Free Tool for Comparing MSSQL Databases

There is frequently a need to compare two databases when developing or testing a data-driven application.

You'll want answers to questions:

• Did a table change?
• Did some fields get added, deleted, renamed, or have a type change?
• Did views or triggers or indexes get modified or added?
• Did source code inside a stored procedure change?
• Is the testing schema different from the development schema?
• Have there been any changes in the development schema since last week?

Having written a freeware diff tool for Microsoft Access back in 1999, I was considering writing a diff tool for MSSQL. The first step in my project was market research to determine whether there is a need for a freeware MSSQL Diff tool.

My project ended here in a quick blog because it turns out there are some excellent free MSSQL diffing tools on the market already. After reviewing several, I found DBComparer to be the best and added it to my Freeware Tool Server list. DBComparer does a comprehensive job of comparing schemas, including 22 object types ranging from tables to views to stored procedures. It scripts out the differences in a separate window, and has an easily navigable tree to walk through all objects' differences.

Although DBComparer does a fine job of comparing schemas, it does not compare data between two databases. If you need more functionality such as this, then consider purchasing products such as Microsoft Visual Studio Team Edition (built-in schema compare), RedGate SQL Compare, RedGate Data Compare, ApexSQL Diff , or Apex Data Diff.