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Beyond Compare VS Meld

Compare Beyond Compare VS Meld and see what are their differences

Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

Beyond Compare logo Beyond Compare

Beyond Compare allows you to compare files and folders.

Meld logo Meld

What is Meld? Meld is a visual diff and merge tool targeted at developers.
  • Beyond Compare Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-11
  • Meld Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-19

Beyond Compare features and specs

  • Comprehensive Comparison Capabilities
    Beyond Compare can compare a wide range of data types including text files, source code, directories, binary files, and even entire drives.
  • Three-Way Merge
    The tool supports three-way merging, making it easier to synchronize changes between different versions of files or directories.
  • Customizable Rules
    Users can define specific comparison rules and filters to tailor the tool for their specific needs, increasing flexibility and precision.
  • Intuitive User Interface
    The software features a user-friendly and intuitive interface that facilitates ease of use, even for those unfamiliar with comparison tools.
  • Integration with Version Control Systems
    Beyond Compare can be integrated with various version control systems, enhancing its utility for developers working within a VCS.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Available on both Windows and Linux, offering versatility for users operating in diverse environments.
  • Session Management
    The tool allows users to save and manage comparison sessions, making it easier to reopen and continue work without reconfiguration.
  • Efficient Performance
    Beyond Compare is optimized for performance, handling large datasets and directories with speed and efficiency.

Possible disadvantages of Beyond Compare

  • Cost
    The tool is not free and requires the purchase of a license, which may be expensive for individual users or those with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, mastering all of Beyond Compare's features and capabilities can require a significant learning curve.
  • Limited Mac Support
    Beyond Compare does not natively support macOS, which can be a drawback for users in a predominantly Mac ecosystem.
  • Occasional UI Clutter
    The extensive range of features and options can lead to a cluttered user interface, potentially overwhelming new users.
  • No Real-Time Collaboration
    Unlike some other modern comparison tools, Beyond Compare does not support real-time collaboration features for multiple users editing and comparing files simultaneously.
  • Limited Code Syntax Highlighting
    While it supports some syntax highlighting, the breadth and depth of support for various programming languages are limited compared to specialized code editors.

Meld features and specs

  • Open Source
    Meld is free and open-source software, allowing users to inspect the code, contribute to its development, and use it without financial cost.
  • Visual Diff and Merge
    Meld provides a graphical user interface that visually presents differences between files and directories, making it easier to identify and resolve conflicts.
  • Three-Way Merge
    Supports three-way merges, which is particularly useful for version control scenarios where changes are made across multiple branches.
  • Version Control Integration
    Meld integrates well with popular version control systems like Git, SVN, and Mercurial, providing seamless workflow integration for developers.
  • Customization and Preferences
    Users can customize keyboard shortcuts, color schemes, and other settings to tailor the tool to their personal preferences and workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Meld

  • Limited to Graphical Mode
    Meld operates only in graphical mode, making it less suitable for users who prefer or need to work in terminal or headless environments.
  • Performance Issues with Large Files
    Meld may experience performance degradation when dealing with very large files or directories, making it slower and less responsive in such cases.
  • Platform Limitations
    While Meld is available for Linux and Windows, the macOS version is less polished and might require additional steps like using third-party package managers for installation.
  • Learning Curve
    While Meld is generally user-friendly, users unfamiliar with diff and merge tools may need some time to learn how to effectively use all its features.
  • No Built-in Conflict Resolution Assistance
    Unlike some modern merge tools, Meld does not offer automated conflict resolution suggestions, requiring users to manually resolve conflicts.

Beyond Compare videos

+ Add

Introduction to Beyond Compare

More videos:

Meld videos

+ Add

What is Property Meld

More videos:

  • Review - Meld Review ST VOY S2 E16
  • Review - Comparing Files & Folders - Meld - Ubuntu 9.10
  • Tutorial - Meld: Using a Git Merge Tool

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Beyond Compare and Meld)

Beyond Compare

Meld

File Management
51 51%
File Management
49% 49
Diff And Merge Tools
50 50%
Diff And Merge Tools
50% 50
Merge Tools
49 49%
Merge Tools
51% 51
Data Comparison
54 54%
Data Comparison
46% 46

User comments

Share your experience with using Beyond Compare and Meld. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Beyond Compare and Meld

Beyond Compare Reviews

9 Best Mac File Comparison Tools To Save Time and Hassle
While these built-in tools offer valuable functionality, third-party applications like Beyond Compare, Araxis Merge, and Kaleidoscope provide advanced features such as visual representations and complex difference analysis, elevating your file comparison experience to new heights.
Source: technicalustad.com
11 Diff and Merge Tools to Simplify Your File Inspection
Beyond Compare is a reliable diff and merge tool to compare files and directories effortlessly. Using its user-friendly interface and effective instructions, it is easy to spot differences and combine modifications in files and folders. You can produce reports and sync your data to keep track of comparisons. Besides, you can have complete control over the comparison process...
Source: geekflare.com
20 Best Diff Tools to Compare File Contents on Linux
Beyond compare is a tool for comparing file contents with simplicity and ease. It is a multi-platform and combines file and directory compare functions in single package. It has an ability to compare local, FTP, Dropbox and Amazon S3 directoires.
Source: linuxopsys.com
15 Best Alternatives to WinMerge for 2021
Beyond Compare claims that it’s a focused comparison tool. That’s because with this tool, you can use simple, yet powerful commands and concentrate only on the differences that interest you. The tool lets you ignore the others. That makes it a suitable alternative to WinMerge. The changes can then be merged smoothly and the files synchronized. You’re ready with a report for...
Source: www.winosbite.com
12 Best Free File Comparison Tools for Windows 10
Beyond Compare is another great file comparison tool that uses its intelligent technology to compare files and folders. It uses simple, yet strong commands that highlight the difference you are looking for ignoring the ones you are not interested in. It helps merge changes, synchronize files, and even produce reports.
Source: thegeekpage.com

