diff --git a/apps/arc-web/app/routes.ts b/apps/arc-web/app/routes.ts
index 849744220..8759b626f 100644
--- a/apps/arc-web/app/routes.ts
+++ b/apps/arc-web/app/routes.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export default [
       route("stages/:stageId", "routes/run-stages.tsx"),
       route("configuration", "routes/run-configuration.tsx"),
       route("graph", "routes/run-graph.tsx"),
-      route("compare", "routes/run-compare.tsx"),
+      route("files", "routes/run-files.tsx"),
       route("verification", "routes/run-verification.tsx"),
       route("usage", "routes/run-usage.tsx"),
       route("retro", "routes/run-retro.tsx"),
diff --git a/apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-detail.tsx b/apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-detail.tsx
index 9b3b9eff8..f1e27dc40 100644
--- a/apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-detail.tsx
+++ b/apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-detail.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import type { Route } from "./+types/run-detail";
 const tabs = [
   { name: "Overview", path: "", count: null },
   { name: "Stages", path: "/stages/detect-drift", count: null },
-  { name: "Files Changed", path: "/compare", count: null },
+  { name: "Files Changed", path: "/files", count: null },
   { name: "Verification", path: "/verification", count: null },
   { name: "Retro", path: "/retro", count: null },
   { name: "Usage", path: "/usage", count: null },
diff --git a/apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-compare.tsx b/apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-files.tsx
similarity index 85%
rename from apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-compare.tsx
rename to apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-files.tsx
index 1f3590765..942cf45eb 100644
--- a/apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-compare.tsx
+++ b/apps/arc-web/app/routes/run-files.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
-import { useParams } from "react-router";
-import { ChevronDownIcon, Cog6ToothIcon } from "@heroicons/react/24/outline";
 import {
   MultiFileDiff,
   type AnnotationSide,
@@ -8,13 +6,13 @@ import {
 } from "@pierre/diffs/react";
 import { useTheme } from "../lib/theme";
 import { apiJson } from "../api-client";
-import type { RunCompare } from "@qltysh/arc-api-client";
-import type { Route } from "./+types/run-compare";
+import type { PaginatedRunFileList } from "@qltysh/arc-api-client";
+import type { Route } from "./+types/run-files";
 
 export const handle = { wide: true };
 
 export async function loader({ request, params }: Route.LoaderArgs) {
-  const data = await apiJson<RunCompare>(`/runs/${params.id}/compare`, { request });
+  const data = await apiJson<PaginatedRunFileList>(`/runs/${params.id}/files`, { request });
   return data;
 }
 
@@ -217,29 +215,6 @@ export async function execute(
   },
 ];
 
-const BLOCK_COUNT = 5;
-
-function DiffStat({ additions, deletions }: { additions: number; deletions: number }) {
-  const total = additions + deletions;
-  const addBlocks = total === 0 ? 0 : Math.round((additions / total) * BLOCK_COUNT);
-  const delBlocks = BLOCK_COUNT - addBlocks;
-
-  return (
-    <div className="flex items-center gap-2 font-mono text-xs">
-      <span className="font-semibold text-mint">+{additions.toLocaleString()}</span>
-      <span className="font-semibold text-coral">-{deletions.toLocaleString()}</span>
-      <div className="flex gap-0.5">
-        {Array.from({ length: BLOCK_COUNT }, (_, i) => (
-          <span
-            key={`block-${i}`}
-            className={`inline-block size-2.5 rounded-sm ${i < addBlocks ? "bg-mint" : "bg-coral"}`}
-          />
-        ))}
-      </div>
-    </div>
-  );
-}
-
 interface SteerAnnotation {
   fileName: string;
   lineNumber: number;
@@ -508,21 +483,14 @@ function buildAnnotationsForFile(
   return annotations;
 }
 
-export default function RunCompare({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
+export default function RunFiles({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
   const runFiles = loaderData;
-  const checkpoints = [
-    { id: "all", label: "All changes" },
-    ...runFiles.checkpoints.map((cp) => ({ id: cp.id, label: cp.label })),
-  ];
-  const files = runFiles.files.length > 0
-    ? runFiles.files.map((f) => ({
+  const files = runFiles.data.length > 0
+    ? runFiles.data.map((f) => ({
         oldFile: { name: f.old_file.name, contents: f.old_file.contents },
         newFile: { name: f.new_file.name, contents: f.new_file.contents },
       }))
     : fallbackFiles;
-  const diffStats = runFiles.stats;
-
-  const [checkpoint, setCheckpoint] = useState(checkpoints[0].id);
   const [openSteers, setOpenSteers] = useState(
     () => new Map<string, SteerAnnotation>(),
   );
@@ -560,31 +528,6 @@ export default function RunCompare({ loaderData }: Route.ComponentProps) {
 
