diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b66db73c3..b0733d7c4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0-or-later
 
 ### Added
 
+- api: add function file_compare
 - irc: add support of strikethrough text in IRC messages ([#2248](https://github.com/weechat/weechat/issues/2248))
 - buflist: add variables `${number_zero}` and `${number_zero2}` (zero-padded buffer number)
 - tests: add fuzz testing ([#1462](https://github.com/weechat/weechat/issues/1462))
diff --git a/doc/en/weechat_plugin_api.en.adoc b/doc/en/weechat_plugin_api.en.adoc
index 2671a76aa..f4a69c085 100644
--- a/doc/en/weechat_plugin_api.en.adoc
+++ b/doc/en/weechat_plugin_api.en.adoc
@@ -4624,6 +4624,43 @@ if (weechat_file_compress ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test.txt.zst", "zstd", 50))
 [NOTE]
 This function is not available in scripting API.
 
+==== file_compare
+
+_WeeChat ≥ 4.7.0._
+
+Compare the content of two files.
+
+Prototype:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+int weechat_file_compare (const char *filename1, const char *filename2);
+----
+
+Arguments:
+
+* _filename1_: first file to compare
+* _filename2_: second file to compare
+
+Return value:
+
+* 0: both files have same content
+* 1: content is different
+* 2: error (file not found or read error)
+
+C example:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+if (weechat_file_compare ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test2.txt") == 0)
+{
+    /* same content */
+}
+----
+
+[NOTE]
+This function is not available in scripting API.
+
 [[util]]
 === Util
 
diff --git a/doc/fr/weechat_plugin_api.fr.adoc b/doc/fr/weechat_plugin_api.fr.adoc
index 71e1397a5..f866def55 100644
--- a/doc/fr/weechat_plugin_api.fr.adoc
+++ b/doc/fr/weechat_plugin_api.fr.adoc
@@ -4703,6 +4703,43 @@ if (weechat_file_compress ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test.txt.zst", "zstd", 50))
 [NOTE]
 Cette fonction n'est pas disponible dans l'API script.
 
+==== file_compare
+
+_WeeChat ≥ 4.7.0._
+
+Compare the content of two files.
+
+Prototype:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+int weechat_file_compare (const char *filename1, const char *filename2);
+----
+
+Arguments:
+
+* _filename1_: first file to compare
+* _filename2_: second file to compare
+
+Return value:
+
+* 0: both files have same content
+* 1: content is different
+* 2: error (file not found or read error)
+
+C example:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+if (weechat_file_compare ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test2.txt") == 0)
+{
+    /* same content */
+}
+----
+
+[NOTE]
+This function is not available in scripting API.
+
 [[util]]
 === Util
 
diff --git a/doc/it/weechat_plugin_api.it.adoc b/doc/it/weechat_plugin_api.it.adoc
index 30c9a74b8..00ac420ea 100644
--- a/doc/it/weechat_plugin_api.it.adoc
+++ b/doc/it/weechat_plugin_api.it.adoc
@@ -4831,6 +4831,44 @@ if (weechat_file_compress ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test.txt.zst", "zstd", 50))
 [NOTE]
 Questa funzione non è disponibile nelle API per lo scripting.
 
+// TRANSLATION MISSING
+==== file_compare
+
+_WeeChat ≥ 4.7.0._
+
+Compare the content of two files.
+
+Prototipo:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+int weechat_file_compare (const char *filename1, const char *filename2);
+----
+
+Argomenti:
+
+* _filename1_: first file to compare
+* _filename2_: second file to compare
+
+Valore restituito:
+
+* 0: both files have same content
+* 1: content is different
+* 2: error (file not found or read error)
+
+Esempio in C:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+if (weechat_file_compare ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test2.txt") == 0)
+{
+    /* same content */
+}
+----
+
+[NOTE]
+Questa funzione non è disponibile nelle API per lo scripting.
+
 [[util]]
 === Utilità
 
diff --git a/doc/ja/weechat_plugin_api.ja.adoc b/doc/ja/weechat_plugin_api.ja.adoc
index 1f913ac1a..154829bce 100644
--- a/doc/ja/weechat_plugin_api.ja.adoc
+++ b/doc/ja/weechat_plugin_api.ja.adoc
@@ -4756,6 +4756,44 @@ if (weechat_file_compress ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test.txt.zst", "zstd", 50))
 [NOTE]
 スクリプト API ではこの関数を利用できません。
 
