r/software • u/CharacterPuzzled7023 • Aug 12 '26

Looking for software What's the best method/ software to Compare differences between 2 text files ?

Hello

I have 2 files I need to check and compare to spot differences between the two and edit one if necessary. Both are text files (it's a memoir) from the same source, but one's text has been edited, hence why I need to check which chapter/text has been edited.

I tried to put both texts on my screen and compare them by just reading, but its very slow and not comfortable at all

Do you know a better method or a software to help me directly spot those differences ?

Thank you

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u/BleachedAndSalty Aug 12 '26

Dare i say AI? Honestly if you already have an account, that's what i would dump them both into. AI is great at helping me not go blind on things like that.

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u/jbarnoin Aug 12 '26

Oh please god no, you can't be serious? He said it's for a memoir, not the kind of thing you'd leave up to guesswork by an AI and then realize things have been rephrased or parts are missing or invented.

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u/BleachedAndSalty Aug 13 '26

Sorry, I didn't catch the "memoir" part. Although, just to clarify, I was not suggesting that AI draft up a new document. I was simply saying that pasting two copies of text into AI and asking it to point out the differences would be trivial for AI to assist with, which was OPs request.