How to compare two email templates before a campaign

Two email templates can look almost identical while one has a changed price, a missing link, or a broken personalization tag. Comparing them before a campaign helps you catch those changes while there is still time to correct them.

Use the Text Compare tool to review the words in two drafts, then check the campaign details that a text comparison cannot verify.

Compare the two email templates

Open Text Compare.
Copy the current, approved version of the email into one text area and the new draft into the other. Include the subject line, preheader, body, call-to-action text, and footer if you want to compare the whole message.
Use the same kind of content on both sides. For a copy review, paste the visible text rather than full HTML source. If you need to check the HTML itself, compare the source separately because formatting code can make the differences harder to read.
Review the changes from the top down. Check additions, removals, and changed words against the campaign brief or the approved draft.
Make corrections in your email editor, then compare the revised version with the approved draft again. Do this after the final edits, not just before them.

Keep each version in its original order. If you rearrange paragraphs or remove repeated content to make the comparison look cleaner, you may hide a missing section or create changes that were not in the actual draft.

What the differences mean

New or removed wording appears

Added text may be an intentional update, such as a new offer date or a clearer instruction. Removed text may be an approved cut, but it could also be a missing disclaimer, link label, or part of the message. Check each change against the campaign plan before accepting it.

A sentence is marked as changed

A small edit can change the meaning. Compare numbers, dates, prices, eligibility terms, and words such as “before” and “after” carefully. Also check punctuation around a link or personalization tag, since a minor change can make the sentence confusing.

The comparison shows many small differences

Different line breaks, spaces, or formatting can create a long list of differences even when the wording is the same. Check whether both versions came from the same source and were copied in the same way. For a content review, compare the visible text instead of comparing formatted HTML with plain text.

No differences appear

The text you pasted matches, but that does not prove the complete emails are identical. A button can show the same words while pointing to a different URL. Images, layout, hidden preview text, and sending settings are not confirmed by comparing visible copy alone.

Check the parts a text comparison cannot verify

Once the wording is approved, review the actual campaign preview and settings. These checks can catch errors that do not appear in the pasted text:

Check every link destination. Click the links in a test message or preview, including buttons and linked images. Confirm that each one opens the intended page, not just that its visible label looks right.
Check personalization tags. Confirm that each tag uses the exact format expected by your email system and that a sensible fallback appears when a contact has no value. Send a test to an address with sample contact details before sending to the full list.
Check the subject and preheader. Review both in the campaign settings and in a test message. The preheader may not be included in the message body you copied for comparison.
Check dates, prices, and terms. Compare them with the campaign brief, especially when a template has been reused. Confirm the time zone and expiration date for any limited-time offer.
Check the footer and audience. Make sure the required unsubscribe option and sender details are present, and confirm that the campaign is going to the intended group.
Preview on a phone. A text comparison does not show whether a button is easy to tap or whether an image and text fit on a narrow screen. Review the mobile preview and send yourself a test email.

For a safer review, compare the final message against the approved version, then send a test to yourself before scheduling the campaign.