KDiff3 is a file and folder diff and merge tool which
- compares and merges two or three text input files or folders,
- shows the differences line by line and character by character(!),
- provides an automatic merge-facility,
- has an editor for comfortable solving of merge-conflicts,
- provides network transparency via KIO,
- has options to highlight or hide changes in white-space or comments,
- supports Unicode, UTF-8 and other file encodings,
- prints differences,
- supports version control keyword and history merging.
Publisher’s description
What is KDiff3?
KDiff3 is an open-source developer utilitie program for Windows from KDE e.V.. It ranks 40th by popularity among developer utilities in this catalogue. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as EXE (NSIS). The main installer is 81.4 MB. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.12.4, released on March 4, 2026. 18 versions are listed since March 30, 2021, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 3.7 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 171,584 times. Similar programs include WinMerge, jq and x64dbg.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
- Also runs on Linux
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: KDiff3 is an open-source developer utilitie tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Key features
- compares and merges two or three text input files or folders,
- shows the differences line by line and character by character(!),
- provides an automatic merge-facility,
- has an editor for comfortable solving of merge-conflicts,
- provides network transparency via KIO,
- has options to highlight or hide changes in white-space or comments,
- supports Unicode, UTF-8 and other file encodings,
- prints differences,
- supports version control keyword and history merging.
AppStream · Flathub
Is KDiff3 safe to download?
- The file is served by download.kde.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
2D58B4D675934290146FAF08A239788FFC36FD6AC2C480456100FB1D8AB2BB16· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 18 versions ›18 versions over 5 years · about 3.7 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.12.4Latest | March 4, 2026 | 81.4 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.12.3 | May 16, 2025 | 78.3 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.12.2 | March 29, 2025 | 72.9 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.12.1 | February 28, 2025 | 72.9 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.12.0 | December 9, 2024 | 81.2 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.11.5 | November 7, 2024 | 81.1 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.11.0 | April 22, 2024 | 63.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 1.10.7 | January 13, 2024 | 70.1 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id KDE.KDiff3 -echoco install kdiff3 -yscoop install extras/kdiff3kdiff3-1.12.4-windows-x86_64.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
flatpak install flathub org.kde.kdiff3Information
- Publisher
- KDE e.V.
- Category
- Developer utilities
- Licence
- GPL-2.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Content rating
- All ages
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- Linux
- Version
- 1.12.4
- Released
- March 4, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 18
- Updates / year
- 3.7
- Chocolatey downloads
- 171,584
- Website
- apps.kde.org
- winget ID
- KDE.KDiff3
- Chocolatey package
- kdiff3
- Scoop package
- extras/kdiff3
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is KDiff3 free?
Yes. KDiff3 is open-source software under the GPL-2.0-or-later licence.
Is KDiff3 safe to download?
The download comes from download.kde.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install KDiff3 with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can KDiff3 be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does KDiff3 run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of KDiff3?
The versions page lists all 18 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
Can I use KDiff3 without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to KDiff3?
WinMerge, jq, x64dbg, Meld and Vale. The alternatives page compares them.
