Araxis Merge

Araxis Merge — Free Download. Compare, merge, sync files

Araxis Merge is the visual file comparison, merging, and folder synchronization application from Araxis. It compares and merges source code, web pages, XML, and other text files with native performance. It opens and compares text from Microsoft Office, OpenDocument, PDF, and RTF files. It compares images and binary files. It synchronizes folders. It supports code reviews and audits. It works with folder hierarchies containing thousands of files. It integrates with many SCM systems.

★★★★★
5.0(1 ratings)
Download Araxis Merge (Official links)
File size: 55.7 MB
The latest version of Araxis Merge is: 2026.1
Operating system: Windows, Mac OS
Languages: English
Developer: Araxis Ltd.
Price: $129.00 USD (Commercial product) (30-day free trial)
  • Text comparison and merging. This function compares different revisions of text files, including program source code, XML, HTML, and other plain text formats. It displays a color-coded side-by-side view where linking lines show how the documents relate. Users can accept, merge, edit, or delete individual changes. The in-place editor with unlimited undo gives complete control over the merged result. The comparison display updates dynamically as merging progresses. Detailed highlights show changes within lines. The function can be configured to ignore whitespace differences, line ending variations, and changes matching specified regular expressions, which helps ignore timestamps or expanded version control keywords.
  • Three-way comparison and automatic merging. This function is available in the Professional Edition. It adds advanced three-way visual file comparison and merging to the two-way capabilities of the Standard Edition. This is particularly valuable when more than one person works on the same set of files. Automatic Merging enables reconciliation of even the largest files. Three-way file comparisons can be launched directly from a three-way folder comparison, allowing efficient integration of entire branches of source code. This function helps team development by integrating changes made by different contributors with a common ancestor version.
  • Compare text from common office file formats. This function extracts and compares the text content from Microsoft Office (Word and Excel), OpenDocument (ODF), PDF, and RTF files. Users can copy text from other applications and paste it directly into a text comparison. Office document layout and formatting are not shown in text comparisons, but the textual content is compared accurately. This function helps legal and publishing professionals identify every change between contract or manuscript drafts without converting files manually.
  • Image and binary file comparison. This function compares many different types of image files and instantly shows which pixels have been modified. It also performs binary comparison to identify differences in data files at a byte level. This goes beyond text comparison and helps verify that data files, executables, or media assets remain identical or to locate exact changes. Image comparison is useful for design and web development work, while binary comparison supports quality control and data integrity verification.
  • Folder hierarchy comparison and synchronization. This function compares and merges entire directory trees. It is ideal for detecting changes in different versions of source code or web pages. It supports a byte-by-byte comparison option to verify the contents of recordable CDs or USB thumbsticks. With support for archive formats such as .zip and .tar, it compares archives as if they were folders. Users can compare the contents of an archive to a folder to verify contents or see which files have changed since the archive was created. The Professional Edition supports three-way folder comparison with automatic merging capability, enabling two revisions of a folder hierarchy to be merged with their common ancestor or another folder hierarchy.
  • Direct access to SCM (version control) systems. This function provides plugins for Git and Mercurial. These give read-only access to earlier revisions of files within local repositories, making it possible to compare a file directly with an earlier version of itself. Integration with dozens of other SCM systems is also available. This function helps developers compare working files against repository history without leaving the comparison application. It supports code review and audit workflows by providing direct access to version-managed files and folders.
  • Portable reports. This function generates file comparison reports in HTML, HTML slideshow, XML, or UNIX diff format. HTML reports are useful for archiving and distribution. Folder comparison reports can be created in HTML or XML format. A folder comparison report can optionally include file comparison reports for some or all files involved. Thus it is possible to generate a report that is a complete record of all differences in all files involved in a folder comparison. This function is especially useful in code review and code audit situations, particularly when reports are generated directly for files and folders in configuration management systems for which there is a Merge plugin.
  • Printing and automation. This function prints a hard copy of file and folder comparisons. It also supports customization of behavior and appearance, including fonts, colors, and more. A full Automation API (Windows) or AppleScript API (macOS) and Command-Line Interface are included. These allow close integration with other applications such as source control, version control, and software configuration management systems. Automation helps incorporate Merge into existing workflows and scripts. Command-line access supports batch processing and repetitive comparison tasks.
  • One perpetual licence, two platforms. This function provides a single perpetual licence that entitles the user to use Merge on both Windows and macOS, even simultaneously. The licence is perpetual, so the product can be used forever. Each licence includes one year of entitlement to support and all product updates. After the first year, support and update entitlement can be renewed. This function reduces cost and administrative overhead for professionals who work across both operating systems.
  • XML-aware comparison. This function displays XML files with special formatting, helping users see changes more clearly. It supports files with ASCII, MBCS, and Unicode character encodings. XML comparison respects the structure of the document, making it easier to identify changes in elements, attributes, and text content. This function is useful for web developers, data engineers, and anyone working with structured markup or configuration files. It reduces the risk of missing subtle changes in large XML documents.
  • Code review and audit support. This function helps code reviewers and auditors identify in context every change made between two or three source code hierarchies. Users can create a standalone HTML or XML report of findings. Bookmarks and comments can be added to a file or folder comparison, then saved as a single-file archive for emailing to other team members for review. This function supports release and quality control managers who compare different source code branches to confirm every change made for a specific release. It also helps compare product releases to be certain that only expected files have been modified.

Araxis Merge is developed by Araxis. The company was founded in 1993. The first version of Araxis Merge was released in 1993 for Windows. The program was originally created for software developers and web designers who needed to compare and merge different versions of source code and web pages. Over time, the application expanded to support macOS as well as Windows. The development team has continuously added features such as three-way comparison, automatic merging, folder synchronization, image and binary comparison, and integration with version control systems. The program is written primarily in C++ with platform-specific components for Windows and macOS. Araxis has maintained a focus on performance, accuracy, and support for large file sets and folder hierarchies. The company also produces other software tools, but Merge remains its flagship product.

Alternatives to Araxis Merge

Latest News

Latest Programs