They should be well separated by thin layer chromatography in case you used the proper mobile phase

Try to make a TLC using dichlomethane-methanol-acetic acid in ratio 96: 3: 1. The carboxylic acid spot moves slightly to the ester. Acetic acid ensures that the carboxylic acid spot look compact.

 i agree with Luigi Longobardo, in addition you can change in ratio 

Thanks for all.

I did the migration with solvent (hexane/diethyl ether/acetic acid). I am looking a revelator for acids and esters together.

Try ethyl acetate/hexane (3:7 or 4:6) for the separation.

Definitely, You get carboxylic acid spot at bottom than esters spot with great difference in Rf value.

Perhaps you can find a visualisation reagent for TLC in the following link. Good Luck

http://lcso.epfl.ch/files/content/sites/lcso/files/load/TLC_Stains.pdf

acids are polar molecules. The corresponding ester is always non-polar. so you can easily differentiate. develop a mobile phase where your acid is moving in the middle of the TLC. Then spot the acid and ester and see the difference, definitely there will be a difference in polarity. take NMR to confirm further

Yes they are well differentiated depending upon the chose of your solvent. Best solvent system are ( Hex:E.A) and (MC:MeOH). If your compound show tailing add one drop of formic acid in TLC jar. 

if you use silica gel TLC. try diethyl ether / hexane (50/50) the ester will migrate and the acid will not.

Hi

It depends to general polarity of cpd's,  but estes will always be less polar than acids(some exceptions for very poar alkohols). Try hex/AcOEt if cpd is medium or low polar.  Acid be at the starting line or colse, ester will run. For polar cpd's better wil be MeOH/DCM. Solvents ratio must be adjusted experimenttally. 

Best

Andrzej

I agreed Andrzej Gondela

Hi All

Bromocresol green for carboxylic acids with slight heating can visualize TLC spots and Ceric ammonium sulfate for respective esters