Compare two file lists

Paste two lists of file names, one per line, and see instantly what is only in the first list, only in the second, or present in both. Useful for checking a backup, a sync or a migration finished completely.

  • Free
  • No sign-up
  • Runs in your browser
compare-file-lists

Fill in the values above to see the result.

100% private — the calculation is done in your browser and nothing is sent to any server.

How it works

Paste both lists

File names, one per line, from a folder listing or an export.

Read the comparison

What's only in A, only in B, and in both.

Copy what you need

Each group has its own copy button.

Did every file make it across?

After copying files to a backup drive, migrating a folder to a new cloud service, or syncing a project between two computers, the question is always the same: did everything actually transfer? Opening two folders side by side and checking file by file does not scale past a handful of files. Pasting a file listing from each location and comparing them here does.

How to get a file listing

Most operating systems can print a plain list of file names in a folder with a short command: ls on macOS and Linux, or dir /b on Windows, both of which can be redirected to a text file and then pasted here. A cloud storage service's export or a simple screenshot-free copy from a file manager's list view works too.

What the comparison shows

  • Only in A: files present in the first list but missing from the second, worth checking whether they failed to transfer.
  • Only in B: files present in the second list but not the first, which could be new files added at the destination, or files that were renamed during the move.
  • In both: files found in both lists by name, confirming they made the trip.

Case sensitivity

Some systems treat "Photo.jpg" and "photo.jpg" as different files, others do not. By default this comparison ignores the difference, since a rename in case alone is rarely meaningful; turn that off if you specifically need an exact, case-sensitive match.

Limits

This compares file names only, not file content or size, so a file that exists in both places but was corrupted or truncated during transfer will still show as present in both. For that level of certainty you need a checksum comparison, which is outside what a plain name list can tell you. Everything is compared in your browser.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if all my files copied correctly?
Get a file listing from both locations, paste them into the two boxes, and see which files are missing from each side.
How do I get a list of file names from a folder?
Use ls on macOS and Linux, or dir /b on Windows, in a terminal, and redirect the output to a text file, or copy it directly.
Does it check file content, not just names?
No, only names are compared. A file with the same name but different or corrupted content would still show as present in both.
Does it care about uppercase and lowercase?
Not by default; it treats Photo.jpg and photo.jpg as the same file. Turn off that option for an exact match.
Can I compare more than file names, like full paths?
Yes, paste full paths instead of just names if that's what you have; they are compared as plain text either way.
Is my file list uploaded?
No. The comparison happens in your browser.

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