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-4">
-      <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-        <div className="relative">
-          <select
-            value={checkpoint}
-            onChange={(e) => setCheckpoint(e.target.value)}
-            className="appearance-none rounded-md border border-line bg-panel/80 py-2 pl-3 pr-8 text-sm text-fg-2 outline-none transition-colors focus:border-focus focus:ring-0"
-          >
-            {checkpoints.map((cp) => (
-              <option key={cp.id} value={cp.id}>{cp.label}</option>
-            ))}
-          </select>
-          <ChevronDownIcon className="pointer-events-none absolute right-2 top-1/2 size-4 -translate-y-1/2 text-fg-muted" />
-        </div>
-        <div className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-3">
-          <DiffStat additions={diffStats.additions} deletions={diffStats.deletions} />
-          <button
-            type="button"
-            title="Settings"
-            className="flex size-8 items-center justify-center rounded-md border border-line bg-panel/80 text-fg-3 transition-colors hover:bg-overlay hover:text-fg"
-          >
-            <Cog6ToothIcon className="size-4" />
-          </button>
-        </div>
-      </div>
-
       {files.map(({ oldFile, newFile }) => (
         <DiffWithSteer
           key={newFile.name}
diff --git a/docs/changelog/2026-03-05.mdx b/docs/changelog/2026-03-05.mdx
index 16d94674f..a8a156420 100644
--- a/docs/changelog/2026-03-05.mdx
+++ b/docs/changelog/2026-03-05.mdx
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ To migrate: Update any DOT workflow prompts referencing `{{script.output}}` or `
 </Warning>
 
 <Warning>
-**`GET /runs/{id}/files` renamed to `GET /runs/{id}/compare`.** The endpoint returns the same data but the path now reflects its purpose of comparing file changes between checkpoints.
+**`GET /runs/{id}/compare` renamed to `GET /runs/{id}/files`.** The endpoint now returns a standard paginated list of `FileDiff` items instead of the `RunCompare` envelope.
 
-To migrate: Update API integrations using `/files` to use `/compare`.
+To migrate: Update API integrations using `/compare` to use `/files`, and adjust response parsing from `{ checkpoints, files, stats }` to `{ data, meta }`.
 </Warning>
diff --git a/packages/arc-api-client/src/.openapi-generator/FILES b/packages/arc-api-client/src/.openapi-generator/FILES
index 4ef7bef53..793f5d7ac 100644
--- a/packages/arc-api-client/src/.openapi-generator/FILES
+++ b/packages/arc-api-client/src/.openapi-generator/FILES
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ models/paginated-api-question-list.ts
 models/paginated-history-entry-list.ts
 models/paginated-model-list.ts
 models/paginated-retro-list.ts
+models/paginated-run-file-list.ts
 models/paginated-run-list.ts
 models/paginated-run-stage-list.ts
 models/paginated-run-verification-list.ts
@@ -95,7 +96,6 @@ models/retro-stats.ts
 models/root-response-urls.ts
 models/root-response.ts
 models/run-checkpoint.ts
-models/run-compare.ts
 models/run-configuration.ts
 models/run-error.ts
 models/run-list-item.ts
diff --git a/packages/arc-api-client/src/api/run-outputs-api.ts b/packages/arc-api-client/src/api/run-outputs-api.ts
index 90b0cf2c4..b2dd0b561 100644
--- a/packages/arc-api-client/src/api/run-outputs-api.ts
+++ b/packages/arc-api-client/src/api/run-outputs-api.ts
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ import { BASE_PATH, COLLECTION_FORMATS, type RequestArgs, BaseAPI, RequiredError
 // @ts-ignore
 import type { ErrorResponse } from '../models';
 // @ts-ignore
-import type { PaginatedRunVerificationList } from '../models';
+import type { PaginatedRunFileList } from '../models';
 // @ts-ignore
-import type { RunCompare } from '../models';
+import type { PaginatedRunVerificationList } from '../models';
 // @ts-ignore
 import type { RunUsage } from '../models';
 /**
@@ -35,17 +35,19 @@ import type { RunUsage } from '../models';
 export const RunOutputsApiAxiosParamCreator = function (configuration?: Configuration) {
     return {
         /**
-         * Returns file-level diffs produced by the run, optionally filtered to a specific checkpoint.
-         * @summary Retrieve Run Compare
+         * Returns a paginated list of file-level diffs produced by the run, optionally filtered to a specific checkpoint.
+         * @summary Retrieve Run Files
          * @param {string} id Unique run identifier (ULID).
          * @param {string} [checkpoint] Filter to a specific checkpoint ID. Omit to include all changes.
+         * @param {number} [pageLimit] Maximum number of items to return per page.
+         * @param {number} [pageOffset] Number of items to skip before returning results.
          * @param {*} [options] Override http request option.
          * @throws {RequiredError}
          */
-        retrieveRunCompare: async (id: string, checkpoint?: string, options: RawAxiosRequestConfig = {}): Promise<RequestArgs> => {
+        retrieveRunFiles: async (id: string, checkpoint?: string, pageLimit?: number, pageOffset?: number, options: RawAxiosRequestConfig = {}): Promise<RequestArgs> => {
             // verify required parameter 'id' is not null or undefined
-            assertParamExists('retrieveRunCompare', 'id', id)
-            const localVarPath = `/runs/{id}/compare`
+            assertParamExists('retrieveRunFiles', 'id', id)
+            const localVarPath = `/runs/{id}/files`
                 .replace(`{${"id"}}`, encodeURIComponent(String(id)));
             // use dummy base URL string because the URL constructor only accepts absolute URLs.
             const localVarUrlObj = new URL(localVarPath, DUMMY_BASE_URL);
@@ -69,6 +71,14 @@ export const RunOutputsApiAxiosParamCreator = function (configuration?: Configur
                 localVarQueryParameter['checkpoint'] = checkpoint;
             }
 
