diff --git a/crates/rdocx-py/python/rdocx/_rdocx.pyi b/crates/rdocx-py/python/rdocx/_rdocx.pyi
index f5e4ef18c..205b29748 100644
--- a/crates/rdocx-py/python/rdocx/_rdocx.pyi
+++ b/crates/rdocx-py/python/rdocx/_rdocx.pyi
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import datetime as _datetime
 import os as _os
-from collections.abc import Iterator as _Iterator
+from collections.abc import Iterator as _Iterator, Sequence as _Sequence
 from typing import Literal as _Literal, NoReturn as _Never, final as _final, overload as _overload
 
 from . import shared as _shared
@@ -443,8 +443,31 @@ class Document:
         pages: list[int] | None = None,
     ) -> list[bytes] | bytes: ...
     def compare(
-        self, edited: Document, author: str, timestamp: str
-    ) -> tuple[ComparisonDiagnostic, ...]: ...
+        self,
+        edited: Document,
+        author: str,
+        timestamp: str,
+        *,
+        granularity: _Literal["run", "word", "character"] = "run",
+        ignore_formatting: bool = False,
+        ignore_whitespace: bool = False,
+        ignore_fields: bool = False,
+        ignore_comments: bool = False,
+        ignored_stories: _Sequence[
+            _Literal["body", "header", "footer", "comment", "text_box", "footnote", "endnote"]
+        ] | None = None,
+    ) -> tuple[ComparisonDiagnostic, ...]:
+        """Record how ``edited`` differs from this document as tracked changes.
+
+        ``granularity`` selects the unit of a text change. The default ``"run"``
+        replaces a changed run whole, while ``"word"`` and ``"character"`` mark
+        only the changed words or characters. ``ignored_stories`` takes
+        ``Story.kind`` names. The ignore options and ``ignored_stories`` are
+        left-biased: an ignored difference or story keeps this document's
+        content. With ``ignore_comments=True`` the result keeps this document's
+        comments and anchors, and the comments of ``edited`` are not carried
+        over. An unknown option value raises ``RdocxError``.
+        """
     @property
     def comments(self) -> tuple[Comment, ...]: ...
     @property
diff --git a/crates/rdocx-py/src/document.rs b/crates/rdocx-py/src/document.rs
index b81167c6f..d047ca165 100644
--- a/crates/rdocx-py/src/document.rs
+++ b/crates/rdocx-py/src/document.rs
@@ -1275,17 +1275,50 @@ impl PyDocument {
         }
     }
 
+    #[pyo3(signature = (
+        edited,
+        author,
+        timestamp,
+        *,
+        granularity = "run",
+        ignore_formatting = false,
+        ignore_whitespace = false,
+        ignore_fields = false,
+        ignore_comments = false,
+        ignored_stories = None,
+    ))]
+    #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
     fn compare<'py>(
         &mut self,
         edited: &PyDocument,
         author: &str,
         timestamp: &str,
         py: Python<'py>,
+        granularity: &str,
+        ignore_formatting: bool,
+        ignore_whitespace: bool,
+        ignore_fields: bool,
+        ignore_comments: bool,
+        ignored_stories: Option<Vec<String>>,
     ) -> PyResult<Bound<'py, PyTuple>> {
         let (diagnostics, changed) = py
             .detach(|| {
+                let options = rdocx::ComparisonOptions {
+                    granularity: parse_comparison_granularity(granularity)?,
+                    ignore_formatting,
+                    ignore_whitespace,
+                    ignore_fields,
+                    ignore_comments,
+                    ignored_stories: ignored_stories
+                        .iter()
+                        .flatten()
+                        .map(|name| parse_comparison_story(name))
+                        .collect::<rdocx::Result<_>>()?,
+                };
                 let before = self.inner.to_bytes()?;
-                let diagnostics = self.inner.compare(&edited.inner, author, timestamp)?;
+                let diagnostics =
+                    self.inner
+                        .compare_with_options(&edited.inner, author, timestamp, &options)?;
                 let changed = self.inner.to_bytes()? != before;
                 Ok::<_, rdocx::Error>((diagnostics, changed))
             })
@@ -1978,3 +2011,31 @@ fn parse_raster_format(
         ))),
     }
 }
+
+fn parse_comparison_granularity(name: &str) -> rdocx::Result<rdocx::ComparisonGranularity> {
+    match name {
+        "run" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonGranularity::Run),
+        "word" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonGranularity::Word),
+        "character" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonGranularity::Character),
+        other => Err(rdocx::Error::Other(format!(
+            "unknown comparison granularity {other:?}, expected run, word, or character"
+        ))),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Story names follow `Story.kind`, so `body` selects the main story.
