Redgate SQL Data Compare is the industry-standard tool for comparing and synchronising the contents of SQL Server databases. You can download a fully-functional 14-day free trial directly from the Redgate Software website Product Overview
SQL Data Compare allows you to identify differences between databases and deploy data changes without manually writing scripts. It is commonly used for: Synchronising Static Data:
Automating the deployment of reference or lookup data between development, test, and production environments. Granular Data Recovery:
Restoring specific rows or missing data from a backup or another database without a full restore. Database Auditing:
Comparing a live database against a historical snapshot or backup to track data changes. Automation:
Using the Command Line Interface (CLI) to integrate data synchronisation into CI/CD pipelines. Technical Capabilities
SQL Data Compare: Compare And Synchronize SQL Server Database Contents
Here’s a concise write-up for Redgate SQL Data Compare, tailored for a “download” landing page or software listing.
The ability to compare and synchronize SQL data quickly is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you are a solo developer managing a local environment or a DBA responsible for dozens of production instances, the Redgate SQL Data Compare download gives you the power to:
Ready to get started?
Visit the official Redgate website, download the trial, and compare your first two databases within 10 minutes. Your future self—and your team—will thank you.
This article was last updated in May 2026 to reflect the latest version of Redgate SQL Data Compare. Product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners.
Here is the full text for downloading Redgate SQL Data Compare:
SQL Data Compare
Product Description:
SQL Data Compare is a comprehensive tool for comparing and synchronizing SQL Server databases. It allows you to compare the data in two databases, and then synchronize the data to ensure they are identical.
Key Features:
System Requirements:
Download:
To download SQL Data Compare, please follow these steps:
Alternatively, you can download directly from here:
Installation Instructions:
Licensing:
SQL Data Compare offers a 14-day free trial. After the trial period, you will need to purchase a license to continue using the product.
Support:
For more information, please visit the Redgate website or contact Redgate support:
SQL Data Compare is a professional-grade tool used by database administrators and developers to synchronize data between SQL Server databases without manual scripting. It is specifically designed to handle static, reference, and test data across different environments, such as moving data from production to staging or keeping development environments in sync.
The tool identifies differences between two databases, generates a deployment script to resolve them, and can even create a backup of the target database before applying changes. 🛠️ Key Features and Benefits
SQL Data Compare simplifies complex data movement tasks through a series of automated steps:
High-Speed Comparison: Quickly analyzes table data across multiple databases to find missing or mismatched rows.
Automated Sync Scripts: Automatically generates error-free deployment scripts to insert, update, or delete data as needed.
Selective Deployment: Allows you to pick specific tables, rows, or columns to synchronize rather than the entire database.
Command Line Automation: Supports PowerShell and command-line interfaces for automated build processes and routine migrations.
Advanced Reporting: Generates HTML comparison reports to document differences before or after synchronization.
SSMS Integration: Can be launched directly within SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) by right-clicking a database in the Object Explorer. 💾 Download and Trial Information
You can explore the tool's capabilities through a trial version before committing to a purchase.
Free Trial: A 14-day fully functional free trial is available on the Redgate official website.
Installation: The installer typically bundles SQL Data Compare with other Redgate utilities if you choose a "Toolbelt" installation, but it can also be installed as a standalone tool. System Requirements: OS: Windows Server 2008 R2 or later / Windows 7 or later. Framework: Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later.
Note: A Linux version of the CLI is also available for automated environments. 🏁 Getting Started Steps To perform your first data comparison:
Launch: Open SQL Data Compare or access it via the SSMS add-in.
Select Sources: Choose your "Source" (the database with the correct data) and "Target" (the database you want to update).
Compare: Click "Compare Now" to see a row-by-row breakdown of differences.
Review: Inspect the results; rows are categorized as "only in source," "only in target," or "different."
Deploy: Click "Deploy" to generate the SQL script or apply the changes directly to the target database. redgate sql data compare download
After you complete your Redgate SQL Data Compare download and start using the tool, follow these rules to stay safe:
.sdc files) alongside your database code.There are free or cheaper alternatives (e.g., tablediff.exe, ApexSQL, Devart). However, Redgate offers:
For mission-critical data synchronization, the Redgate SQL Data Compare download is a small investment compared to the cost of data corruption or manual errors.
Redgate SQL Data Compare is a tool that:
✅ Important: It compares table data – not schemas (that’s SQL Compare).
For schema + data together, use SQL Compare + Data Compare together.
SQL Data Compare isn't just a diff tool – it’s a production‑safe data synchronization engine that respects transactions, keys, and batching.
Download it from Redgate’s official site (trial).
Use command line for automation.
Never run/executewithout a backup or aWHEREtest in staging first.