+// TRANSLATION MISSING
+==== file_compare
+
+_WeeChat ≥ 4.7.0._
+
+Compare the content of two files.
+
+プロトタイプ:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+int weechat_file_compare (const char *filename1, const char *filename2);
+----
+
+引数:
+
+* _filename1_: first file to compare
+* _filename2_: second file to compare
+
+戻り値:
+
+* 0: both files have same content
+* 1: content is different
+* 2: error (file not found or read error)
+
+C 言語での使用例:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+if (weechat_file_compare ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test2.txt") == 0)
+{
+    /* same content */
+}
+----
+
+[NOTE]
+スクリプト API ではこの関数を利用できません。
+
 [[util]]
 === ユーティリティ
 
diff --git a/doc/sr/weechat_plugin_api.sr.adoc b/doc/sr/weechat_plugin_api.sr.adoc
index 09d23d689..b6fcabd45 100644
--- a/doc/sr/weechat_plugin_api.sr.adoc
+++ b/doc/sr/weechat_plugin_api.sr.adoc
@@ -4484,6 +4484,44 @@ if (weechat_file_compress ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test.txt.zst", "zstd", 50))
 [NOTE]
 Ова функција није доступна у API скриптовања.
 
+// TRANSLATION MISSING
+==== file_compare
+
+_WeeChat ≥ 4.7.0._
+
+Compare the content of two files.
+
+Прототип:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+int weechat_file_compare (const char *filename1, const char *filename2);
+----
+
+Аргументи:
+
+* _filename1_: first file to compare
+* _filename2_: second file to compare
+
+Повратна вредност:
+
+* 0: both files have same content
+* 1: content is different
+* 2: error (file not found or read error)
+
+C пример:
+
+[source,c]
+----
+if (weechat_file_compare ("/tmp/test.txt", "/tmp/test2.txt") == 0)
+{
+    /* same content */
+}
+----
+
+[NOTE]
+Ова функција није доступна у API скриптовања.
+
 [[util]]
 === Алати
 
diff --git a/src/core/core-dir.c b/src/core/core-dir.c
index 592e44dd0..6fada9787 100644
--- a/src/core/core-dir.c
+++ b/src/core/core-dir.c
@@ -1431,3 +1431,127 @@ dir_file_compress (const char *filename_input,
         return 0;
     }
 }
+
+/*
+ * Compares the content of two files (the attributes of the files like the
+ * permissions or timestamp are ignored).
+ *
+ * Comparison is done like this:
+ *   1. if sizes are different, return 1 (different content)
+ *   2. if sizes are the same, read both files until a difference is found
+ *
+ * Returns:
+ *   0: both files exist and their content is exactly the same
+ *   1: content is different
+ *   2: other error (file not found, read error)
+ */
+
+int
+dir_file_compare (const char *filename1, const char *filename2)
+{
+    char buffer1[4096], buffer2[4096];
+    FILE *f1, *f2;
+    struct stat st;
+    off_t size1, size2;
+    size_t count1, count2;
+    int rc, eof1, eof2;
+
+    if (!filename1 || !filename1[0] || !filename2 || !filename2[0])
+        return 2;
+
+    rc = 1;
+
+    f1 = NULL;
+    f2 = NULL;
+
+    /* get size of first file */
+    if (access (filename1, R_OK) != 0)
+    {
+        rc = 2;
+        goto end;
+    }
+    if (stat (filename1, &st) != 0)
+    {
+        rc = 2;
+        goto end;
+    }
+    size1 = st.st_size;
+
+    /* get size of second file */
+    if (access (filename2, R_OK) != 0)
+    {
+        rc = 2;
+        goto end;
+    }
+    if (stat (filename2, &st) != 0)
+    {
+        rc = 2;
+        goto end;
+    }
+    size2 = st.st_size;
+
+    if (size1 != size2)
+    {
+        /* different size, so different content */
+        rc = 1;
+        goto end;
+    }
+
+    f1 = fopen (filename1, "r");
+    if (!f1)
+    {
+        rc = 2;
+        goto end;
+    }
+    f2 = fopen (filename2, "r");
+    if (!f2)
+    {
+        rc = 2;
+        goto end;
+    }
+
+    while (1)
+    {
+        eof1 = feof (f1);
+        eof2 = feof (f2);
+        if ((eof1 && !eof2) || (!eof1 && eof2))
+        {
+            /* different content */
+            rc = 1;
+            goto end;
+        }
+        if (eof1 && eof2)
+        {
+            /* same content */
+            rc = 0;
+            goto end;
+        }
+        count1 = fread (buffer1, sizeof (char), sizeof (buffer1), f1);
+        count2 = fread (buffer2, sizeof (char), sizeof (buffer2), f2);
+        if (count1 != count2)
+        {
+            /* different content */
+            rc = 1;
+            goto end;
+        }
+        if ((count1 == 0) || (count2 == 0))
+        {
+            /* read error */
+            rc = 2;
+            goto end;
+        }
+        if (memcmp (buffer1, buffer2, count1) != 0)
+        {
+            /* different content */
+            rc = 1;
+            goto end;
+        }
+    }
+
+end:
+    if (f1)
+	fclose (f1);
+    if (f2)
+        fclose (f2);
+    return rc;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/core-dir.h b/src/core/core-dir.h
index e27ac8e32..1ca146399 100644
--- a/src/core/core-dir.h
+++ b/src/core/core-dir.h
@@ -41,5 +41,6 @@ extern char *dir_file_get_content (const char *filename);
 extern int dir_file_copy (const char *from, const char *to);
 extern int dir_file_compress (const char *from, const char *to,
                               const char *compressor, int compression_level);
+extern int dir_file_compare (const char *filename1, const char *filename2);
 
