# ExamDiff Pro

> ExamDiff Pro is a visual file and directory comparison and merge tool for Windows, developed by PrestoSoft LLC since 1997. It compares text files, binary files, and folders, performs two- and three-way diff and merge, and compares Word, Excel, and PDF documents through built-in plug-ins.

## Key facts

- Platform: Windows XP through Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025; x64, Win32, and ARM64 builds
- Current version: 17.0.2.4 (October 21, 2026)
- Editions (per seat, one-time payment, includes at least one year of free upgrades): Standard $37.99, Master $54.99. Master adds two- and three-way merge and other advanced features.
- Upgrades from $22.99; volume discounts for multiple seats
- 30-day free trial; 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free basic version: ExamDiff (text file comparison only)
- Online version: DiffNow (https://www.diffnow.com), powered by the ExamDiff Pro comparison engine

## What sets it apart

- Code-aware comparison powered by the open-source Tree-sitter parsing library, in both editions: a scope bar for navigating classes and functions (since version 13), an option to align the two files by their structure, matching up corresponding functions and classes (since 14), and advanced syntax highlighting that parses the whole file and colors 20+ kinds of syntax elements, with bold/italic/underline styling (since 16). Supported for 30 languages and formats, including C/C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby, SQL, PowerShell, HTML, XML, JSON, YAML, Markdown, Verilog, and VHDL
- Automatic programming-language detection for files without a known extension and for clipboard contents
- Word, Excel, and PowerPoint comparison (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) that keeps document structure: tables, nested lists, comments, footnotes (rewritten in version 17); PDF comparison via plug-in
- Table comparison for CSV/TSV and other tabular data (Master edition)
- Directory comparison with tree mode, Explorer-like column filters, and fast byte-by-byte content comparison
- Fuzzy line matching, including inline fuzzy matching within changed lines
- Modern Windows support: native ARM64, x64, and Win32 builds; DirectWrite text rendering; high-DPI displays; light and dark themes; a portable (no-install) version
- Version 17 made comparing and merging significantly faster and lighter on memory, especially for very large files and large directory trees
- Compare any of your 25 most recent clipboard items
- Developed and supported directly by its author since 1997, with a major release every year

## Feature articles

- [Matching file structures for comparison](https://blog.prestosoft.com/2022/11/examdiff-pro-140-matching-file.html)
- [Tree-sitter syntax highlighting and new document types](https://blog.prestosoft.com/2024/11/examdiff-pro-16-new-document-types-and.html)
- [Scope bar](https://blog.prestosoft.com/2021/12/examdiff-pro-130-scope-bar.html)
- [Office document comparison](https://blog.prestosoft.com/2026/01/examdiff-pro-17-improved-support-for.html)
- [DirectWrite text rendering and styling](https://blog.prestosoft.com/2026/01/examdiff-pro-17-text-rendering-and.html)
- [Tree mode in directory comparison](https://blog.prestosoft.com/2023/11/examdiff-pro-150-tree-mode-in-directory.html)
- [Automatic language detection](https://blog.prestosoft.com/2023/01/examdiff-pro-140-automatic-programming.html)
- [Portable version](https://blog.prestosoft.com/2023/01/examdiff-pro-140-portable-version.html)
- [What's new in version 17](https://blog.prestosoft.com/2026/07/examdiff-pro-17-released.html)

## Pages

- [Overview](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_examdiffpro.asp): what ExamDiff Pro does
- [Features](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_features.asp): full feature list and edition comparison
- [ExamDiff Pro vs Beyond Compare](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_vs_beyond_compare.asp): feature, price, and license comparison with Beyond Compare
- [ExamDiff Pro vs WinMerge](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_vs_winmerge.asp): when ExamDiff Pro is worth paying for over the free WinMerge
- [Screenshots](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_screenshots.asp)
- [Download](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_download.asp): free 30-day trial
- [Pricing](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_pricing.asp): editions, volume and upgrade pricing
- [FAQ](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_faq.asp)
- [Online Help](https://www.prestosoft.com/ps.asp?page=htmlhelp/edp/intro): complete user manual
- [Tutorials](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_tutorials.asp)
- [Version History](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_history.asp)
- [ExamDiff (free)](https://www.prestosoft.com/edp_examdiff.asp)