+            if (pageLimit !== undefined) {
+                localVarQueryParameter['page[limit]'] = pageLimit;
+            }
+
+            if (pageOffset !== undefined) {
+                localVarQueryParameter['page[offset]'] = pageOffset;
+            }
+
             localVarHeaderParameter['Accept'] = 'application/json';
 
             setSearchParams(localVarUrlObj, localVarQueryParameter);
@@ -182,17 +192,19 @@ export const RunOutputsApiFp = function(configuration?: Configuration) {
     const localVarAxiosParamCreator = RunOutputsApiAxiosParamCreator(configuration)
     return {
         /**
-         * Returns file-level diffs produced by the run, optionally filtered to a specific checkpoint.
-         * @summary Retrieve Run Compare
+         * Returns a paginated list of file-level diffs produced by the run, optionally filtered to a specific checkpoint.
+         * @summary Retrieve Run Files
          * @param {string} id Unique run identifier (ULID).
          * @param {string} [checkpoint] Filter to a specific checkpoint ID. Omit to include all changes.
+         * @param {number} [pageLimit] Maximum number of items to return per page.
+         * @param {number} [pageOffset] Number of items to skip before returning results.
          * @param {*} [options] Override http request option.
          * @throws {RequiredError}
          */
-        async retrieveRunCompare(id: string, checkpoint?: string, options?: RawAxiosRequestConfig): Promise<(axios?: AxiosInstance, basePath?: string) => AxiosPromise<RunCompare>> {
-            const localVarAxiosArgs = await localVarAxiosParamCreator.retrieveRunCompare(id, checkpoint, options);
+        async retrieveRunFiles(id: string, checkpoint?: string, pageLimit?: number, pageOffset?: number, options?: RawAxiosRequestConfig): Promise<(axios?: AxiosInstance, basePath?: string) => AxiosPromise<PaginatedRunFileList>> {
+            const localVarAxiosArgs = await localVarAxiosParamCreator.retrieveRunFiles(id, checkpoint, pageLimit, pageOffset, options);
             const localVarOperationServerIndex = configuration?.serverIndex ?? 0;
-            const localVarOperationServerBasePath = operationServerMap['RunOutputsApi.retrieveRunCompare']?.[localVarOperationServerIndex]?.url;
+            const localVarOperationServerBasePath = operationServerMap['RunOutputsApi.retrieveRunFiles']?.[localVarOperationServerIndex]?.url;
             return (axios, basePath) => createRequestFunction(localVarAxiosArgs, globalAxios, BASE_PATH, configuration)(axios, localVarOperationServerBasePath || basePath);
         },
         /**
@@ -233,15 +245,17 @@ export const RunOutputsApiFactory = function (configuration?: Configuration, bas
     const localVarFp = RunOutputsApiFp(configuration)
     return {
         /**
-         * Returns file-level diffs produced by the run, optionally filtered to a specific checkpoint.
-         * @summary Retrieve Run Compare
+         * Returns a paginated list of file-level diffs produced by the run, optionally filtered to a specific checkpoint.
+         * @summary Retrieve Run Files
          * @param {string} id Unique run identifier (ULID).
          * @param {string} [checkpoint] Filter to a specific checkpoint ID. Omit to include all changes.
+         * @param {number} [pageLimit] Maximum number of items to return per page.
+         * @param {number} [pageOffset] Number of items to skip before returning results.
          * @param {*} [options] Override http request option.
          * @throws {RequiredError}
          */
-        retrieveRunCompare(id: string, checkpoint?: string, options?: RawAxiosRequestConfig): AxiosPromise<RunCompare> {
-            return localVarFp.retrieveRunCompare(id, checkpoint, options).then((request) => request(axios, basePath));
+        retrieveRunFiles(id: string, checkpoint?: string, pageLimit?: number, pageOffset?: number, options?: RawAxiosRequestConfig): AxiosPromise<PaginatedRunFileList> {
