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Compare colors side by side

Drop in two to five colors and instantly see HEX, RGB, and HSL values plus the contrast ratio between any pair.

Add 2–5 colors to compare them side by side.

ColorCompare lets you place several colors next to each other so you can judge them the way they will actually appear in your design — together, not in isolation. A color almost never lives alone; it sits beside a background, a label, a button, or another swatch, and its perceived hue and brightness shift depending on its neighbors.

Each swatch shows its HEX, RGB, and HSL representation, and the tool calculates the WCAG contrast ratio between any pair you choose. That makes it easy to spot which combinations are comfortable to read and which ones clash or wash out.

How to use the Color Compare

  1. Add your colors. Type or paste a HEX code into each input. Add up to five colors to compare a full mini-palette at once.
  2. Read the values. Every swatch lists HEX, RGB, and HSL. Use the copy button to grab any value in one click.
  3. Check the contrast. Pick any two swatches to see the contrast ratio between them and whether it passes WCAG AA for text.

Practical examples

Brand audit Paste your primary, secondary, and accent colors to confirm they feel balanced as a set.
Button vs background Compare a button color against the page background to make sure it stands out clearly.
Light vs dark Line up light and dark variants of the same hue to choose the right step for a UI state.

Why the Color Compare matters

  • Comparing colors together — rather than picking them one at a time — prevents the common problem of a palette that looks fine swatch-by-swatch but muddy as a whole.
  • Seeing HEX, RGB, and HSL side by side helps you reason about relationships: HSL in particular makes it obvious when two colors share a hue but differ in lightness.
  • The built-in contrast number turns a subjective ‘does this look readable?’ into a measurable check you can defend in a design review.

Frequently asked questions

How many colors can I compare at once?

You can compare between two and five colors at a time, which covers most palettes, UI states, and brand sets.

Which color formats are supported?

Enter colors as HEX codes. Each swatch is then shown in HEX, RGB, and HSL so you can copy whichever format your workflow needs.

What contrast standard do you use?

Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2.1 formula, the same standard used for web accessibility. A ratio of 4.5:1 or higher passes AA for normal text.

Related tools

Contrast CheckerCheck WCAG contrast ratios for text, backgrounds, buttons, and UI components.Palette GeneratorGenerate balanced color palettes for websites, brands, presentations, and visuals.HEX to RGB ConverterConvert HEX color codes into RGB, HSL, and CSS-ready values instantly.