MD5 File and Folder Comparator
Software for comparing files in folders and subfolders
using the MD5 message digest algorithm
Hermetic Systems


via our PayPal order form
or via our Kagi order form
MD5 File and Folder Comparator is a file and folder comparison utility for comparing files as to whether or not they are identical in content. A pair of files may be compared, or all files in two subfolders (optionally including files in their subfolders). Comparison of files in folders may be done to display files which are the same or files which are different. A listing may be obtained of all files in a folder (and optionally subfolders) with their MD5 digital signatures.

Here is a sample screenshot:

If this user interface seems complicated then we have a simpler version of this program: MD5 File and Folder Comparator Lite.


MD5 File and Folder Comparator works by comparing the MD5 digital signatures of files (using the MD5 message digest algorithm). The MD5 digital signature of a file is a sequence of 16 bytes, usually displayed as 16 hexadecimal numbers with no intervening spaces, for example, 4EAE15241AD90F85D038523E9D14DDDB. Two files whose MD5 digital signatures are different differ themselves in at least one byte. Two files whose digital signatures are the same are identical in content, except where the two files have been deliberately constructed so as to have the same digital signature. Such 'collisions' are extremely rare, and in practice two files whose digital signatures are different are always themselves different.


Here are examples of possible uses for this program:

  1. Comparing two versions of a file as to whether they are the same or different.
  2. Recording the digital signatures of a set of files to be sent to someone else along with those files, so that they can check that the files they receive are the same as the files that were sent.
  3. If you have copied files in a folder (and perhaps in its subfolders also) to another folder (or to some external device) and later you wish to check which files have been added to, modified or deleted from, the folder which was copied, then this software can be used to find out by comparing the folder which was copied and the backup folder.
  4. If you have two folders, each of which is a backup of some other folder, you can use this program to get the average of the file dates in each of the backup folders, thus telling you which backup folder is latest.

User Manual
  1. Getting the MD5 digital signature of a file
  2. Comparing two files
  3. Recording the digital signatures of all files in a folder (and optionally subfolders)
  4. The option frames
  5. Comparing two folders (and optionally their subfolders) as to which files are the same
  6. Comparing two folders (and optionally their subfolders) as to which files are different
  7. Getting earliest, average and latest file dates
  8. Save state and reset


Network use: This software is able to compare files over networks, but not necessarily all networks. To ascertain whether it works with your particular network, download the trial version and test it.

Trial version: A copy of MD5 File and Folder Comparator can be downloaded from this website for the purpose of evaluation of the software. Click on the following link for further information:

Download MD5 File and Folder Comparator ...



via our PayPal order form
or via our Kagi order form
Price and ordering: A single-user license for MD5 File and Folder Comparator costs $19.95, €14.25 or £12.45 (excluding any sales tax). Purchase via either of the links at right.  After a user license has been purchased an activation key can be obtained by email to make the software fully-functional. An activation key can be sent immediately if purchasing via PayPal.  (How?)

Refund: A refund will be provided promptly up to 30 days after purchase if the software does not perform satisfactorily.

Updates: Purchasers of a user license for this software are entitled to an update to any later version at no additional cost.

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