sqldiff Online
Compare SQL in your browser with nothing to install. If you were looking for SQLite's sqldiff utility, this page explains both — and when each one is the right tool.
Compare SQL without installing anything
If you came here looking for the sqldiff utility
sqldiff is a genuinely good tool and we are not going to pretend otherwise. It ships with SQLite, it is free, it reads .db files directly, and it outputs the exact SQL statements needed to turn one database into the other. If you can install it and you are working with database files, use it:
brew install sqldiff # macOS sqldiff before.db after.db # prints the SQL to migrate
Useful flags: --schema compares structure only, --table NAME restricts the comparison to a single table, and --summary prints per-table change counts instead of full statements.
When a browser tool is the better fit
You cannot install anything. Locked-down work laptops, a client's machine, a shared server, a Chromebook. A page that loads and runs is sometimes the only option available.
You are comparing text, not databases. Migration files, stored procedures, view definitions, two versions of a query. sqldiff does not do this — it operates on .db files. Text comparison is a different job.
You want to see it. sqldiff produces a stream of SQL statements, which is ideal for piping into a file and terrible for eyeballing. A side-by-side view with colour is easier when you are trying to understand a change rather than apply it.
Comparing actual .db files here
If you do want row-level comparison of two SQLite database files without the command line, our database comparison feature reads both files and reports added, removed and modified rows table by table. Unlike the text tool on this page, that one processes files on our servers and needs an account.
Frequently asked questions
What is sqldiff?+
sqldiff is a command-line utility distributed with SQLite. It takes two .db files and prints the SQL statements needed to transform the first into the second. It is free, official, and ships with SQLite itself.
Is this the same as sqldiff?+
No, and it is worth being clear about that. sqldiff reads binary .db files and generates migration SQL. This page compares SQL text in your browser. If you need generated migration statements from two database files, install sqldiff — it is the better tool for that job.
How do I install sqldiff?+
On macOS, "brew install sqldiff". On Debian and Ubuntu it is included in the sqlite3-tools or sqlite3 package depending on version. On Windows, download the precompiled tools bundle from sqlite.org. Once installed, run: sqldiff before.db after.db
Why use a browser tool instead?+
Three situations: you are on a machine where you cannot install software, you are comparing SQL text rather than database files, or you want a visual side-by-side view rather than a stream of generated statements.