# Compare PDFs — Compare two PDFs or documents on Mac

See what changed between two versions of a PDF, Word or text file, in a report PDF. Part of OneMacTools, 151 private tools in one native Mac app (macOS 26 or later); category: PDF. Runs on your Mac; nothing is uploaded.

Add the old version and then the new one: PDFs, Word documents, text or Markdown. OneMacTools compares their text word by word and makes a report PDF: added words in green, removed words in red and struck through, with long unchanged passages shortened so the changes stand out. Scanned PDFs need Make PDF Searchable first.

Page: https://www.onemactools.com/tools/compare-pdfs · Download: https://www.onemactools.com/download · Pricing: https://www.onemactools.com/pricing

## How to use it
1. **Add the old version first.** Drop the older file onto Compare PDFs, then the newer one. The order matters: the first file is treated as old, the second as new.
2. **Check the order.** If they're the wrong way round, drag them in the list so the old version is on top.
3. **Choose about capitals.** Turn on Ignore capital letters if changes in case shouldn't count.
4. **Compare.** Click Compare. The app tells you how many words were added and removed.
5. **Read the report.** A report PDF, named after the new file with “compared”, is saved in Downloads › OneMacTools. Added words are green and underlined; removed words are red and struck through.

## Options
- **Ignore capital letters:** Off by default. Turn it on so “Tenant” and “tenant” count as the same word, and only real wording changes are shown.

## Tips
- You can compare across formats, for example a Word draft against the PDF that came back for signing.
- Long unchanged passages are shortened in the report, so the changes stand out. Keep the original files for full context.
- Compare PDFs looks at wording only. Changes to fonts, layout, images or numbers inside pictures won't show.
- Scanned PDFs have no text to compare. Run them through Make PDF Searchable first.
- Check the report summary line: if it says there are no differences in the text, the wording is identical even if the layout moved.

## Questions
**How do I compare two PDFs for differences on a Mac?**
Drop the old PDF, then the new one, onto Compare PDFs and click Compare. You get a report PDF with added words in green and removed words in red.

**Can I compare a Word document with a PDF?**
Yes. Each file's text is read whatever its format, so you can compare a .docx draft with the PDF that was sent back.

**Does it show formatting or layout changes?**
No. It compares the words only, so a moved paragraph break or a new font won't show, but every added or removed word will.

**Why does it say neither PDF has text to compare?**
The PDFs are probably scans, which are pictures of text. Run them through Make PDF Searchable first, then compare again.

**Can I compare more than two files?**
No. Add exactly two: the old version first, then the new one. To check several drafts, compare them in pairs.

**How do I see what someone changed in a contract?**
Compare the version you sent with the one you got back. Every added or deleted word is highlighted, so changes buried in long clauses are easy to spot.