Spreadsheet Compare for Mac: how to compare Excel files on macOS
Microsoft’s Spreadsheet Compare is Windows-only. If you work on a Mac and need to see what changed between two versions of a workbook, you can do it in your browser — without uploading either file.
Why there is no Spreadsheet Compare on Mac
Spreadsheet Compare and the Inquire add-in ship only with Windows editions of Office Professional Plus and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. Excel for Mac has no equivalent built in, and Excel’s “View Side by Side” only scrolls two windows together — it does not find differences.
Comparing two workbooks in the browser
- Open the Excel compare tool in Safari, Chrome or Firefox.
- Drop the old version on the left and the new version on the right.
- Review the ranked list: overwritten formulas and logic changes first, then value edits.
The comparison runs in a Web Worker on your Mac. Your files are never sent to a server, which matters for client files, payroll and unreleased financials.
Spreadsheet Compare vs DraftReview
| Spreadsheet Compare | DraftReview | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on macOS | No (Windows only) | Yes, in any browser |
| Requires Office Professional Plus / enterprise licence | Yes | No |
| Files stay on your computer | Yes | Yes (in-browser) |
| Aligns inserted and deleted rows | Partly | Yes, by row labels |
| Ranks overwritten formulas as high risk | Lists separately | Yes |
| Numeric tolerance | No | Yes |
| Export results | Yes | CSV, Markdown, PDF (Pro) |
Other options on a Mac
- Manual formulas: put both versions in one workbook and use
=IF(Old!A1<>New!A1,"DIFF",""). Breaks as soon as a row is inserted. - Conditional formatting: highlights differences cell by cell with the same row-alignment problem.
- Windows virtual machine: runs Spreadsheet Compare, but needs a Windows licence and an eligible Office edition.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Spreadsheet Compare available for Mac?
No. Spreadsheet Compare (and the Inquire add-in) is a Windows-only tool included with Office Professional Plus and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. It is not part of Excel for Mac.
What is the easiest way to compare two Excel files on a Mac?
Use a browser-based comparison tool that runs locally, such as the DraftReview Excel compare tool. It works in Safari, Chrome or Firefox and does not upload your files.
Can I compare Excel files with Numbers?
Numbers has no built-in comparison feature, and opening an .xlsx in Numbers can change formulas and formatting.
Compare Excel files on your Mac
Free, private, and nothing to install.