Why use Compare PDF?
Legal, compliance, and editorial teams compare document versions constantly—contracts after redlines, policies after revisions, and specs after engineering updates. PDFBaba compares two PDFs by extracting text and presenting a unified diff, which is ideal when both files have a real text layer. Scanned PDFs may look different visually yet show no text changes until OCR adds a searchable layer. This comparison is a technical aid, not legal advice: it can miss layout, images, and metadata differences. The service is free without signup, and files are not kept indefinitely—expect automatic deletion after roughly one hour. Use Compare alongside OCR PDF or PDF to Text when you need deeper inspection of individual files.
Supported files & limits
Upload two PDFs. The default upload limit is 100MB per file; administrators can raise or lower this via server configuration. Comparison uses extractable text only—image-only or scanned pages may need OCR PDF first for meaningful diffs.
Privacy & data retention
PDFBaba is built for quick tasks: your uploads and generated downloads are kept only long enough to process your request and are automatically deleted after about one hour. We do not require signup for these tools, and we do not use your documents to train AI models. For full details on cookies, analytics, and legal terms, read our Privacy Policy.
Features
How to use
- 1
Upload the first PDF (older or baseline version).
- 2
Upload the second PDF (newer or revised version).
- 3
Submit to view a unified diff of extracted text, or a message if text content matches.
Related tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my two PDFs show as identical when they look different?
Compare uses extractable text only. Scanned pages or image-only PDFs may have no text layer—run OCR PDF first, or use PDF to Text on each file to verify extraction.
Is this a legal document comparison?
No. This is a technical text diff for convenience. It is not legal advice and may miss layout, images, or metadata differences.
Are my files stored?
Files are processed temporarily and deleted per the site retention policy (typically within one hour).
Do I need an account or signup?
No. PDFBaba does not require signup for these tools. Upload, process, and download without creating an account.
Is there a watermark on the output?
Output from this tool is not watermarked by PDFBaba. You get a clean file suitable for work and sharing.
What is the maximum file upload size?
The default limit is 100MB per file on the server. Your host or administrator can change this via environment configuration. If a file fails to upload, try compressing or splitting it first.
Can I use this tool on my phone or tablet?
Yes. PDFBaba works in modern mobile browsers. Very large files or complex previews may be smoother on a desktop with a stable connection.
Is there a daily usage limit?
To keep the service fast for everyone, rate limits may apply per IP. Typical personal use is rarely affected. If you hit a limit, wait briefly and try again.
What if my PDF is password-protected?
For Compare PDF, use an unlocked PDF when possible. If the file asks for a password in a reader, unlock it with our Unlock PDF tool first, then run Compare PDF on the decrypted file.
Why doesn’t my scan behave like a normal PDF?
Scanned pages are images until OCR adds a text layer. For editable text, try OCR PDF or PDF to Word visual mode, depending on your goal.