Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about comparing and reconciling files with SheetPair.
Getting Started
- What is SheetPair?
- SheetPair is a data reconciliation tool that compares two CSV or Excel files. You upload two files, map your columns, and see what matches, what's different, and what's missing — in seconds.
- How do I compare two files?
- Drag and drop both files onto sheetpair.com. Map key columns (to match rows) and compare columns (to check for differences). Results appear in seconds, broken into matched rows, differences, and missing rows.
- What file formats are supported?
- SheetPair supports CSV, .xlsx, and .xls files. You can compare two files of different formats — for example, a CSV against an Excel file.
- Do I need to create an account?
- No. You can compare files up to 1,000 rows without signing up. A free account gives you more daily comparisons. Paid plans support larger files.
Privacy & Security
- Does my data get uploaded to a server?
- For files under 50,000 rows, no. Everything is processed in your browser using Web Workers. Your data never leaves your machine. You can verify this by checking the Network tab in your browser's developer tools.
- What happens with larger files?
- Files over 50,000 rows are processed on encrypted servers using Cloudflare Workers. Files are auto-deleted within 24 hours. You can see exactly which processing mode is being used before you start.
- Is SheetPair safe for sensitive data like financial records or PII?
- Yes. For files under 50,000 rows, your data stays entirely in your browser — nothing to intercept or breach. This makes it suitable for bank statements, payroll data, HR records, and files covered by NDAs or compliance requirements.
- Can I use SheetPair if my company has data handling policies?
- Yes. Since browser-based processing keeps data on your machine, it avoids the compliance concerns that come with uploading to third-party servers. No data processing agreement is needed for client-side comparisons.
Matching & Comparison
- What are key columns and compare columns?
- Key columns identify which rows should be matched between files (e.g., Invoice Number, Employee ID). Compare columns are checked for differences after matching (e.g., Amount, Status, Date).
- Can I match rows using multiple columns?
- Yes. You can mark multiple columns as keys. Rows must match on all key columns to be considered a match — useful when a single column isn't unique enough.
- Does SheetPair support fuzzy matching?
- Yes. SheetPair uses Jaro-Winkler fuzzy matching for text fields, so 'Jon Smith' and 'John Smith' can still match. You can control the similarity threshold.
- How does numeric tolerance work?
- You can set a tolerance so amounts that differ by a small value (like $0.01 due to rounding) are treated as matching. This is common in financial reconciliation.
- What if my files have different column names?
- SheetPair auto-detects likely column matches based on header names. You can also manually map columns — so 'Invoice #' in one file can match 'Inv Number' in the other.
- How are duplicate rows handled?
- If one file has two rows with the same key and the other file has one, SheetPair matches them correctly and surfaces the extra row. No manual deduplication needed.
Results & Export
- What do the results show?
- Results are split into four categories: matched rows (identical in both files), rows with differences (matched but with changed values, highlighted at the cell level), rows only in File A, and rows only in File B.
- Can I export the results?
- Yes. Export as CSV or Excel. You can export everything or filter by category — for example, only the rows with differences or only the rows missing from one file.
- Can I see exactly which cells are different?
- Yes. For rows that matched but have differences, every changed cell is highlighted so you can see exactly what changed at a glance.
Pricing & Limits
- How much does SheetPair cost?
- SheetPair is free for files up to 1,000 rows. Paid plans start at $29/month (Starter, 25K rows), $79/month (Pro, 200K rows), and $149/month (Business, unlimited rows). AI features are available on paid plans.
- How many comparisons can I do per day?
- Anonymous users get 3 comparisons per day. Free accounts get 5 per day. Paid plans have higher or unlimited daily comparisons.
- What are the AI features?
- On paid plans, SheetPair can auto-detect which columns to use as keys and compare columns, and explain why fuzzy matches were made. AI features use Claude Haiku and run server-side.
Use Cases
- Can I use SheetPair for bank reconciliation?
- Yes. Upload your bank statement and accounting ledger, map the transaction ID as the key column, and compare amounts and dates. Use numeric tolerance to handle rounding differences.
- Can I use SheetPair to verify a data migration?
- Yes. Export records from both the source and target systems, upload them to SheetPair, and check for missing rows and field-level differences. This catches records that didn't transfer or transferred incorrectly.
- Is SheetPair better than VLOOKUP for comparing files?
- For comparing entire files, yes. VLOOKUP finds whether a value exists in another sheet but doesn't give you a full picture of matches, differences, and missing rows. SheetPair handles all of that without writing formulas.
Still have questions?
Email us at hello@sheetpair.com and we'll get back to you.