 #endif /* WEECHAT_DIR_H */
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin.c b/src/plugins/plugin.c
index ccde523b5..c23eb2794 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin.c
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin.c
@@ -693,6 +693,7 @@ plugin_load (const char *filename, int init_plugin, int argc, char **argv)
         new_plugin->file_get_content = &dir_file_get_content;
         new_plugin->file_copy = &dir_file_copy;
         new_plugin->file_compress = &dir_file_compress;
+        new_plugin->file_compare = &dir_file_compare;
 
         new_plugin->util_timeval_cmp = &util_timeval_cmp;
         new_plugin->util_timeval_diff = &util_timeval_diff;
diff --git a/src/plugins/weechat-plugin.h b/src/plugins/weechat-plugin.h
index 590841ee7..edb11f888 100644
--- a/src/plugins/weechat-plugin.h
+++ b/src/plugins/weechat-plugin.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ struct t_weelist_item;
  * please change the date with current one; for a second change at same
  * date, increment the 01, otherwise please keep 01.
  */
-#define WEECHAT_PLUGIN_API_VERSION "20250215-01"
+#define WEECHAT_PLUGIN_API_VERSION "20250507-01"
 
 /* macros for defining plugin infos */
 #define WEECHAT_PLUGIN_NAME(__name)                                     \
@@ -457,6 +457,7 @@ struct t_weechat_plugin
     int (*file_copy) (const char *from, const char *to);
     int (*file_compress) (const char *from, const char *to,
                           const char *compressor, int compression_level);
+    int (*file_compare) (const char *filename1, const char *filename2);
 
     /* util */
     int (*util_timeval_cmp) (struct timeval *tv1, struct timeval *tv2);
@@ -1528,6 +1529,8 @@ extern int weechat_plugin_end (struct t_weechat_plugin *plugin);
                               __compression_level)                      \
     (weechat_plugin->file_compress)(__from, __to, __compressor,         \
                                     __compression_level)
+#define weechat_file_compare(__filename1, __filename2)                  \
+    (weechat_plugin->file_compress)(__filename1, __filename2)
 
 /* util */
 #define weechat_util_timeval_cmp(__time1, __time2)                      \
diff --git a/tests/unit/core/test-core-dir.cpp b/tests/unit/core/test-core-dir.cpp
index 5c3b63903..86b4b0fd5 100644
--- a/tests/unit/core/test-core-dir.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit/core/test-core-dir.cpp
@@ -227,16 +227,15 @@ TEST(CoreDir, FileGetContentCopy)
     LONGS_EQUAL(0, dir_file_copy ("", ""));
     LONGS_EQUAL(0, dir_file_copy ("/tmp/does/not/exist.xyz", "/tmp/test.txt"));
 
