Source and summary rows
The file begins with the original and revised filenames and total changes. The detail header follows after a blank line; import from that header if your downstream tool expects one rectangular table.
Review output
Excel difference report CSV: export changes for free
Create an Excel difference report CSV by comparing two same-layout XLSX workbook versions in your browser. Download every supported change with its type, worksheet, cell or row/column index, and before/after content. No signup or workbook upload is required.
Reproducible output
See a real sample Excel difference report
The downloadable sample is generated by WorkbookDiff's comparison engine and CSV exporter from our public synthetic workbook pair. It contains four changes: a label edit and three different formula transitions. These are test files, not a customer report.
| Worksheet / cell | Change | Original | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget!B3 | Value changed | Original | Revised |
| Budget!D5 | Formula changed | =B5*C5 | =ROUND(B5*C5,0) |
| Budget!D6 | Formula replaced by value | =B6*C6 | 25000 |
| Budget!D7 | Value replaced by formula | 12000 | =B7*C7 |
The three formula cells retain the same stored result in this example, even though their formula types or expressions change. Formula values in the actual CSV are serialized as objects containing formula and value; this table is a readable summary.
How to create your own CSV change report
- Open the comparison workspace and select the original XLSX, then the revised XLSX. Keep rows and columns aligned between the two versions.
- Choose Compare Excel Files. Review the supported value, stored-formula and structural changes.
- Use worksheet, formula-type or text filters to inspect the table. These filters do not limit the CSV export.
- Choose Export audit CSV. The downloaded file contains the source filenames, total count, then the full five-column change list.
The five detail columns are Change type, Worksheet, Address or index, Before and After. No changes are merged back into either workbook.
Understand the CSV fields and limitations
Locations and values
Cells use addresses such as D6; row and column visibility changes use an index. Sheet-level changes may have no cell location. Structural values can be serialized objects.
Text, not executable formulas
The exporter quotes fields and escapes quotes. Formula-like text is prefixed with an apostrophe as a safety measure. Inspect the report as data; do not remove protective prefixes just to make expressions run.
Private comparison, sensitive output
Files are compared locally, but the downloaded CSV contains filenames and workbook content. Treat it as confidential and share it only with the intended reviewer. We cannot recover your downloaded report.
Inputs are XLSX only. There is no row matching by ID, formula recalculation or comparison of formatting, charts, pivots or macros. A CSV difference report is not a forensic or compliance audit. See the stored-formula comparison guide and browser-local privacy guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CSV difference report free?
Yes. Comparing supported XLSX files and exporting the full CSV are free and require no signup. An optional $19 handoff report adds review marks, notes and HTML/print export for one workbook pair.
Does a result filter limit the CSV export?
No. Worksheet, formula and text filters change the displayed table only. CSV export includes all supported changes from the comparison.
Can I upload CSV files for comparison?
No. Inputs must be two unencrypted .xlsx files, up to 20 MiB each. CSV is an output format, not a supported input format.
Why can unchanged totals still hide a formula change?
A formula can be replaced by its current result, or another expression with the same stored result. Comparing the stored formula type and expression reveals that transition. WorkbookDiff does not recalculate the file or determine whether the edit was intentional.
Is comparison free, and do I need an account?
Comparing two supported XLSX files and exporting the CSV difference report are free, with no signup. The optional paid audit handoff report is a separate product.
Can I compare XLS or CSV files?
No. The comparison tool accepts only unencrypted .xlsx workbooks, up to 20 MB per file. It does not accept .xls, .xlsm, .xlsb, CSV or ODS. CSV is an export format, not a comparison input.
Pick the report for your task
Start with aligned workbook comparison or a formula-focused review. Reordered records need the separate ID reconciliation beta and its exception CSV, not this coordinate-based report. Free CSV and proposed plan details explain the difference.
Worked example: from a changed cell to a CSV report row
| Cell | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Budget!A1 | Item | Item |
| Budget!A2 | Travel | Travel |
| Budget!B2 | 100 | 125 |
Create budget-before.xlsx and budget-after.xlsx with these same cell positions and no other changes. The result is one cell-value-changed entry at Budget!B2, from 100 to 125. The originals are not modified. The CSV includes a source/summary preamble followed by this five-column detail row; filters do not narrow the export.
"Change type","Worksheet","Address or index","Before","After"
"cell-value-changed","Budget","B2","100","125"Microsoft Spreadsheet Compare / Inquire vs WorkbookDiff
| Workflow | Microsoft Spreadsheet Compare / Inquire | WorkbookDiff |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Windows desktop Excel tools; Spreadsheet Compare and Inquire are not available on Mac. | Browser-based local processing, including Safari and Chrome on macOS; no Excel add-in required. |
| Availability | Available with Office Professional Plus or Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise; edition and installation matter. | Free XLSX comparison and CSV export without signup. Optional paid handoff report is separate. |
| Scope | Spreadsheet Compare can compare values, formulas, formatting and VBA; Inquire provides workbook analysis. | Aligned XLSX values, stored formulas, worksheet visibility, hidden rows/columns and used range. No formatting or VBA comparison; no recalculation. |
WorkbookDiff is not a feature-for-feature replacement for the Microsoft desktop tools. Check your workbook layout and required comparison scope before choosing.
Microsoft documents the desktop workflow in Basic tasks in Spreadsheet Compare.
Compare guides
Choose the guide for your comparison task: Compare Excel files without uploading · Compare Excel formulas and detect formula replaced by value changes · Export an Excel difference report CSV · Compare two Excel files · Excel diff for XLSX workbooks · Compare Excel files on Mac. · Compare two Excel sheets · Beyond Compare alternative for Excel · Microsoft Spreadsheet Compare alternative