+            return localVarFp.retrieveRunFiles(id, checkpoint, pageLimit, pageOffset, options).then((request) => request(axios, basePath));
         },
         /**
          * Returns token and cost usage broken down by stage and model for a specific run.
@@ -273,15 +287,17 @@ export const RunOutputsApiFactory = function (configuration?: Configuration, bas
  */
 export class RunOutputsApi extends BaseAPI {
     /**
-     * Returns file-level diffs produced by the run, optionally filtered to a specific checkpoint.
-     * @summary Retrieve Run Compare
+     * Returns a paginated list of file-level diffs produced by the run, optionally filtered to a specific checkpoint.
+     * @summary Retrieve Run Files
      * @param {string} id Unique run identifier (ULID).
      * @param {string} [checkpoint] Filter to a specific checkpoint ID. Omit to include all changes.
+     * @param {number} [pageLimit] Maximum number of items to return per page.
+     * @param {number} [pageOffset] Number of items to skip before returning results.
      * @param {*} [options] Override http request option.
      * @throws {RequiredError}
      */
-    public retrieveRunCompare(id: string, checkpoint?: string, options?: RawAxiosRequestConfig) {
-        return RunOutputsApiFp(this.configuration).retrieveRunCompare(id, checkpoint, options).then((request) => request(this.axios, this.basePath));
+    public retrieveRunFiles(id: string, checkpoint?: string, pageLimit?: number, pageOffset?: number, options?: RawAxiosRequestConfig) {
+        return RunOutputsApiFp(this.configuration).retrieveRunFiles(id, checkpoint, pageLimit, pageOffset, options).then((request) => request(this.axios, this.basePath));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/packages/arc-api-client/src/models/index.ts b/packages/arc-api-client/src/models/index.ts
index f1317f366..d984acf45 100644
--- a/packages/arc-api-client/src/models/index.ts
+++ b/packages/arc-api-client/src/models/index.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ export * from './paginated-api-question-list';
 export * from './paginated-history-entry-list';
 export * from './paginated-model-list';
 export * from './paginated-retro-list';
+export * from './paginated-run-file-list';
 export * from './paginated-run-list';
 export * from './paginated-run-stage-list';
 export * from './paginated-run-verification-list';
@@ -75,7 +76,6 @@ export * from './retro-stats';
 export * from './root-response';
 export * from './root-response-urls';
 export * from './run-checkpoint';
-export * from './run-compare';
 export * from './run-configuration';
 export * from './run-error';
 export * from './run-list-item';
diff --git a/packages/arc-api-client/src/models/run-compare.ts b/packages/arc-api-client/src/models/paginated-run-file-list.ts
similarity index 51%
rename from packages/arc-api-client/src/models/run-compare.ts
rename to packages/arc-api-client/src/models/paginated-run-file-list.ts
index d00ab723e..9e2ee6d1f 100644
--- a/packages/arc-api-client/src/models/run-compare.ts
+++ b/packages/arc-api-client/src/models/paginated-run-file-list.ts
@@ -13,28 +13,18 @@
  */
 
 
-// May contain unused imports in some cases
-// @ts-ignore
-import type { DiffStats } from './diff-stats';
-// May contain unused imports in some cases
-// @ts-ignore
-import type { FileCheckpoint } from './file-checkpoint';
 // May contain unused imports in some cases
 // @ts-ignore
 import type { FileDiff } from './file-diff';
+// May contain unused imports in some cases
+// @ts-ignore
+import type { PaginationMeta } from './pagination-meta';
 
 /**
- * File-level diff output for a run, with checkpoint filtering support.
+ * Paginated list of file diffs produced by a run.
  */
-export interface RunCompare {
-    /**
-     * Available checkpoints for filtering.
-     */
-    'checkpoints': Array<FileCheckpoint>;
-    /**
-     * File diffs, optionally filtered by checkpoint.
-     */
-    'files': Array<FileDiff>;
-    'stats': DiffStats;
+export interface PaginatedRunFileList {
+    'data': Array<FileDiff>;
+    'meta': PaginationMeta;
 }