+fn parse_comparison_story(name: &str) -> rdocx::Result<rdocx::ComparisonStoryKind> {
+    match name {
+        "body" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonStoryKind::Main),
+        "header" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonStoryKind::Header),
+        "footer" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonStoryKind::Footer),
+        "comment" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonStoryKind::Comment),
+        "text_box" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonStoryKind::TextBox),
+        "footnote" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonStoryKind::Footnote),
+        "endnote" => Ok(rdocx::ComparisonStoryKind::Endnote),
+        other => Err(rdocx::Error::Other(format!(
+            "unknown comparison story {other:?}, expected body, header, footer, comment, \
+             text_box, footnote, or endnote"
+        ))),
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/rdocx-py/tests/test_core.py b/crates/rdocx-py/tests/test_core.py
index 0f8ce9271..104e215cc 100644
--- a/crates/rdocx-py/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/crates/rdocx-py/tests/test_core.py
@@ -914,6 +914,211 @@ def test_priority_word_operations_return_typed_snapshots_and_remain_atomic():
     assert live_after_noop.text == "no table of contents"
 
 
+_COMPARE_TIMESTAMP = "2026-09-27T12:00:00Z"
+_LOREM = (
+    "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod "
+    "tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim "
+    "veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco."
+)
+
+
+def _tracked_texts(xml):
+    xml = xml.decode()
+    deleted = [
+        "".join(re.findall(r"<w:delText(?: [^>]*)?>([^<]*)</w:delText>", wrapper))
+        for wrapper in re.findall(r"<w:del\b[^>]*(?<!/)>.*?</w:del>", xml)
+    ]
+    inserted = [
+        "".join(re.findall(r"<w:t(?: [^>]*)?>([^<]*)</w:t>", wrapper))
+        for wrapper in re.findall(r"<w:ins\b[^>]*(?<!/)>.*?</w:ins>", xml)
+    ]
+    return deleted, inserted
+
+
+def _package_part(document, name):
+    with zipfile.ZipFile(io.BytesIO(document.to_bytes())) as archive:
+        return archive.read(name)
+
+
+def test_compare_granularity_marks_only_the_changed_word():
+    import rdocx
+
+    edited_text = _LOREM.replace("magna", "MAGNA")
+
+    def redline(**options):
+        original = rdocx.Document()
+        original.add_paragraph(_LOREM)
+        edited = rdocx.Document()
+        edited.add_paragraph(edited_text)
+        assert original.compare(edited, "Ada", _COMPARE_TIMESTAMP, **options) == ()
+        return original
+
+    whole_run = ([_LOREM], [edited_text])
+    for options, expected in [
+        ({}, whole_run),
+        ({"granularity": "run"}, whole_run),
+        ({"granularity": "word"}, (["magna"], ["MAGNA"])),
+        ({"granularity": "character"}, (["magna"], ["MAGNA"])),
+    ]:
+        compared = redline(**options)
+        assert _tracked_texts(_document_xml(compared)) == expected, options
+        accepted = rdocx.Document.from_bytes(compared.to_bytes())
+        accepted.accept_all()
+        assert accepted.paragraphs[0].text == edited_text
+        rejected = rdocx.Document.from_bytes(compared.to_bytes())
+        rejected.reject_all()
+        assert rejected.paragraphs[0].text == _LOREM
+
+    explicit_defaults = redline(
+        granularity="run",
+        ignore_formatting=False,
+        ignore_whitespace=False,
+        ignore_fields=False,
+        ignore_comments=False,
+        ignored_stories=(),
+    )
+    assert explicit_defaults.to_bytes() == redline().to_bytes()
+
+
+def test_compare_ignore_options_keep_the_original_side():
+    import rdocx
+
+    def compared(original, edited, **options):
+        work = rdocx.Document.from_bytes(original.to_bytes())
+        assert work.compare(edited, "Ada", _COMPARE_TIMESTAMP, **options) == ()
+        return work
+
+    plain = rdocx.Document()
+    plain.add_paragraph("plain")
+    bold = rdocx.Document.from_bytes(plain.to_bytes())
+    bold.paragraphs[0].runs[0].font.bold = True
