Introduction

Yes. Visual Studio Code has a built-in file comparison feature, so you do not need a Notepad++-style compare plugin for the basic workflow. In many cases it is faster than a plugin because it is integrated with the editor, the Explorer, and Git.

Comparing Two Files in the UI

The basic workflow is:

1. right-click the first file in the Explorer
2. choose Select for Compare
3. right-click the second file
4. choose Compare with Selected

VS Code opens a side-by-side diff editor and highlights changed lines. You can navigate between changes and, when the context supports it, copy changes from one side to the other.

This is the closest equivalent to the Compare plugin in Notepad++.

Use the Command Line for Fast Diffs

If you already know the two file paths, VS Code also supports direct diff launch from the terminal:

code --diff old.txt new.txt

That command is useful in scripts, shell history, and ad hoc reviews. It is also handy when the files are not in the same folder or not even in the same project.

You can compare two project files the same way:

code --diff src/config.dev.json src/config.prod.json

As long as the code command is installed in your shell path, this opens the same diff UI as the Explorer workflow.

Diffing Git Changes

VS Code becomes even more useful when the files are tracked by Git. In the Source Control view, clicking a modified file opens a diff against the last committed version. That means you often do not need to manually select two files at all.

This is one major difference from older editor plugins: the compare view is not an isolated add-on. It is part of the editor's core workflow for source control, merge conflict handling, and review.

Useful Settings and Shortcuts

If you compare files often, a custom keybinding saves time. For example, you can bind a shortcut to compare the active file with a selected file or to focus the next change in the diff editor.

A minimal keybinding entry looks like this:

1[
2  {
3    "key": "ctrl+alt+d",
4    "command": "workbench.action.compareEditor.nextChange"
5  }
6]

That command does not start a comparison by itself, but it speeds up navigation once the diff is open.

Another useful capability is inline diff rendering. Depending on your settings and VS Code version, you can view changes side by side or inline, which is helpful on smaller screens.

When an Extension Still Helps

The built-in compare tool is enough for most developers, but extensions can add context around the comparison rather than replacing the comparison engine itself.

Examples:

• GitLens for richer Git history and blame context
• specialized binary or JSON diff extensions
• domain-specific viewers for notebooks or generated files

So the right answer is not “install a compare plugin first.” Start with the built-in diff feature and add extensions only when your review workflow needs extra metadata.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is trying to compare unsaved editor buffers from the Explorer. The Explorer compares files, not arbitrary temporary text. For unsaved content, save the buffer first or rely on source-control diff views.

Another mistake is assuming file comparison and folder comparison are the same thing. VS Code's built-in feature is excellent for file diffs, but broad directory comparison may still be better handled through Git, external tools, or dedicated extensions.

People also forget the code --diff command exists. If you came from Notepad++, that single command is often the fastest path to the workflow you expect.

Summary

• VS Code has a built-in compare feature, so a Notepad++-style plugin is usually unnecessary.
• Use Select for Compare and Compare with Selected in the Explorer for manual file diffs.
• Use code --diff file1 file2 from the terminal for fast direct comparisons.
• Git integration gives you diffs against committed history without extra setup.
• Install extensions only when you need extra review context, not for basic file comparison.