Would you like a sample PowerShell script that automates nightly data compares using Redgate’s command line?
You can download a fully functional free trial of Redgate SQL Data Compare directly from the official Redgate website. This tool is the industry standard for comparing and synchronizing SQL Server database contents, specifically static, lookup, and reference data. Download and Trial Details
Free Trial: A 14-day trial period is typically offered for non-free products like SQL Data Compare.
Functionality: The trial version is fully functional, allowing you to test all features before purchasing.
Installation: You download the installer from the website and can choose to install SQL Data Compare individually or as part of a bundle like the SQL Toolbelt Essentials.
Upgrading: If you already have the software, you can use the "Check for Updates" feature within the application for an automatic upgrade. Key Features for Users
Speed and Accuracy: Quickly compare and deploy changes with zero errors across live databases, backups, or SQL scripts.
Flexible Recovery: Restore damaged or missing data down to a single row without needing a full database recovery.
Automated Deployment: Automatically generate T-SQL scripts to update target databases to match the source.
Filtering: Improve performance by filtering comparisons at the table, column, or row level using WHERE clauses.
Broad Compatibility: Deploy to SQL Server, SQL Azure, and Amazon RDS. Pricing and Licensing SQL Data Compare - Redgate Software
To download Redgate SQL Data Compare, you can access the Official SQL Data Compare Download Page to start a 14-day fully-functional free trial. Download and Trial Details
Trial Period: You can use the tool for free for 14 days without any feature restrictions.
Bundle Option: SQL Data Compare is also included in the SQL Toolbelt Essentials bundle, which contains other popular tools like SQL Compare and SQL Prompt.
Version Compatibility: The current major version (v16) supports SQL Server 2025 and integrates directly with Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Key Features
Synchronization: Automatically generates deployment scripts to update one database with the contents of another. Redgate SQL Data Compare is the industry-standard tool
Troubleshooting: Quickly identifies data differences between development, staging, and production environments.
Reporting: Generates comparison reports to review changes with your team before deployment.
SSMS Integration: Allows you to run comparisons and deployments without leaving your primary management environment. Licensing and Alternatives
Pricing: After the trial, a license for SQL Data Compare typically costs around $282.
Old Versions: If you need to access a specific legacy version for compatibility with older environments, Redgate provides an Old Versions Download page.
Free Alternatives: For basic query-to-query comparison without full database synchronization, you might consider free online tools like Aiven SQL Compare. Overview of SQL Compare
Redgate SQL Data Compare is a powerful tool designed to compare and synchronize the data within SQL Server databases. It's often used for tasks like data migration, auditing, and troubleshooting. While it's primarily a technical tool, it can also be the catalyst for some pretty interesting (and sometimes stressful) stories in the world of database management.
Here's a story that highlights the "save the day" potential of SQL Data Compare: The Midnight Migration Mishap
It was 2:00 AM on a Tuesday, and Sarah, a Senior DBA at a large e-commerce firm, was in the middle of a critical database migration. They were moving their customer order history from an aging legacy system to a shiny new SQL Server cluster. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until a series of unexpected network glitches interrupted the final data transfer.
Panic set in. The legacy system was already being decommissioned, and the new database was missing several thousand orders from the last hour. Manual verification was out of the question—there were millions of records to sift through. Sarah's mind raced through various scripts and manual checks, but each felt like looking for a needle in a haystack while the haystack was on fire.
Then, she remembered SQL Data Compare. She'd downloaded it a few weeks prior for a different project. Within minutes, she had it pointed at both the legacy and the new databases.
The Comparison: SQL Data Compare quickly scanned both tables, highlighting the exact rows that were missing or different. It was like a spotlight on the missing orders.
The Synchronization: With a few clicks, Sarah generated a synchronization script that would precisely insert the missing data into the new database without touching the already migrated records.
The Rescue: She ran the script, and within seconds, the order history was whole again. The migration was back on track, and more importantly, no customer orders were lost. Key Takeaways from the Story:
Precision is Key: SQL Data Compare doesn't just tell you there's a difference; it shows you exactly what those differences are, row by row.
Speed Matters: In a high-stakes situation like a failed migration, the ability to quickly identify and fix data discrepancies is invaluable.
Automation Saves Time (and Sanity): Generating a synchronization script automatically is far more reliable and faster than writing one manually under pressure.
💡 Thinking of downloading SQL Data Compare? It's a great tool for anyone who needs to ensure data consistency across different SQL Server environments.
If you'd like to explore how to use it for your own projects, let me know! I can help you with:
Comparing data between different environments (e.g., Dev, Staging, Production).
Synchronizing data after a failed migration or to keep environments in sync.
Auditing changes to see exactly what's been updated in your tables. Conclusion: Start Your Download Today The ability to