Code Compare by Devart: Free Alternative That Runs in Your Browser

Code Compare by Devart is a popular diff and merge tool for Visual Studio and standalone use. It's well-regarded — but at $49.95 per year for the Pro version, it's an annual subscription for something many developers only need occasionally.

For comparing code snippets, reviewing changes, or checking what changed between two versions of a function, Raven Code Diff does the job for free in your browser — no download, no subscription.

What Code Compare by Devart Offers

Code Compare is a diff and merge tool available as a standalone application and as a Visual Studio extension. Its main features include:

• Two-way and three-way file comparison
• Folder comparison and synchronization
• Integration with Visual Studio 2019/2022 as an extension
• Git, SVN, and TFS integration
• Syntax highlighting for 20+ languages
• Inline diff mode

The free version has most features but limits three-way merge and some advanced options. The Pro version is $49.95/year per user, or $99 for a perpetual license.

If you're a .NET developer who lives in Visual Studio and compares files dozens of times a day, the Visual Studio integration makes Code Compare worth considering. For everyone else, or for quick comparisons outside the IDE, a browser tool is more practical.

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Free Browser Alternative: Instant Code Diff Without Installation

Raven Code Diff covers the core comparison use case with zero cost and zero installation:

• Side-by-side comparison with syntax highlighting
• 20+ languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, C#, Java, Go, Rust, SQL, HTML, CSS, and more
• Green for additions, red for deletions — same visual convention
• Adjustable context lines (3, 5, 10, or all)
• Works in any browser on any OS

The key difference from Code Compare: you paste code rather than opening files from disk. This is a limitation for folder-level comparisons, but for function-level or file-content comparisons it's actually faster — you skip the file-open dialog entirely.

When to Use Code Compare vs Free Browser Tool

Use Code Compare by Devart when:

• You're a Visual Studio user who wants diff integrated directly in the IDE
• You need three-way merge for complex conflict resolution
• You compare entire project folders regularly
• You work with SVN or TFS repositories that need specialized diff support

Use the free browser tool when:

• You're comparing code snippets rather than whole files
• You're not in Visual Studio (you're in VS Code, a terminal, a browser)
• You don't want to pay for comparison capabilities you use occasionally
• You need to compare code on a machine without Code Compare installed

For teams that already pay for Code Compare, the browser tool is a useful complement — something to reach for when you're not in Visual Studio and just need a quick diff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Code Compare by Devart free?

Code Compare has a free version with basic features, but three-way merge, folder comparison, and Visual Studio integration are limited or unavailable in the free tier. The Pro version is $49.95/year. For basic code comparison, Raven Code Diff is completely free with no limitations.

What is the best free code comparison tool?

For browser-based comparison with no download, Raven Code Diff is free and covers most comparison needs. For desktop tools, WinMerge (Windows) is free and open source. For VS Code users, the built-in diff viewer is excellent for file comparisons.