+    assert [item.kind for item in compared(plain, bold).revisions] == [
+        "run_property_change"
+    ]
+    unformatted = compared(plain, bold, ignore_formatting=True)
+    assert unformatted.revisions == ()
+    assert unformatted.paragraphs[0].runs[0].font.bold is None
+
+    spaced = rdocx.Document()
+    spaced.add_paragraph("old  tail")
+    single = rdocx.Document()
+    single.add_paragraph("old tail")
+    assert [item.kind for item in compared(spaced, single).revisions] == [
+        "deletion",
+        "insertion",
+    ]
+    unspaced = compared(spaced, single, ignore_whitespace=True)
+    assert unspaced.revisions == ()
+    assert unspaced.paragraphs[0].text == "old  tail"
+
+    def page_field(result):
+        document = rdocx.Document()
+        document.add_paragraph("placeholder")
+        return _replace_document_body(
+            document,
+            '<w:p><w:r><w:fldChar w:fldCharType="begin"/></w:r>'
+            '<w:r><w:instrText xml:space="preserve"> PAGE </w:instrText></w:r>'
+            '<w:r><w:fldChar w:fldCharType="separate"/></w:r>'
+            f"<w:r><w:t>{result}</w:t></w:r>"
+            '<w:r><w:fldChar w:fldCharType="end"/></w:r></w:p>',
+        )
+
+    first_page, second_page = page_field("1"), page_field("2")
+    assert [item.kind for item in compared(first_page, second_page).revisions] == [
+        "deletion",
+        "insertion",
+    ]
+    unfielded = compared(first_page, second_page, ignore_fields=True)
+    assert unfielded.revisions == ()
+    assert b"<w:t>1</w:t>" in _document_xml(unfielded)
+
+    reviewed = rdocx.Document()
+    reviewed.add_paragraph("review this")
+    reviewed.add_paragraph("old ending")
+    commented = rdocx.Document.from_bytes(reviewed.to_bytes())
+    commented.add_comment(
+        rdocx.RunRange(
+            start=rdocx.RunPosition(body_index=0, run_index=0),
+            end=rdocx.RunPosition(body_index=0, run_index=1),
+        ),
+        author="Bo",
+        text="edited side note",
+    )
+    commented.paragraphs[1].runs[0].text = "new ending"
+    redline = compared(reviewed, commented, ignore_comments=True)
+    assert redline.comments == ()
+    assert b"<w:comment" not in _document_xml(redline)
+    assert _tracked_texts(_document_xml(redline)) == (["old ending"], ["new ending"])
+
+    headed = rdocx.Document()
+    headed.add_paragraph("old body")
+    headed.set_header("old header")
+    rewritten = rdocx.Document.from_bytes(headed.to_bytes())
+    for story in ("body", "header"):
+        item = next(
+            item
+            for item in rewritten.story_items
+            if item.story.kind == story and item.text
+        )
+        rewritten.set_story_text(item, item.text.replace("old", "new"))
+    header_part = next(
+        story.part_name for story in headed.stories if story.kind == "header"
+    ).lstrip("/")
+    tracked = compared(headed, rewritten)
+    assert _tracked_texts(_package_part(tracked, header_part)) == (
+        ["old header"],
+        ["new header"],
+    )
+    ignored = compared(headed, rewritten, ignored_stories=("header",))
+    assert _package_part(ignored, header_part) == _package_part(headed, header_part)
+    assert _tracked_texts(_document_xml(ignored)) == (["old body"], ["new body"])
+    unbodied = compared(headed, rewritten, ignored_stories=("body",))
+    assert _document_xml(unbodied) == _document_xml(headed)
+    assert _tracked_texts(_package_part(unbodied, header_part)) == (
+        ["old header"],
+        ["new header"],
+    )
+    for story in ("footer", "comment", "text_box", "footnote", "endnote"):
+        untouched = compared(headed, rewritten, ignored_stories=(story,))
+        assert _tracked_texts(_document_xml(untouched)) == (
+            ["old body"],
+            ["new body"],
+        ), story
+        assert _tracked_texts(_package_part(untouched, header_part)) == (
+            ["old header"],
+            ["new header"],
+        ), story
+
+
+def test_compare_rejects_unknown_options_before_mutation():
+    import rdocx
+
+    original = rdocx.Document()
+    original.add_paragraph("before")
