Guides / Nudocs for Mac
Compare two Word documents on your Mac
Compare two Word documents on a Mac with Word’s Compare Documents, read the differences, and use Nudocs to check key facts across versions with sources.
Updated
Apple silicon · macOS 13 or later · Nutrient DWS account required
Short answer
In Microsoft Word for Mac, open one version and choose Review > Compare > Compare Documents. Word puts the result in a new document that shows the differences as revision marks, and leaves the original untouched. To check particular facts across versions, such as dates and fees, you can also ask Nudocs to compare them and cite both sources.
Compare documents in Word for Mac
Word has a built-in comparison that shows the differences between two versions with revision marks. Microsoft lists these steps for Word for Mac:
Changes from the revised copy are merged into a new document based on the original, and revision marks show the differences. The original copy remains untouched. Microsoft’s article is labelled for Word 2019 for Mac, so menu names may differ a little in your version. If you want to merge two people’s edits into one file rather than see the differences, the same menu has Combine Documents.
- Open one of the two versions you want to compare.
- On the Review tab, select Compare > Compare Documents.
- In the Original document list, select the original document.
- In the Revised document list, browse to the other version, then select OK.
Read and highlight the differences
Because the result uses revision marks, you read it the way you read tracked changes. Switch to All Markup to see changes inline and in balloons. To show them inline instead, choose Markup Options on the Review tab, point to Balloons, and select Show All Revisions Inline.
When you have finished reviewing, you can accept or reject the marked changes. Save the compared document under a new name so it’s clear which file is the comparison and which are the versions you started with.
Without Word
Pages can open Word documents, and it can track changes as you edit, showing changed text in a different color with change bars in the margin. Apple’s Pages User Guide doesn’t list a feature for comparing two finished documents, though, so Pages helps with the next round of edits more than with versions you already have.
The simplest way to avoid comparing later is to turn on change tracking before anyone edits: Review > Track Changes in Word, or Edit > Track Changes in Pages.
With Nudocs
Nudocs is a document agent for your Mac. You can ask it to compare documents and show where their facts agree, conflict or leave a question open. It suits questions such as “did the fees, dates or approval status change between these versions?”
Name the facts that matter, ask for both sides of any conflict rather than one combined value, and ask it to cite both sources. Then read the cited passages before you act on the result.
A summary of selected facts is not an exhaustive version diff, and it isn’t a visual comparison of the two files. If every change matters, run Word’s Compare Documents or read both documents in full.
Nudocs runs on Macs with Apple silicon and macOS 13 or later, and you need a Nutrient DWS account. The Mac app is free; document and AI services use DWS free allowances or paid usage. Depending on the task, your instructions and document content may be sent to AI providers and Nutrient services, so read the desktop Privacy Policy before you add files.
Example request
“Compare the payment terms, delivery dates and fees in these two versions of the services agreement. Show the value from each version side by side, cite where each one appears, and flag anything that appears in only one version.”
Before you use it
What to check
- Read the cited passages in both documents, not just the summary.
- Make sure conflicting values are shown separately, with the version each came from.
- Resolve open questions with the right source before you rely on the result.
- If you need every change, including wording and formatting, run Word’s Compare Documents as well.
- Keep the two original versions unchanged and save any comparison under its own name.
Questions
- How do I compare two Word documents for differences on a Mac?
- In Word for Mac, open one version, then on the Review tab select Compare > Compare Documents. Choose the original and the revised document and select OK. Word shows the differences with revision marks in a new document.
- Does Word change my files when it compares them?
- Microsoft says the original copy remains untouched. The comparison appears in a new document based on the original.
- Can Nudocs show every difference between two documents?
- No. Nudocs compares the facts you ask about and cites its sources, but a summary of selected facts is not an exhaustive or visual diff. Use Word’s Compare Documents when every change matters.
- Can I compare Word documents and highlight differences without Word?
- Pages can open Word files and track changes as you edit, but Apple’s Pages User Guide doesn’t list a way to compare two finished documents. Nudocs can check selected facts across both versions and cite where each appears.
Get Nudocs
Try it on your next document task. You might even love it.
Download for Mac →For Macs with Apple silicon running macOS 13 or later. A Nutrient DWS account is required. The Mac app is free; document and AI services use DWS free allowances or paid usage, depending on your plan and task. Check DWS pricing.