-    path1 = string_eval_path_home ("${weechat_data_dir}/test_file.txt",
+    path1 = string_eval_path_home ("${weechat_data_dir}/test_content_file1.txt",
                                    NULL, NULL, NULL);
-    path2 = string_eval_path_home ("${weechat_data_dir}/test_file2.txt",
+    path2 = string_eval_path_home ("${weechat_data_dir}/test_content_file2.txt",
                                    NULL, NULL, NULL);
 
     /* small file */
     length = strlen (content_small);
     f = fopen (path1, "wb");
-    CHECK(f);
-    LONGS_EQUAL(length, fwrite (content_small, 1, length, f));
+    fwrite (content_small, 1, length, f);
     fclose (f);
     LONGS_EQUAL(1, dir_file_copy (path1, path2));
     content_read1 = dir_file_get_content (path1);
@@ -259,8 +258,7 @@ TEST(CoreDir, FileGetContentCopy)
     }
     content[26 * 5001] = '\0';
     f = fopen (path1, "wb");
-    CHECK(f);
-    LONGS_EQUAL(length, fwrite (content, 1, length, f));
+    fwrite (content, 1, length, f);
     fclose (f);
     LONGS_EQUAL(1, dir_file_copy (path1, path2));
     content_read1 = dir_file_get_content (path1);
@@ -303,3 +301,71 @@ TEST(CoreDir, FileCompress)
 {
     /* TODO: write tests */
 }
+
+/*
+ * Tests functions:
+ *   dir_file_compare
+ */
+
+TEST(CoreDir, FileCompare)
+{
+    char *path1, *path2, *content;
+    const char *content_small = "line 1\nline 2\nend";
+    int length, i;
+    FILE *f;
+
+    /* file not found */
+    LONGS_EQUAL(2, dir_file_compare (NULL, NULL));
+    LONGS_EQUAL(2, dir_file_compare ("", ""));
+    LONGS_EQUAL(2, dir_file_compare ("/tmp/does/not/exist1.xyz", "/tmp/does/not/exist2.xyz"));
+
+    path1 = string_eval_path_home ("${weechat_data_dir}/test_compare_file1.txt",
+                                   NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    path2 = string_eval_path_home ("${weechat_data_dir}/test_compare_file2.txt",
+                                   NULL, NULL, NULL);
+
+    /* small file */
+    length = strlen (content_small);
+    f = fopen (path1, "wb");
+    fwrite (content_small, 1, length, f);
+    fclose (f);
+    f = fopen (path2, "wb");
+    fwrite (content_small, 1, length, f);
+    fclose (f);
+    LONGS_EQUAL(0, dir_file_compare (path1, path2));
+    f = fopen (path1, "ab");
+    fwrite ("A", 1, 1, f);
+    fclose (f);
+    f = fopen (path2, "ab");
+    fwrite ("B", 1, 1, f);
+    fclose (f);
+    LONGS_EQUAL(1, dir_file_compare (path1, path2));
+
+    /* bigger file: 26 lines of 5000 bytes + 1 byte */
+    length = 26 * 5001;
+    content = (char *)malloc (length + 1);
+    CHECK(content);
+    for (i = 0; i < 26; i++)
+    {
+        memset (content + (i * 5001), 'a' + i, 5000);
+        content[(i * 5001) + 5000] = '\n';
+    }
+    content[26 * 5001] = '\0';
+    f = fopen (path1, "wb");
+    fwrite (content, 1, length, f);
+    fclose (f);
+    f = fopen (path2, "wb");
+    fwrite (content, 1, length, f);
+    fclose (f);
+    LONGS_EQUAL(0, dir_file_compare (path1, path2));
+    f = fopen (path1, "ab");
+    fwrite ("A", 1, 1, f);
+    fclose (f);
+    f = fopen (path2, "ab");
+    fwrite ("B", 1, 1, f);
+    fclose (f);
+    LONGS_EQUAL(1, dir_file_compare (path1, path2));
+
+    unlink (path1);
+    unlink (path2);
+}