Code Compare
Version control clients
DevOps software
Source code management software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$69.95 perpetual license
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What is Code Compare
Code Compare is a file and folder comparison tool used to review differences in source code and other text-based assets. It supports side-by-side diffs and merge operations and is commonly used by developers during code reviews, troubleshooting, and change validation. The product is available as a standalone desktop application and is also offered as an extension that integrates into Microsoft Visual Studio workflows.
Visual diff and merge
Code Compare provides side-by-side comparisons with highlighting to identify line-level changes quickly. It includes merge capabilities to help reconcile differences between two versions of a file. This fits common developer workflows where a dedicated diff/merge client complements a version control system rather than replacing it.
Folder comparison support
The product supports comparing directories to identify added, removed, and modified files across two trees. This is useful for validating release branches, vendor drops, or generated artifacts where changes span many files. Folder-level diffing can reduce reliance on manual file-by-file inspection.
Visual Studio integration option
Code Compare offers an extension for Microsoft Visual Studio, enabling comparisons and merges from within the IDE. This reduces context switching for teams that primarily work in Visual Studio. It also aligns with environments where the version control UI is embedded in the development toolchain.
Not a full SCM client
Code Compare focuses on diff/merge and does not function as a complete source code management system. It does not provide repository hosting, branching policies, pull request workflows, or end-to-end change governance. Teams still need separate tooling for repository management and broader DevOps processes.
Limited DevOps automation scope
The product is primarily a desktop comparison utility rather than a CI/CD or release automation component. It is not designed to manage pipelines, deployments, or infrastructure workflows. In DevOps toolchains, it typically serves as an auxiliary tool for human review rather than automated enforcement.
Platform and ecosystem constraints
The strongest integration is with Visual Studio-centric workflows, which may be less relevant for teams standardized on other IDEs. Cross-platform parity and deep integrations across multiple repository providers are not the product’s primary focus. Organizations with heterogeneous developer environments may need additional diff/merge tools to standardize workflows.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Two-way text comparison and merge, folder comparison, Visual Studio & Windows Explorer integration, VCS/CLI integration, basic text editor features. (Devart: Code Compare Free edition). |
| Pro | $69.95 (single-user perpetual license) | All Free features plus three-way comparison & merge, automatic file merging, structured (semantic) code comparison, moved/similar code detection, code outlining/folding, unchanged regions collapsing, word-by-word & line-by-line comparison. Purchase provides a perpetual license; updates are managed via a 12-month subscription for updates/technical support per Devart's EULA. |
Seller details
Devart
Prague, Czech Republic
1997
Private
https://www.devart.com/
https://x.com/devart
https://www.linkedin.com/company/devart/
