Compare Two JSON Files
Diff two JSON files and show the differences visually. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
Drop a file here, or click to browse
Files never leave your device
Drop a file here, or click to browse
Files never leave your device
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Compare Two JSON Files
- 1. Add two JSON files. Drop or browse for the two .json files you want to compare. The tool reads both, parses them as JSON, and prepares a line-by-line difference view.
- 2. Decide whether key order matters. Turn on Ignore key order if the two files might have their object keys in a different sequence but should still count as equal. Leave it off to treat reordering as a real change.
- 3. Review the visual diff. Lines only present in the first file are marked as removed, lines only in the second are marked as added, and unchanged lines appear plain so you can scan the file quickly.
When to use Compare Two JSON Files
Compare Two JSON Files is for spotting exactly what changed between two versions of a JSON document. It handles the parsing and alignment so you see meaningful additions and removals instead of a wall of text that changed because a comma moved.
- Checking config drift. You suspect a saved deployment config no longer matches the template it was generated from. Upload both files and see precisely which settings were edited or added.
- Reviewing an API response after a deploy. You captured a response before and after shipping a change and want to confirm nothing unexpected shifted. Compare the two captures and check the diff against your intended change.
- Auditing a package-lock.json update. A dependency bump touched a large lockfile and you want to see which entries actually changed rather than scrolling through thousands of unchanged lines by hand.
- Verifying environment parity. Staging and production each have their own config file and you want to confirm they only differ in the fields that are supposed to differ, like hostnames or feature flags.
Examples
Diff two config files
Input
a.json and b.json
Output
Lines only in the first file show as "-", new lines as "+".
About the Compare Two JSON Files tool
Compare Two JSON Files is a free online tool that works entirely inside your web browser. Diff two JSON files and show the differences visually. Because the processing happens on your own device, nothing you enter is uploaded, logged or stored anywhere.
This page is one of 90 JSON utilities on EditSafely. Each one does a single job well, and all of them follow the same rule: your input stays on your machine.
You can shape the output with the Ignore key order setting, and the result refreshes the moment you change it. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
Because nothing leaves your device, the tool is suitable for sensitive content such as internal documents, credentials or customer data. It also responds instantly, since every keystroke is handled on your own machine rather than by a remote API.
Frequently asked questions
Is Compare Two JSON Files free to use?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
Which files does Compare Two JSON Files accept?
It accepts JSON files. There is no file size cap imposed by a server; very large files are limited only by your device's memory.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
Can I save what the tool produces?
Yes. Use the download or copy controls in the output panel to keep the rendered result once it looks the way you want.