How to compare two CSV files
- Load the old file on the left and the new file on the right (paste, drop or open).
- Pick the column that identifies a row in both files, such as id, sku or url. A unique shared column is chosen for you when there is one.
- Read the summary, then scroll the table: added rows are green, removed rows red, and changed cells show the old value struck through next to the new one.
- Download the change list as CSV to share or filter it.
Options
- Ignore spaces / case
- Hides changes that are only whitespace or capitalization, common when one export comes from a different system.
- Compare numbers by value
- Treats 1.50 and 1.5, or 007 and 7, as equal.
- Row position
- Compares row 1 with row 1 and so on, for files without a key whose order is stable.
Frequently asked questions
How are rows matched?
By the key column you choose, which must exist in both files. CSV Lark suggests the first shared column whose values are unique in both. Without a key, compare by row position instead.
What if columns were added, removed or reordered?
Columns are matched by header name, so their order does not matter. Columns that exist in only one file are listed separately and do not count as cell changes.
Can I export the differences?
Yes. Download change list writes one line per changed cell, and per value of added or removed rows, with the key, column, old value and new value, which is easy to filter in a spreadsheet.