XML Formatter
Beautify, minify, and validate XML with exact line and column errors for unclosed tags, bad entities, and more.
XML Compare & Diff
Compare two XML documents and see exactly what changed. Free, instant, and 100% in your browser.
Original XML
Modified XML
Differences
Paste XML into both editors to see the differences.
What is an XML Compare Tool?
An XML compare tool, or XML diff tool, shows the differences between two XML documents. It is useful for reviewing configuration changes, comparing SOAP or API responses, checking generated files, and debugging data exports.
A plain text diff reports noise such as indentation changes or reordered attributes. This tool normalizes both documents first, so you only see the changes that matter.
Features
Ignores formatting
Both documents are re-indented the same way first, so whitespace and line breaks never show up as changes.
Ignores attribute order
In XML, attribute order has no meaning. With the option enabled, reordered attributes are not reported.
Three views
Side-by-side, unified, and a structural changes list with a path for every difference.
Live validation
Both inputs are validated as you type, with the exact line and column of any syntax error.
Large files
Long unchanged sections are collapsed, so big documents with a few changes stay fast and readable.
Private by design
The comparison runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
How to Compare XML Online
- Paste or upload the original XML into the left editor.
- Paste or upload the modified XML into the right editor.
- Review the highlighted differences in the side-by-side or unified view.
- Open the Changes list to see every difference with its path.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I compare two XML files?
Paste or upload the original XML on the left and the modified XML on the right. Differences appear instantly below, with removed content in red and added content in green.
Does attribute order matter?
No. The XML specification says the order of attributes is not significant, so <a x="1" y="2"/> and <a y="2" x="1"/> are equivalent. Keep Ignore attribute order enabled to hide these differences.
Does element order matter?
Yes. In XML, the order of child elements is part of the document, so reordered elements are shown as changes in the side-by-side and unified views.
What do the paths in the changes list mean?
Each difference is shown with a path such as $.config.server["@port"]. Element names are separated by dots, @ marks an attribute, #text is an element's text, and [0] selects one of several elements with the same name.
Is it safe to compare confidential XML here?
Yes. The comparison runs entirely in your browser. Your XML is never sent to a server, logged, or stored.
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