VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Head-to-head

Diffchecker vs Open Payments (CMS) comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

Quick takeaways

Diffchecker adds Diff View coverage that Open Payments (CMS) skips.

Open Payments (CMS) includes Data APIs, Data Visualizations, and Regulatory Filings Monitoring categories that Diffchecker omits.

Diffchecker highlights: Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders., Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer., and Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF..

Open Payments (CMS) is known for: Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests., Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal., and Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style)..

Diffchecker logo

Diffchecker

diffchecker.com

Diffchecker is a comparison tool for text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders. The free Basic plan is web-only, while Pro + Desktop adds offline diffs, ad-free usage, real-time text comparison, and desktop apps. Legal and Enterprise tiers include integrations (e.g. iManage) and advanced admin features. Enterprise also offers SAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, and priority support. An API is available with free and paid plans, and a 14-day trial is offered for Pro/Desktop plans.

Platforms

Web
Desktop
API

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders.
  • Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer.
  • Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF.
  • Syntax highlighting for 20+ programming languages with character-by-character precision.
  • Public HTTP API supports text, image, PDF, and Excel diffs with tiered monthly quotas and input size limits.

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Open Payments (CMS) logo

Open Payments (CMS)

openpaymentsdata.cms.gov

U.S. federal open‑data program (Affordable Care Act ‘Sunshine Act’) that publishes financial relationships between drug/device manufacturers (and GPOs) and healthcare providers (physicians, NPPs since PY2021, and teaching hospitals). CMS publishes the prior program year’s full datasets on or before June 30 each year and issues a January refresh. Data are accessible via the web search tool, bulk downloads, and a REST Open Data API (filter, query, aggregate).

Platforms

Web
API

Pricing

Free

Quick highlights

  • Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests.
  • Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal.
  • Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style).
  • Publication cadence: initial annual publication on/around June 30 for the prior year, plus a January data refresh.
  • Pre‑publication workflow: 45‑day recipient review & dispute (Apr 1–May 15) + 15‑day correction window (May 16–May 30).

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Overlap

Shared focus areas

1 overlap

Both tools cover this research theme.

Where they differ

Diffchecker

Distinct strengths include:

  • Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders.
  • Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer.
  • Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF.
  • Syntax highlighting for 20+ programming languages with character-by-character precision.

Open Payments (CMS)

Distinct strengths include:

  • Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests.
  • Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal.
  • Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style).
  • Publication cadence: initial annual publication on/around June 30 for the prior year, plus a January data refresh.

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeDiffcheckerOpen Payments (CMS)
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: APIs & SDKs

Unique: Diff View

Shared: APIs & SDKs

Unique: Data APIs, Data Visualizations, Regulatory Filings Monitoring

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

Other

Other

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, Desktop, API

Web, API

Pricing

High-level pricing models

Free, Subscription

Free

Key features

Core capabilities called out by each vendor

Unique

  • Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders.
  • Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer.
  • Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF.
  • Syntax highlighting for 20+ programming languages with character-by-character precision.
  • Public HTTP API supports text, image, PDF, and Excel diffs with tiered monthly quotas and input size limits.
  • API authentication uses an email query for the free tier, and API keys for paid plans.

Unique

  • Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests.
  • Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal.
  • Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style).
  • Publication cadence: initial annual publication on/around June 30 for the prior year, plus a January data refresh.
  • Pre‑publication workflow: 45‑day recipient review & dispute (Apr 1–May 15) + 15‑day correction window (May 16–May 30).
  • Supplemental/lookup tables (e.g., Covered Recipient Profile Supplement; distinct physician profile) to aid joins.
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Featured inside curated shortlists

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do Diffchecker and Open Payments (CMS) both support?

Both platforms cover APIs & SDKs workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Do Diffchecker and Open Payments (CMS) require subscriptions?

Both Diffchecker and Open Payments (CMS) keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.

How can you access Diffchecker and Open Payments (CMS)?

Both Diffchecker and Open Payments (CMS) prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.

What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?

Diffchecker differentiates itself with Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders., Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer., and Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF., whereas Open Payments (CMS) stands out for Three core datasets each year: General Payments, Research Payments, and Ownership/Investment Interests., Web search/explorer with filtering and charts; program year downloads available from the portal., and Open Data API (ODA) for programmatic access with filtering, querying, and aggregation (SoQL‑style)..

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.