Meld Reviews

9 Best Mac File Comparison Tools To Save Time and Hassle
Two vertical bars on the two respective sides of the panel help you sort out the changes made (addition, deletion, or change) and the portions that require some corrections, thus, making Meld extremely user-friendly and time-conserving.
Source: technicalustad.com
11 Diff and Merge Tools to Simplify Your File Inspection
Meld is a robust diff and merge tool that assists you in comparing files, directories, and version-controlled projects. This open-source tool is available for Linux, Windows, and MacOS and supports popular version control systems. Moreover, the tool helps you to get a thorough overview of code changes and understand the patches.
Source: geekflare.com
20 Best Diff Tools to Compare File Contents on Linux
Meld is a diff and merge tool, made especially for developers, who need to compare files. It is a lightweight tool and allows you to compare files, directories, and version controlled programs.
Source: linuxopsys.com
7 WinMerge Alternatives
Meld, a visual diff and merge tool assists developers with the task of comparing various files and even pledges support to some of the popular version control systems. You can expect two- and three-way comparison between files and directories and even review your code changes. There’s auto-merge mode and the comparisons are updated as soon as you modify your text. Another...
Source: www.techshout.com
15 Best Alternatives to WinMerge for 2021
Meant for developers, Meld is a visual difference locater and works as a merging tool. Not only files and folders, with Meld, you can compare version-controlled projects too. Meld is capable of two and three-way comparisons. Both files and directories can be compared. You can understand patches with Meld by reviewing code changes. That way, you can make out what’s happening...
Source: www.winosbite.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Meld should be more popular than Beyond Compare. It has been mentiond 42 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Beyond Compare mentions (5)

  • Best tools to show the difference in files between two cloned drives?
    I can highly recommend BeyondCompare from https://scootersoftware.com/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to verify that the files are copied without problems?
    Checksums are better long term. However a nice GUI program: Beyond Compare from Scooter Software is a native Windows app that will compare entire subdirectories or even entire disks and will show a GUI of changes / mods / missing / extra files. It costs money but it's worth it -- both Windows AND Linux versions. Free 30 day trial. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Thank goodness for backups
    Ugh, ok, I feel pretty stupid but, I was messing around with Beyond Compare (a nice piece of software that I highly recommend, btw) comparing my internal drive with an incomplete backup thereof, trying to delete duplicates. My best guess (and I'm still not sure but taking an educated guess) at what happened is, while I was deleting, I accidentally selected *both* the left and right sides, instead of just the... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • What are some of the coolest/most useful programs to have in 2022?
    BeyondCompare is a tool I love for comparing configuration files or t directory trees. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Favorite source code comparison tool / diff tool?
    I love Beyond Compare 4. I use it often for folder and file diffs. I like that I can have different projects for each codebase. The coloration and UI is nice too. Source: almost 3 years ago

Meld mentions (42)

  • Suggestions: A simple human-readable format for suggesting changes to text files
    Even simpler: Step 1: give me your edited `.tex` file. Step 2: I selectively merge it into mine. Step 3: There is no step 3. To selectively merge, I use `meld` https://meldmerge.org/ but there are others. Benefits of this even simpler approach: - We continue to use the tools we are used to. - We and our software don't have to learn a new inline diff format. - Both files retain valid syntax before and during the... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What perfect software did you discover of recent?
    There is also https://meldmerge.org/ which I've used on Linux and Mac before. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What work/office purchase transformed your life?
    You've maybe tried it, but if not check out https://meldmerge.org. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Spacedrive – an open source cross-platform file explorer
    While we're requesting killer features, https://meldmerge.org/ style diffs, please. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: How do you merge two files with ChatGPT(etc.)?
    Why do you need ChatGPT? There are hundreds of diffing tools available that do this quite well. Meld is my favorite: https://meldmerge.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Beyond Compare and Meld, you can also consider the following products

WinMerge - WinMerge is an open source differencing and merging tool for Windows.

kdiff3 - KDiff3 is a file and directory diff and merge tool which compares and merges two or three text...

Diff Checker - Diff Checker is a free online diff tool that quickly and easily gives you the text differences...

P4Merge - A valuable tool for diagnosing continuous integration bugs, Folder Diff also measures how much code must be resolved in pending merge scenarios. Visually compare two versions using image diff within P4Merge to determine changes made.

Compare - Download Notepad++ Compare plugin for free. Comparison plugin for Notepad++ editor. Comparison plugin for Notepad++ editor.

Araxis Merge - Home of the award-winning Araxis Merge two and three-way file comparison (diff) and merging application, Araxis Find Duplicate Files, Araxis Replace In Files, and the Araxis Ketura issue tracking, project scheduling and time tracking application.

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