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Semantic version numbers look simple, but comparing them correctly — especially with pre-release suffixes like "-beta" or "-rc.1" — has specific rules that string comparison alone gets wrong. This comparator checks two semantic version numbers against the standard semver comparison rules and reports which is newer, older, or equal.
How it works
Enter two version numbers in standard MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH format (with an optional pre-release suffix). The comparator checks the major, minor, and patch numbers in order, with a pre-release suffix ranking lower than the same version without one.
- Enter version A.
- Enter version B.
- Click Calculate to see your results.
Examples
Comparing 1.2.3 and 1.3.0
1.2.3 is older than 1.3.0, since the minor version (2 vs 3) differs first.
Who should use it
- Determining whether a dependency update is a downgrade, upgrade, or the same version.
- Validating version comparison logic while building or testing package management tooling.
Industry applications
- Software development and package/dependency management
- DevOps and release engineering
Advantages
- Follows the exact standard semver precedence rules, including pre-release suffix handling.
- Works for any valid MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH version, with or without a pre-release suffix.
Limitations
- Requires both versions to follow standard semver format; non-conforming version strings will be rejected.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Comparing version strings alphabetically instead of numerically, which incorrectly ranks "1.9.0" below "1.10.0".
- Forgetting that a pre-release version (like 2.0.0-rc.1) ranks lower than the final release of the same number (2.0.0).
Best practices
- Always compare version numbers using proper semver comparison logic (or a tool like this one), never plain string or alphabetical comparison.
Tips
- When automating version checks in scripts or CI pipelines, always use proper semver comparison logic rather than string sorting, to avoid the classic "1.10.0 sorts before 1.9.0" bug.