XML Diff - Compare XML Files Online Free
Free online XML comparison tool to compare two XML files instantly. Our semantic XML diff checker understands document structure — matching elements by ID, detecting attribute changes, and ignoring element reordering for accurate results.
100% private XML file comparator — all comparison happens in your browser. No uploads, no servers. Perfect for comparing XML configuration files, SOAP responses, XSD schemas, or any XML data online.
Why Use This XML Comparison Tool?
Our XML diff tool goes beyond simple text comparison. It parses XML structure and intelligently matches elements to show only meaningful differences between your XML files.
Semantic XML Diff
Elements are matched by ID, name, or content — not position. Compare XML files accurately even when elements are reordered.
Order Independent
Move elements around freely. The XML diff checker only shows actual content changes, not positional differences.
Visual XML Diff Viewer
Side-by-side formatted XML with syntax highlighting. Changed lines are color-coded for easy identification.
100% Private & Free
Free XML comparison tool that never uploads your data. Compare sensitive XML configuration files safely in your browser.
Deep XML Comparison
Recursively compares nested elements, attributes, and text content at any depth in complex XML structures.
Instant Results
See XML differences as you type with real-time comparison. Click any diff to jump to the exact location.
Types of XML Differences Detected
Our XML file compare tool detects and categorizes all types of structural and content changes between your XML documents.
Attribute Changes
Detects when XML attribute values change on matching elements.
<book id="1"> → <book id="2"> <item status="draft"> → <item status="published">
Text Content Changes
Identifies when the text content of an XML element is modified.
<title>Old Name</title> → <title>New Name</title>
Added Elements
Shows XML elements that exist in the changed document but not in the original.
Original: (none) Changed: <email>new@example.com</email>
Removed Elements
Shows XML elements that exist in the original but were removed from the changed document.
Original: <phone>123-456</phone> Changed: (removed)
Added Attributes
Detects new attributes added to existing XML elements.
<item> → <item priority="high">
Removed Attributes
Detects attributes that were removed from XML elements.
<item class="old"> → <item>
Smart Element Matching Algorithm
Our XML comparison algorithm matches elements intelligently, so reordering doesn't create false differences when you compare two XML files.
Matching Priority
- Exact match — Same tag, ID, and content
- ID/Name match — Same tag with matching id, name, or key attribute
- Content match — Same tag with identical text content
- Tag match — Same tag name (fallback)
Reorder Example
Original: <book id="1">A</book> <book id="2">B</book> Changed (reordered): <book id="2">B</book> <book id="1">A</book> Result: No differences!
Common Use Cases for XML Diff
Our online XML compare tool handles any valid XML data — from configuration files to SOAP responses and XSD schemas.
Configuration Files
Compare XML config files between environments or versions.
- Compare web.config versions
- Diff pom.xml settings
- Compare app.config changes
- Validate deployment configs
API & SOAP Messages
Compare XML API responses and SOAP messages online.
- Compare SOAP responses
- Debug XML payloads
- Validate API changes
- Diff XML request/response
XSD & Data Exchange
Compare XSD schemas and XML data exports.
- XSD diff comparison
- Compare data exports
- Validate XML transformations
- Review document changes
How to Compare Two XML Files Online
Follow these steps to compare XML files online and find differences between your XML documents:
Enter Original XML
Paste or upload your first XML file in the left editor.
Enter Changed XML
Paste or upload your second XML file for comparison.
View XML Differences
See all differences categorized by type with highlighted lines.
Navigate Diffs
Click any difference to jump to the exact location in both XML files.
Pro tip: Use the Format button to normalize XML before comparing for cleaner diffs.
Elements are matched by ID/name attributes, so reordering won't create false positives in the XML diff.
XML Diff Tool FAQ
How does semantic XML comparison work?
Our XML diff tool parses XML into a tree structure and matches elements by their ID, name, or content — not by position. This means reordering elements won't show as differences, only actual content changes are reported.
What if my XML elements don't have IDs?
The XML file compare tool uses multiple matching strategies: first by ID/name attributes, then by text content, and finally by tag name. This ensures accurate matching even without explicit identifiers.
Does it detect XML attribute changes?
Yes! The XML comparison tool detects added, removed, and changed attributes on all elements. Each attribute change is reported separately with the old and new values.
Is this XML diff tool free?
Yes, this is a completely free XML comparison tool. All comparison happens locally in your browser — your XML files are never uploaded to any server.
Can it compare deeply nested XML files?
Yes, the tool recursively compares all nested XML elements at any depth. Each difference shows the full XPath-like path to the changed element.
Why doesn't reordering show as a difference?
Elements are matched semantically by their identifying attributes or content, not by position. This is intentional — in most XML use cases, element order doesn't affect meaning.
Can I compare XSD schema files?
Yes, you can use this tool for XSD diff comparison. XSD files are valid XML, so all the same semantic matching and comparison features apply.
How is this different from text diff?
Text diff compares line by line and shows any formatting or ordering changes. Our XML diff understands XML structure, ignores whitespace differences, and matches elements semantically for more meaningful results.