diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 701582a..b9955c6 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ The full handler shape (see the `IHandler` interface):
 | `group`         | `string`                              | no       | Group used to combine handlers when opening a folder               |
 | `preload`       | `(node: File) => Promise<void>`       | no       | Preload data for neighbouring files                                |
 | `theme`         | `'dark' \| 'light' \| 'default'`      | no       | Viewer modal theme                                                 |
+| `canCompare`    | `boolean`                             | no       | Comparing two versions is worth offering, see `canCompare(node)`   |
 | `supportsEndToEndEncryption` | `boolean`                | no       | Whether the handler supports end-to-end encrypted files            |
 
 Gotchas:
@@ -453,7 +454,7 @@ instead, and the viewer works with `@nextcloud/files` nodes rather than the
 | `OCA.Viewer.mimetypesCompare.includes(node.mime)` | `canView(node)`                                                |
 | `OCA.Viewer.availableHandlers`                    | `getHandlers()`, or `canView(node)` to test one file           |
 | `OCA.Viewer.registerHandler({ component })`       | `registerHandler({ tagName })`, see above                      |
-| `canCompare: true` on a handler                   | nothing, any handler can be compared                           |
+| `canCompare: true` on a handler                   | the same, and `canCompare(node)` to decide whether to offer it |
 | `\OCP\Util::addScript` for the registration        | `\OCP\Util::addInitScript`                                      |
 | A listener for `OCA\Viewer\Event\LoadViewer`       | a listener for `BeforeTemplateRenderedEvent`, see the [tutorial](#4-load-it-on-every-page) |
 | Dispatching `OCA\Viewer\Event\LoadViewer`          | nothing, the viewer is on every page already                   |
diff --git a/__tests__/canView.spec.ts b/__tests__/canView.spec.ts
index d3d5b3a..bb7acb4 100644
--- a/__tests__/canView.spec.ts
+++ b/__tests__/canView.spec.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  */
 import { Folder, Permission } from '@nextcloud/files'
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
-import { canView, registerHandler } from '../lib/index.ts'
+import { canCompare, canView, registerHandler } from '../lib/index.ts'
 import { makeFile, makeHandler } from './factories.ts'
 
 describe('canView', () => {
@@ -44,3 +44,27 @@ describe('canView', () => {
 		expect(canView([image, video])).toBe(false)
 	})
 })
+
+describe('canCompare', () => {
+	it('is true for a file whose handler says comparing it is worth it', () => {
+		registerHandler(makeHandler({ id: 'images', canCompare: true, enabled: (nodes) => nodes.every((node) => node.mime === 'image/jpeg') }))
+		registerHandler(makeHandler({ id: 'videos', enabled: (nodes) => nodes.every((node) => node.mime === 'video/mp4') }))
+
+		expect(canCompare(makeFile({ mime: 'image/jpeg' }))).toBe(true)
+		expect(canCompare(makeFile({ mime: 'video/mp4' }))).toBe(false)
+	})
+
+	// The handler the viewer would show it with, not any that takes it
+	it('asks the first handler to take the file', () => {
+		registerHandler(makeHandler({ id: 'first', enabled: () => true }))
+		registerHandler(makeHandler({ id: 'second', canCompare: true, enabled: () => true }))
+
+		expect(canCompare(makeFile())).toBe(false)
+	})
+
+	it('is false for a file that cannot be viewed', () => {
+		registerHandler(makeHandler({ id: 'everything', canCompare: true, enabled: () => true }))
+
+		expect(canCompare(makeFile({ permissions: Permission.NONE }))).toBe(false)
+	})
+})
diff --git a/__tests__/entry.spec.ts b/__tests__/entry.spec.ts
index 0ecaa1b..7389583 100644
--- a/__tests__/entry.spec.ts
+++ b/__tests__/entry.spec.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ describe('importing @nextcloud/viewer', () => {
 
 		expect(Object.keys(entry).sort()).toEqual([
 			'Viewer',
+			'canCompare',
 			'canView',
 			'getHandlers',
 			'getViewer',
diff --git a/__tests__/models.spec.ts b/__tests__/models.spec.ts
index 1af0d03..1203313 100644
--- a/__tests__/models.spec.ts
+++ b/__tests__/models.spec.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ describe('handler groups', () => {
 		expect(handlerById('videos').group).toBe('media')
 		expect(handlerById('audios').group).toBe('media')
 		expect(handlerById('images').group).toBe('media')
+		// Two versions of a picture side by side show what changed
+		expect(handlerById('images').canCompare).toBe(true)
+		expect(handlerById('videos').canCompare).toBeUndefined()
 	})
 })
 
diff --git a/lib/handlers.ts b/lib/handlers.ts
index f2bed6b..ce00bd0 100644
--- a/lib/handlers.ts
+++ b/lib/handlers.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,14 @@ export interface IHandler {
 	 */
 	canEdit?: boolean
 
+	/**
+	 * Whether comparing two versions of a file side by side is worth offering
+	 * for this handler's files. It is a hint for callers deciding whether to
+	 * offer it at all (see `canCompare()`): `getViewer().compare()` shows any
+	 * pair either way.
+	 */
+	canCompare?: boolean
+
 	/**
 	 * Whether this handler works with end-to-end encrypted files.
 	 *
@@ -103,6 +111,24 @@ export function canView(nodes: INode | INode[]): boolean {
 	return countEnabledHandlers(Array.isArray(nodes) ? nodes : [nodes], 1)
 }
 
+/**
+ * Whether comparing two versions of a file is worth offering.
+ *
+ * For a caller deciding whether to show a "Compare" action, like the
+ * versions tab of the Files sidebar: the file has to be viewable, and the
+ * handler the viewer would open it with has to say so with `canCompare`.
+ *
+ * @param node - The file to compare versions of
+ */
+export function canCompare(node: INode): boolean {
+	if (!canView(node)) {
+		return false
+	}
+	// The one the viewer would show it with: the first to take it
+	const handler = [...getHandlers().values()].find((candidate) => isHandlerEnabled(candidate, [node as IFile]))
+	return handler?.canCompare === true
+}
+
 /**
  * Whether a handler accepts the given files.
  *
diff --git a/lib/index.ts b/lib/index.ts
index 8334a1a..cb6cdc7 100644
--- a/lib/index.ts
+++ b/lib/index.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ registerImplementation({
 // It is an empty shell until the viewer is mounted.
 getViewer()
 
-export { canView, getHandlers, registerHandler } from './handlers.ts'
+export { canCompare, canView, getHandlers, registerHandler } from './handlers.ts'
 export type { IHandler } from './handlers.ts'
 export { getViewer, Viewer } from './viewer.ts'
 export type { ViewerAPI, ViewerEmits, ViewerOptions, ViewerProps } from './viewer.ts'
diff --git a/lib/models/images.ts b/lib/models/images.ts
index e0f75fa..50dc417 100644
--- a/lib/models/images.ts
+++ b/lib/models/images.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ export function registerImageHandler() {
 		group: 'media',
 		supportsEndToEndEncryption: true,
 		canEdit: true,
+		// Side by side is how two versions of a picture show what changed
+		canCompare: true,
 
 		enabled: (nodes) => {
 			if (nodes.length === 0) {