+    edited = rdocx.Document()
+    edited.add_paragraph("after")
+    live = original.paragraphs[0]
+    before = original.to_bytes()
+    for options, error, message in [
+        ({"granularity": "words"}, rdocx.RdocxError, 'granularity "words"'),
+        ({"ignored_stories": ["main"]}, rdocx.RdocxError, 'story "main"'),
+        ({"ignored_stories": ["table_cell"]}, rdocx.RdocxError, 'story "table_cell"'),
+        (
+            {"ignored_stories": ["header", "header"]},
+            rdocx.RdocxError,
+            "duplicate ignored story",
+        ),
+        ({"ignored_stories": "header"}, TypeError, None),
+    ]:
+        with pytest.raises(error, match=message):
+            original.compare(edited, "Ada", _COMPARE_TIMESTAMP, **options)
+        assert original.to_bytes() == before
+        assert live.text == "before"
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        original.compare(edited, "Ada", _COMPARE_TIMESTAMP, "word")
+    assert live.text == "before"
+
+
 def test_word_default_toc_switch_rebuilds_and_reports_ordered_diagnostics():
     import rdocx
 
diff --git a/crates/rdocx-py/tests/typing_smoke.py b/crates/rdocx-py/tests/typing_smoke.py
index 51ebfa052..3f07d6cdc 100644
--- a/crates/rdocx-py/tests/typing_smoke.py
+++ b/crates/rdocx-py/tests/typing_smoke.py
@@ -119,6 +119,17 @@ def exercise_rdocx_types(path: Path) -> None:
     diagnostics: tuple[ComparisonDiagnostic, ...] = document.compare(
         opened, author="Ada", timestamp="2026-09-14T09:00:00Z"
     )
+    optioned: tuple[ComparisonDiagnostic, ...] = document.compare(
+        opened,
+        "Ada",
+        "2026-09-14T09:00:00Z",
+        granularity="word",
+        ignore_formatting=True,
+        ignore_whitespace=True,
+        ignore_fields=True,
+        ignore_comments=True,
+        ignored_stories=("header", "text_box"),
+    )
     fragments: tuple[LayoutFragment, ...] = document.layout()
     maybe_layout_page: LayoutPage | None = document.layout_page(0)
     report: TocRebuildReport = document.rebuild_toc()
@@ -212,3 +223,5 @@ def exercise_rdocx_types(path: Path) -> None:
     RunCollection()  # type: ignore[call-arg]
     Table()  # type: ignore[call-arg]
     TableCollection()  # type: ignore[call-arg]
+    Document().compare(Document(), "Ada", "2026-09-14T09:00:00Z", granularity="words")  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+    Document().compare(Document(), "Ada", "2026-09-14T09:00:00Z", ignored_stories="header")  # type: ignore[arg-type]
diff --git a/docs/hld/10-bindings-spec.md b/docs/hld/10-bindings-spec.md
index a6a75eb7c..416f408cf 100644
--- a/docs/hld/10-bindings-spec.md
+++ b/docs/hld/10-bindings-spec.md
@@ -1295,8 +1295,17 @@ and sibling fields from one physical run share that owner.
 It emits same-story moves and supported run, paragraph, table, and section
 property revisions. Diagnostic locations retain the actual story identity and
 stable owner path. `rdocx-cli compare` exposes the source-compatible whole-run
-comparison with explicit author, RFC 3339 timestamp, and output. Python and
-WASM preserve comparison output when they save their owned document.
+comparison with explicit author, RFC 3339 timestamp, and output. Python
+`Document.compare` takes the `ComparisonOptions` fields as keyword-only
+arguments. `granularity` is `"run"`, `"word"`, or `"character"` and defaults to
+the native `"run"`. `ignore_formatting`, `ignore_whitespace`, `ignore_fields`,
+and `ignore_comments` default to false. `ignored_stories` takes `Story.kind`
+names, where `body` selects the main story and `table_cell` is not a comparison
+category. An unknown granularity or story name raises `RdocxError` before the
+document changes, and a duplicated story keeps the native rejection.
+`ignore_comments` also leaves comment anchors to the original, while ignoring
+the `comment` story excludes only the comments part. WASM preserves comparison
+output when it saves its owned document.
 
 Native Word rendering exposes `rdocx::RevisionView` and the concrete
 `rdocx::RenderOptions`, whose default selects the accepted view. Additive