Catch the differences in documents

Draftable is a secure way to scan your texts

Happy new year, reporters! Let’s start off with a time saving tool.

I’m updating my data journalism textbook for a second edition, which means I need to make sure I’m editing the most recent version. I started by scanning a chapter, then spot-checking, then realizing I should probably use a computer for this.

The best tool I found is called Draftable and is geared toward lawyers, corporations and the like. That means it’s paid, unfortunately. But Draftable does offer a free online version that can compare documents up to 20MB.

If your docs are bigger than that (mine were), you can use a document or PDF tool to resize them. Draftable can handle PDFs, Word docs, plain text, even spreadsheets. It spits them out in a neat, easily understandable highlight system of red and blue.

Draftable is not the only tool that can compare texts. ChatGPT can, but I didn’t want to give my book to ChatGPT so it can plagiarize me. Google Pinpoint can, but it just summarizes the differences.

Draftable offers better promises of security/privacy, and can run even more securely with the paid desktop app. Don’t skim anymore, reporters!

Did you miss the last TFR? Catch up on last year with the Top Tools of 2025