FolderMatch


FolderMatch — Free Download. Compare and Sync

FolderMatch is a Windows application for comparing folders and files, synchronizing data, and finding duplicate files. It provides a side-by-side view of differences based on name, type, date, or size. The program supports text comparison for formats such as Microsoft Office, Adobe PDF, RTF, and HTML. It also includes tools for mass file renaming, timestamp editing, and atomic clock synchronization.

5.0(1 ratings)
File size: 19.1 MB
The latest version of FolderMatch is: 5.2.2
Operating system: Windows
Languages: English
Price: $0.00 USD (Commercial product)
  • Folder Comparison. The program analyzes two selected directories and displays all items with matching or differing attributes. Users can filter results by name, file type, modification date, or size. Each file or subfolder receives a status marker that indicates whether it is new, older, identical, or present in only one location. This function helps locate missing backups or changed documents without opening each file manually.
  • File Content Comparison. FolderMatch opens two files and shows their text content in a split view with highlighted differences. The comparison works with plain text, Microsoft Word, Excel spreadsheets, Adobe PDF, Rich Text Format, HTML, and XML. Users can ignore white space or letter case, compare at the character, word, or line level, and display line numbers or formatting symbols. Only differing lines can be shown to reduce visual noise.
  • Duplicate File Search. The duplicate engine scans selected folders and finds files that match by name, size, date, or actual content. The search can include or exclude specific file categories such as audio, video, images, documents, or applications. Results are grouped so users can select which copies to keep and which to remove. Files can be deleted, moved to a backup folder, or replaced with shortcuts.
  • Folder Synchronization. This function aligns the contents of two folders according to user-defined rules. Mirror mode makes one folder an exact copy of the other. Update mode copies only newer files to avoid overwriting recent changes. Custom mode allows selective copying of missing or different items. The synchronization preview lists every planned action before execution.
  • Mass File Renamer. The renaming tool applies naming rules to multiple files at once. Users can add prefixes or suffixes, replace text fragments, change letter case, insert counters, or modify file extensions. A preview panel shows the resulting names before any change is applied. This removes the need to rename hundreds of photos or documents individually.
  • Timestamp Editor. This utility changes the creation, modification, and last access dates for selected files. Users can set a specific date and time or shift all timestamps by a fixed interval. This function is used when files receive incorrect dates after copying from cameras, cloud storage, or archive extraction.
  • Hex Content Viewer. The built-in hex viewer displays the raw binary content of any file. It shows both hexadecimal values and the corresponding ASCII representation. Users can inspect file headers, verify data integrity, or examine files that do not open in standard text editors.
  • Atomic Clock Sync. FolderMatch can query an internet time server and adjust the system clock. The utility compares the local time with the atomic reference and reports the offset. This helps maintain accurate timestamps for file operations and logs, especially on machines where the clock drifts.
  • Command Line Support. The program accepts command line parameters for automated comparisons and synchronizations. Scripts can run FolderMatch without manual interaction, generate reports, and exit with a status code. This capability integrates the program into batch workflows and scheduled tasks.
  • Report Generation. After a comparison, FolderMatch can save the results as a text or HTML report. The report includes file paths, sizes, dates, and difference statuses. Reports serve as documentation for audits, backup verification, or change tracking over time.
  • File Exclusion Filters. Users define which files or folders should be ignored during comparisons and scans. Filters can be based on name patterns, extensions, or attributes. Temporary files, system folders, and cache directories can be excluded to focus on relevant data and reduce processing time.
  • Drag and Drop Support. Folders and files can be added to the comparison panels by dragging them from Windows Explorer. This input method speeds up repeated operations. The program also remembers the last used paths and restores them on the next launch.

FolderMatch was created by Salty Brine Software, a company that has focused on file management utilities for the Windows platform. The first version of the program was released in the late 1990s. Development began as a response to the lack of reliable folder comparison tools for home users and small offices. Over the years, the application has received regular updates that added support for new file formats, improved comparison algorithms, and expanded synchronization options. The program is written primarily in C++ to ensure fast processing of large directory trees and binary file comparisons. The interface uses standard Windows controls, which keeps the installation size small and the system requirements low. The software has received the Shareware Industry Award for three consecutive years. Many Fortune 500 companies and government agencies use FolderMatch as part of their data management procedures.

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