Compare Excel files
Where RowKite fits into your work
| Team / task | Files to compare | Matching columns | Columns to compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check billing line itemsAccounting and bookkeeping teams | Internal transaction registerandCustomer or supplier statement | Document ID + Line item ID | Quantity, Amount, Tax |
| Check order exportsEcommerce and sales teams | Marketplace order exportandInternal order records | Order ID + SKU | Quantity, Unit price, Amount, Order status |
| Compare inventory recordsWarehouse and inventory teams | System inventory exportandCount sheet for the same point in time | SKU + Specification + Warehouse | Stock quantity |
| Review an updated supplier quotePurchasing and supply chain teams | Current purchase price listandUpdated supplier quote | Item ID + Specification | Unit price, Lead time (days), Minimum order |
| Review payroll revisionsHR and payroll teams | Reviewed payroll for the monthandRevised payroll for the same month | Employee ID | Gross pay, Allowances, Hours worked |
| Verify an imported datasetImplementation and QA teams | Records prepared for importandSystem export after import | Record ID + Line item ID | Quantity, Amount, Status, and other business values |
How it works
Choose files and sheets
Choose one reference file and 1–4 comparison files. Each comparison file is compared separately with the reference. Select one sheet per file, with headers in the first row.
Choose matching and comparison columns
Matching columns identify the same record, such as Order ID + SKU. Columns to compare are the values you want to check, such as Quantity, Unit price, and Amount. Select or clear columns in the dropdowns.
Identical headers map automatically. For different headers, open Map columns and select the corresponding column in each comparison file. You can also set decimal precision and trim leading or trailing spaces.
Review differences and download your report
Click Compare files. The default view shows Differences and needs review groups. Changed values appear as reference → comparison. Click a cell to inspect the original values and sources; review duplicate or invalid records in Issues. Result icons show status. Open the header question mark for the legend, or hover over an icon for details.
The Excel report includes the summary, all comparison details, and issues. Searching, filtering, and paging do not reduce the export.
Choose Full screen on a computer, or open More on a phone to enter or exit full screen. Your search, filters, and page stay selected.
Which columns should I choose?
Choose 1–3 matching columns and 1–8 columns to compare. A column cannot serve both purposes. With multiple matching columns, every value must match. The combination should uniquely identify each row.
For orders with multiple line items, add SKU or another stable column. Column menus show samples, while the matching key check scans all rows. If duplicates remain, add a matching column and check again.
Which files and sizes are supported?
Use standard .xlsx tables. Hidden rows are included; fully blank rows are skipped. Limits are 10 MiB per file, 30 MiB total, 10,000 rows and 50 columns per sheet, and 1 million cells across all files.
Encrypted or damaged files and merged cells in required columns need preparation first. The source preview shows the first 10 rows of each selected sheet.
How do Raw values and Numeric values differ?
Raw values distinguishes text from numbers: the text "10" differs from the number 10. Leading zeros in text are preserved. Numeric values mode can convert strict decimal text and compare at your chosen precision. Reports keep the original values.
Numeric values mode does not convert currency symbols, thousands separators, percentages, or units. Values that cannot be converted appear in Issues. Formulas use saved results; calculate and save the workbook in Excel first.
Why do records need review?
Duplicate matching values within a file make it unclear which rows belong together. RowKite keeps the source rows and does not merge them. Blank matching values, error cells, and formulas without saved results also need review.
Counts include each comparison file’s keys relative to the reference. One reference record can affect several comparison files. Use Issues to understand records that need review.
Are files uploaded? Can I restore a task after refreshing?
Reading files, comparing values, and exporting reports all happen on your device. Original files are not modified. Refreshing, closing the page, or leaving the workspace clears the current files and results. Download your report first.
Select a saved setup in the columns section to reuse settings, or choose Save this setup to create one. You can also choose Save this setup on the results page, under More on phones, and keep reviewing or exporting afterward. Setups save sheet names, columns, and rules; they do not save business data.