Beyond Compare is an application that's supposed to let users compare files, folders, archives or even FTP servers with the help of a clean, tab-based interface.

The program might very well seem a bit overwhelming at the first glance, since there are features and menus everywhere you look, so you will need a few minutes to get used to it.

Once you open the app, you are prompted to choose a new session and decide whether you like to compare folders, text documents, MP3s, pictures, registry entries, versions or HEX data.

The interface is pretty much the same no matter which option you choose. There are two similar panels, one of the left and one on the right that let you compare the content on the go.

Just go over to “Actions” to see more tools, such as to compare contents, copy or move to a folder, refresh selection or create a file compare report.

There's also a synchronize tool, because yes, Beyond Compare can do that too, so you can either update right, left or both, or just mirror to right or left.

The options menus has tons of entries, starting with the way information is organized in tabs and ending with folder views and file views, so you may spend some time in here as well.

Last but not least, there's also a dedicated feature to save the working sessions for later editing, and in case you need it, Beyond Compare has a built-in FTP tool and ZIP support.

As a conclusion, although it's a bit pricey, Beyond Compare remains a very useful solution. It's one of the best of its kind and really deserves a chance if you're in the market for such an app.