assumptions.
Sample updated
Expected displayed-value changes in the two-sheet public workbook.
| Worksheet position | Original workbook | Revised workbook |
|---|---|---|
| Summary!B5 — Software | $12,500 | $13,200 |
| Summary!B6 — Training | $0 | $1,800 |
| Summary!B7 — Contingency | $900 | $750 |
| Summary!B8 — Total | $18,800 | $21,150 |
Prepare the workbooks before trusting the diff
The comparison is positional. A clean result depends on using equivalent sheets and keeping rows and columns aligned.
Choose matching worksheet versions
Compare the same logical sheet in each file. A renamed sheet is fine, but unrelated sheets will create a meaningless result.
Check row and column order
Sort both versions the same way first. Inserting a row near the top can make every later position appear different.
Verify important cells in Excel
Use the highlighted positions to focus the review, then open the source workbook when formulas, formatting, comments, or macros matter.
A good fit for
- Monthly exports that keep the same rows and columns
- Budget, inventory, and report revisions with a stable layout
- Finding changed displayed values before a manual workbook review
Choose another method if
- Rows must be matched by an ID rather than their position
- You need to compare formula definitions, cell styles, charts, or macros
- The two workbooks were redesigned between versions
Choose between positional and key-based comparison
See how row movement, duplicate keys, formula results, and CSV normalization change the right method.
See an Excel comparison in action
Watch how to choose two spreadsheets, select sheets, and review changes in displayed cell values.
Excel File Comparison FAQ
How do I compare two Excel files for differences?
Select the original and revised XLSX or XLS files, choose the worksheet to review, and start the comparison. Changed displayed cell values are highlighted by position.
Does the tool compare Excel formulas and formatting?
No. It compares the displayed values that can be read from cells. It does not compare formula definitions, colors, fonts, borders, charts, macros, or other formatting.
What happens if rows were reordered?
Cells are compared by row and column position. If rows or columns moved, the result may show many differences even when the same data exists elsewhere.
Are my spreadsheets uploaded for processing?
The selected files are read in your browser and are not sent to the Compare2Word document-processing API.
Can I export the Excel comparison result?
No. The current comparison view is designed for reviewing differences in the browser and does not provide result export.