Row order doesn't matter
Rows are matched on your key columns, so a re-sorted export doesn't light up every line as changed the way text diff tools do.
All use cases
Compare two files, get answers people can read.
Line-by-line diff tools fall apart on spreadsheets: rows reorder, columns shift, and the output means nothing to a teammate. CSV Power Editor compares two CSV or Excel files by the key columns you choose and produces a spreadsheet-friendly compare workbook with summaries, changed columns, and audit notes.
How to
A reviewable diff in five steps.
- 1
Open the first file
Open this week's export, the new vendor list, or the post-cleanup file — CSV or XLSX.
- 2
Start the Compare Files wizard
Pick Compare Files from Power Tools and choose the second file to compare against. You can also compare sheets inside one workbook with Compare Multiple Sheets.
- 3
Map the key columns
Tell the wizard which columns identify a row — an ID, an email, or a combination. Matching works on keys, not row order, so resorted files still compare correctly.
- 4
Run the compare
The result is a new compare workbook: a summary, the source rows, second-file values appended alongside, changed columns, and audit notes.
- 5
Review and share
The output is a normal workbook — save it as XLSX or CSV and hand it to anyone who can read a spreadsheet. No special diff viewer needed.
Why it works
Key-based matching beats line-by-line diffs.
Missing and added rows surface
Rows present in one file but not the other are identified by key — the fastest way to spot dropped customers or new entries between weekly exports.
Changed columns called out
For matched rows, the compare workbook appends the second file's values alongside the originals with audit columns, so reviewers see exactly what changed where.
Everything stays local
Both files are processed on your Mac. Nothing is uploaded — safe for customer lists, payroll exports, and anything else you can't paste into a web tool.
FAQ
Common questions.
Can I compare files where the rows are in a different order?
Yes. Matching is done on the key columns you map, not on row position, so sorted or shuffled exports compare correctly.
What output do I get?
A new compare workbook with a summary, source rows, second-file values appended alongside, changed columns, keys, and audit notes. It saves as a normal XLSX or CSV that anyone can review.
Can I compare two sheets inside the same workbook?
Yes. Compare Multiple Sheets runs the same key-mapped comparison across tabs of one workbook.
Can it find rows that exist in one file but not the other?
Yes. Rows missing from either side are identified by key, which is the quickest way to find dropped or newly added records between two exports.
Is it free?
The app is free to download with a 14-day full Pro trial. After the trial, free mode keeps files up to 300 rows fully editable, and a one-time $14.99 Lifetime Pro purchase unlocks larger files.
Keep going
Related guides.
Remove Duplicates from CSV Files
Find exact and fuzzy duplicate rows by key columns, preview what gets removed, then apply with undo.
Merge CSV Files into One
Combine multiple CSV or Excel exports into one workbook, dedupe the result, and export.
Open Large CSV Files on Mac
Edit big exports with a disk-backed grid tested on 75,000-row files, live filters, and fast search.