DirEqual For Mac

Finder is adequate for many things, but it doesn't do a great job of helping you manage multiple folders. If you need to compare the contents of two directories, you really need to find a third-party app to make the job easier.

DirEqual is just such an app. It's very specialized, allowing you to see, in great detail, what differences there are between two folders. These are highlighted using colors and icons, and you can perform mirror synchronization of directories.

To get started, either browse to the location of the target folders or just drop them in the designated fields. The UI is split into two panels, one for each directory. Then, just run the comparison tool and see the differences in the main window.

The app makes it very easy to tell whether something is missing from either folder, and whether the size of files or folders differs. You can also choose to compare file content for absolute certainty, but it will slow down the process.

After comparing directories, you can try handling the issues manually. Click the dot next to a file to copy it to the other folder, or hold down Shift(⇧) or Option (⌥) to set the action to Copy As or Delete. Then, click Execute to run the operations.

Alternatively, you can speed up the process by running mirror synchronization. This process copies missing or modified files from one folder to the other, while also deleting extra files from the target directory. This will make the contents of the two folders identical.

DirEqual is great at what it does, and it manages to make the process incredibly intuitive. If you need to compare and sync folders for any reason, particularly if user input is preferred, you can't go wrong with this app.