diff-pdf

Compares two PDF files visually and writes out a PDF with the differences highlighted.

These buttons open the developer's own site, repository or store listing in a new tab. wares.gg does not host downloads.

2 more ways to get diff-pdf

Package managers

About diff-pdf

diff-pdf takes two PDFs and tells you whether they differ, returning 0 or 1 so it works in a script or a build check. With `--output-diff` it produces a PDF with the visual differences highlighted, and with `--view` it opens a simple window where you can page through both files and zoom in.

The viewer has one particularly useful trick: Ctrl and the arrow keys shift the two pages relative to each other, which makes it easy to tell a genuine content change from a page that has simply moved. Ctrl+1 and Ctrl+2 show the left and right documents, and Ctrl+D returns to the diff view.

The author states plainly that the repository is provided as-is and is not actively developed, and that support and feature requests should not be expected.

Strengths

  • Returns an exit code, so it drops straight into a script or a build check
  • Writes a PDF with the differences visually highlighted
  • A viewer mode that can shift the two pages relative to each other to isolate real changes
  • Precompiled Windows ZIP, Homebrew formula and a Fedora package

Limitations

  • The author states it is provided as-is and is not actively developed
  • No support or feature implementation should be expected
  • It compares rendered pages, not text, so it cannot tell you what words changed
  • The interface is minimal

Details

Pricing
Free · Free and open source under the GPL.
License
GPL-2.0
Developer
vslavik
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
How it runs
Downloadable app
Account
Not required
Works offline
Yes
Best suited for
Checking whether a regenerated PDF actually differs from the previous one
Categories
PDF tools
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Selected from the TechWalrus downloads catalog (Office); facts checked against the developer's own pages, 3 sources on file.

Report a wrong fact or a dead link on this listing