Linux-native (Meld) vs. Windows · macOS · Linux · Free tier + Pro $34 one-time
Meld is a well-regarded open-source tool with strong three-way merge and deep VCS status integration, and it runs best on Linux. Diffract covers all three platforms with official builds, adds binary, image, and document comparison in its Pro tier, and offers multiple diff algorithms and a CLI. If you’re on Linux and mainly need file and folder diffs with VCS awareness, Meld is a solid free choice; if you need cross-platform support or document comparison, Diffract has both covered.
| Feature | Diffract | Meld |
|---|---|---|
| Text file comparison | ✓ | ✓ |
| Directory comparison | ✓ | ✓ |
| Three-way merge | Pro | ✓ |
| Git / VCS integration | Pro | ✓ (Git, SVN, Hg, Bazaar) |
| Binary / hex comparison | ✓ | ✗ |
| Image comparison | Pro | ✗ |
| PDF comparison | Pro | ✗ |
| Word (.docx) comparison | Pro | ✗ |
| Excel (.xlsx) comparison | Pro | ✗ |
| Archive (ZIP / tar) | Pro | ✗ |
| Multiple diff algorithms | ✓ | ✗ |
| Moved-block detection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Syntax highlighting | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLI / headless mode | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dark mode | ✓ | via GTK theme |
| Windows | ✓ | MSI available |
| macOS | ✓ | unofficial builds only |
| Linux | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | Free + $34 one-time | Free / open-source |
Pro = requires Diffract Pro license ($34 one-time, all platforms). Free tier has no time limit.
Meld macOS builds are maintained by the community and are not officially supported by the Meld project.
Try Diffract free — no time limit, no account required.
Upgrade to Pro at any time for document comparison, three-way merge, and Git integration.