Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about comparing *.ipynb Jupyter Notebooks
General Questions
A *.ipynb file is a Jupyter Notebook file format (IPython Notebook). It's a JSON document containing code, text, mathematical equations, and visualizations. Jupyter Notebooks are widely used in data science, machine learning, and scientific computing for interactive data analysis and documentation.
The format was originally created for the IPython project and has since become the standard for interactive computing notebooks across many programming languages including Python, R, Julia, and more.
ipynbcompare is an online tool that allows you to compare two Jupyter Notebook files (*.ipynb) side by side. It shows you exactly what changed between two versions of a notebook, including added, removed, and modified cells.
Unlike traditional diff tools that show raw JSON, ipynbcompare understands the notebook structure and presents differences in a meaningful, easy-to-understand format.
Yes, ipynbcompare is currently free to use. Compare as many notebooks as you need without signing up.
Security & Privacy
Absolutely! Your notebooks are processed entirely in your web browser using JavaScript. No files are ever uploaded to our servers. Your data never leaves your computer, making this the most secure way to compare notebooks online.
No, we do not store, log, or have any access to your notebook files. All processing happens client-side in your browser. Once you close the page, all data is gone - we have no servers receiving or storing your files.
Yes! Since all processing happens locally in your browser and no data is transmitted to our servers, ipynbcompare is safe to use with confidential, proprietary, or sensitive code. Your files never leave your device.
Compatibility
Yes! Our tool compares the content of notebook cells regardless of the Python version or kernel used. The comparison focuses on the actual code and markdown content, not the environment metadata.
Yes! Google Colab notebooks use the standard *.ipynb format, so you can download your Colab notebooks and compare them using ipynbcompare.
To download from Colab: Go to File → Download → Download .ipynb. Then upload both versions to our tool.
Yes! Kaggle notebooks also use the standard *.ipynb format. You can download your Kaggle notebooks and compare them using ipynbcompare.
To download from Kaggle: Open your notebook, click on the three dots menu, and select "Download notebook". Then upload both versions to our tool.
Yes! ipynbcompare is fully responsive and works on any device:
- iPhone and Android phones
- iPad and Android tablets
- Desktop and laptop computers
Just open the website in your mobile browser and start comparing notebooks.
Currently, ipynbcompare only supports the standard Jupyter Notebook format (*.ipynb). R Markdown (.Rmd) and Quarto (.qmd) files are not supported at this time.
However, if you can convert these formats to *.ipynb, you can then compare them using our tool.