To see what changed between two sets of bookmarks, export both as bookmarks.html and compare them link by link. FindUtils Bookmarks Diff matches the two exports by address and lists every link that was added, removed, renamed or moved to another folder. It runs in your browser: the files are not uploaded and no link is opened.
This guide covers when a comparison is useful, how links are matched, what each kind of change means, and what the downloads are for.
When Is a Bookmarks Comparison Useful?
- After a sync or a migration: check that nothing went missing when a profile moved to a new machine or browser.
- After a cleanup: confirm that a deduplication or a merge removed only what it should have.
- Between backups: find the links saved since last month's export.
- Shared collections: see what a colleague added to a bookmark set you both keep.
A bookmark manager shows one collection at a time, so answering these by eye means scrolling two windows in parallel.
How to Compare Two Exports
Step 1: Export both collections
Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari all export the same Netscape bookmarks.html format. Export the older state and the newer one, ideally from the same browser (see the FAQ for comparing across browsers).
Step 2: Load Before and After
Open FindUtils Bookmarks Diff. Upload or paste the older export as Before and the newer one as After.
Step 3: Read the counts and the table
Four counts sum up the result: added, removed, changed and unchanged. Added, Removed and Changed also filter the table below them, which shows the change, the title, the address and the folder.
Step 4: Download what you need
Download the report as CSV or JSON, or download the added or removed links as their own bookmarks.html file.
How Are Links Matched?
Links are matched by address, not by title and not by position. Two addresses are the same when they match after folding host case, the default port and a trailing slash. With the default options, tracking parameters (utm_*, fbclid, gclid) and the #fragment are ignored too, the same rules Dedupe Bookmarks uses.
| Before | After | Result |
|---|---|---|
https://example.com/docs/ | https://Example.com/docs | Same link |
https://example.com/a?utm_source=mail | https://example.com/a | Same link while Ignore tracking parameters is on |
https://example.com/guide#setup | https://example.com/guide | Same link while Ignore #fragments is on |
http://example.com/ | https://example.com/ | Different links: the scheme is part of the address |
What Counts as Added, Removed or Changed?
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Added | The address is in After but not in Before |
| Removed | The address is in Before but not in After |
| Changed | The address is in both, but its title differs, or it sits in a different folder |
| Unchanged | The address is in both with the same title and folder |
A changed link says which of the two changed. Turn off Count folder moves as changes to ignore folders and compare titles only, which is useful after reorganizing a collection on purpose.
When an address was saved more than once in one file, it is compared once, by its first copy, and the notes say how many addresses that affected.
What Are the Downloads For?
| Download | Use |
|---|---|
| Report CSV | One row per difference: change, address, titles and folders before and after, and what changed |
| Report JSON | The same data with the counts, for a script or a record |
| Added as bookmarks.html | Import only the new links into another browser |
| Removed as bookmarks.html | Restore links that went missing, in their original folders |
The two bookmarks.html downloads keep titles, folders and the date each bookmark was added.
Practical Examples
A migration check. Export from the old laptop and the new one. Removed shows anything that did not make the move, and its bookmarks.html download puts it back in one import.
A monthly backup. Compare last month's export with today's. Added is the month's reading list.
Checking a merge. Compare one original export with the output of Merge Bookmarks. Added lists what came in from the other files.
Common Mistakes
Swapping Before and After. Added and Removed trade places. Before is the older file.
Expecting dead links to be flagged. No link is opened. A bookmark to a page that no longer exists is compared like any other.
Comparing a bookmarks file with a Chrome profile file. Both sides must be bookmarks.html exports. Convert Chrome's Bookmarks JSON file with Bookmarks JSON to HTML first.
Tools Used in This Guide
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Bookmarks Diff | Compare two bookmarks.html exports |
| Merge Bookmarks | Combine exports into one file |
| Dedupe Bookmarks | Remove duplicate links from one export |
| Bookmarks HTML to CSV | Review a whole export in a spreadsheet |
| JSON Diff | Compare two JSON files, such as two report downloads |
FAQ
Can I compare bookmarks from Chrome and Firefox?
Yes, with one setting to change. Both export the Netscape bookmarks.html format and links are matched by address, so the same page saved in both browsers counts as the same link. But each browser names its top-level folders differently (Chrome's Bookmarks bar, Firefox's Bookmarks Toolbar), so almost every shared link would show as moved. Turn off Count folder moves as changes to compare addresses and titles only.
Does renaming a bookmark count as a change?
Yes. A bookmark whose address stayed the same but whose title changed is listed as changed, with the old and new titles.
Does moving a bookmark to another folder count as a change?
Yes, while Count folder moves as changes is on, which is the default. Turn it off to compare titles only.
Are my bookmarks uploaded?
No. Both files are read and compared in the browser tab, and no request carries them.
Next Steps
Export two snapshots of your bookmarks and compare them with Bookmarks Diff. To combine collections instead, use Merge Bookmarks.
