ClipDiff/ windows + mac

A small utility for Windows & Mac

Compare the last two
pieces of text you copied.

Copy some text. Copy some other text. Press a shortcut to see what changed. ClipDiff lives in your Windows notification area or Mac menu bar, ready when you need it.

ClipDiff for Windows ClipDiff for Mac

Two desktop apps. Choose the computer you’ll use it on.

settings.json / example comparison
Previoussettings.json
1 {
2 "service": "api",
3− "timeout": 3000,
4− "retries": 2,
5− "debug": true
6 }
Currentsettings.json
1 {
2 "service": "api",
3+ "timeout": 5000,
4+ "retries": 3,
5+ "debug": false
6 }
Illustrative diff. App screenshots to follow.− removed+ added

01 Install

Two native apps. Pick yours.

ClipDiff is available for Windows and Mac. Choose a platform for installation instructions and the details that differ between them.

ClipDiff for WindowsWindows 10 (1809+) or Windows 11 · x64ClipDiff for MacmacOS 13 Ventura or later

02 Use

Copy. Copy. Compare.

Start ClipDiff. Copy the older text or text file, then copy the newer one. Use Show Diff in the app menu, or press the shortcut:

Windows

CtrlAltD

Mac

⌥ Option⌘ CommandC

Previous is on the left; current is on the right. Use the built-in side-by-side or unified view, or choose an installed external viewer.

ClipDiff captures copies made after it starts. It retains only two captures and does not recover earlier clipboard history.

03 Tricks

Text, files, and the bits between.

Compare two config files, check a copied snippet against a local file, or copy a unified diff into an issue. Text files contribute their contents and the viewer shows their filenames.

Both apps support Explorer or Finder commands and external diff viewers. Setup differs by platform: Windows tips · Mac tips.

Comparisons are text-based. Files over 16 MiB are not read; binary or unusable files contribute a filename and reason.

04 About

I built it because I wanted it.

I’m Stuart. I built ClipDiff because I wanted a quick way to compare things I’d copied. If it’s useful to you too, that makes me happy. You’re welcome to it.

Stuart on GitHub stuartd.dev