Text Tools
Compare two lists: what matches, what does not.
Paste two lists and see which items are in both, which are only in list A, which are only in list B, and the combined list of unique items.
Inputs
Result
Paste both lists, or press Load example. Results update as you type.
How the list comparison works
Each list is split into items, cleaned up with the options you choose, and checked against the other list. Items are compared as exact text, so 10 and 10.0 are different items, and so are Apple and apple unless you tick Ignore case.
The four results
- In both: items that appear in list A and in list B (the intersection).
- Only in A: items in A that are missing from B.
- Only in B: items in B that are missing from A.
- All unique items: every distinct item from either list, each listed once (the union).
Every list is shown in the order each item first appeared. An item that is repeated inside one list is counted once, and the tool tells you how many items were repeated. The counts always add up: In both + Only in A + Only in B equals All unique.
Common uses
Compare two email or customer exports, two sets of URLs or keywords, a before-and-after list of SKUs or usernames, or two lists of files in a folder. To compare two blocks of running text instead of lists, use the diff checker. To see only the items that appear in just one list, use Find Unique Lines in Two Lists. To clean one list first, try Remove Duplicate Lines.
Sources
- Symmetric difference (items in either set but not both)
- Unicode Standard Annex #15: Unicode Normalization Forms
- MDN: String.prototype.normalize()
Set-operation definition, Unicode normalization annex and MDN reference retrieved October 2026.
Compare two lists FAQ
How do I compare two lists?
Paste one list in box A and the other in box B, one item per line. The tool immediately shows what is in both lists, what is only in A, what is only in B, and the combined list of all unique items. Use the Copy buttons to take any result with you.
How do I find items that are in one list but not the other?
Look at the Only in A and Only in B boxes. Only in A is everything in list A that does not appear in list B, and Only in B is the reverse. To see both together as one list, use the Find Unique Lines in Two Lists tool.
Can I compare comma-separated lists?
Yes. Change Items are separated by to Comma, Semicolon, Tab or Space. The results are copied back out using the same separator.
Does it ignore capital letters and extra spaces?
Spaces around each item are trimmed by default. Capital letters are significant unless you tick Ignore case. The first spelling found is the one shown in the results.
What happens to duplicates inside a list?
A repeated item is counted once, and a note shows how many items were repeated in each list. Use the Remove Duplicate Lines tool if you want a cleaned copy of a single list.
Is my list uploaded?
No. The comparison runs in your browser and your lists are not sent to a server. The page itself still loads the site analytics and advertising scripts, so avoid pasting anything you would not paste into a normal web page.