Compare two documents and see exactly what changed
The other side sent back "a few small edits" to the contract, with no Track Changes. Reading both versions line by line takes an hour and you could still miss a number. Attach both files to your todo.is agent. It lines them up, lists every addition, deletion and rewording with page numbers, and tells you which changes actually matter.
The prompt
- Compare these two documents: the old version [OLD VERSION] and the new version [NEW VERSION]. List every change: added, removed and reworded text, changed numbers, dates and names, with the page or section for each. Ignore [IGNORE]. Then give me a short summary of the changes that matter most for [MY ROLE], in plain words. Also make [REDLINE FORMAT] that shows the changes marked up.
What to change
- [OLD VERSION]: Attach the original (PDF, Word or even a scan).
- [NEW VERSION]: Attach the revised file. Mixed formats work, such as an old PDF and a new Word file.
- [IGNORE]: E.g. "formatting and font changes", "page breaks" or "nothing, show me everything".
- [MY ROLE]: E.g. "me as the freelancer", "the tenant" or "our company as the buyer".
- [REDLINE FORMAT]: E.g. "a Word file with Track Changes", "a PDF with deletions in red and additions in green" or "no redline, just the list".
Example result
- Comparison: Services_Agreement_v1.pdf vs. Services_Agreement_v2.docx
- 14 changes · 4 important · formatting changes ignored
- The 4 changes that matter for you (the freelancer)
- • Payment terms (5.1): "within 30 days of invoice" → "within 60 days of invoice". You get paid a month later
- • Late fee (5.3): the 1.5% monthly late fee clause was removed
- • IP ownership (8.2): added "including all preliminary drafts and concepts". The client now owns rejected drafts too
- • Termination (11.1): notice period cut from 30 to 14 days, for the client only; your notice stays at 30
- Other changes
- • 1.1: client name corrected: "Harbor Labs Ltd" → "Harbor Labs Limited"
- • 2.4: deliverables list adds "one round of revisions per milestone"
- • 3.2: start date 01/11/2026 → 15/11/2026
- • 6.1: "reasonable expenses" → "pre-approved expenses"
- • 7.3: new sentence: confidentiality lasts 3 years after the contract ends
- • 9.1: liability cap stays at fees paid; wording simplified, same meaning
- • 12.2: governing law unchanged; court city changed from Leeds to Manchester
- • Schedule A: hourly rate unchanged; milestone 3 date moved one week later
- • Signature block: new signatory name and title for the client
- • Page 1: version number and date updated
- Same in both versions
- • Fees, scope of the main deliverables, the non-solicitation clause and insurance requirements
- Suggested reply points
- • Ask to keep 30-day payment, or 45 days with the late fee restored
- • Ask that IP for rejected drafts stays with you, or is licensed only
- Note
- • This is a comparison, not legal advice. For high-value contracts, have a lawyer review the final version
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and say whose side you are on, so the summary focuses on what matters to you.
- Attach both files and paste the prompt in todo.is on the Today screen, or send them to your agent on WhatsApp, Telegram or email.
- Your agent lines up the versions, lists every change and makes a marked-up copy.
- Ask follow-ups like "draft a reply asking to undo changes 1 and 3".
Tips for a better result
- Say which file is the old one and which is the new one. Otherwise "added" and "removed" get swapped.
- Tell your agent to ignore formatting. You will get a short list of real changes instead of hundreds of font tweaks.
- Numbers, dates, notice periods and who-pays clauses are where quiet edits usually hide. Ask your agent to check them separately.
- A Word file with Track Changes is the easiest way to send your counter-proposal back to the other side.
compare two documents: FAQ
- How do I compare two PDF documents for differences? Attach both PDFs and say which is newer. Your agent lists every added, removed or reworded passage with page numbers.
- Can I compare a PDF with a Word document? Yes. Your agent reads both formats, including scans after OCR, and compares the text.
- Can it make a redline or Track Changes version? Yes. Ask for a Word file with Track Changes or a PDF with colored markups.
- Will it catch small changes like a number or date? Yes. Your agent compares word by word and calls out changed numbers, dates and names separately so they don't get lost.
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