Formats/RTF
What Is an RTF File? Rich Text Format Explained
RTF (Rich Text Format), with the .rtf extension, is a document format Microsoft introduced in the late 1980s as a common language for exchanging formatted text between different programs. It sits neatly between plain text and a full word-processor format: it can hold bold, italics, fonts, colours, basic layout and images, but it is far simpler and more universally compatible than a modern DOCX. For decades it was the safe way to send a formatted document to someone whose software you did not know.
Where RTF sits between TXT and DOCX
A plain TXT file has no formatting at all; a DOCX is a rich, complex format packed with styles, tracked changes, advanced layout and metadata. RTF is the middle ground: it preserves the formatting most people actually use — bold, italic, underline, fonts, sizes, colours, alignment, simple tables and embedded images — while staying much simpler and more portable than DOCX. Under the hood it is a text-based format using control codes, which is why almost any word processor can read it.
That simplicity means RTF loses the advanced features of DOCX: no live formulas, limited style management, weaker support for complex layouts and modern collaboration features. But for a straightforward formatted document, it captures everything that matters.
Why RTF still exists
RTF's enduring value is compatibility. Because it is a long-established, well-understood, text-based format, virtually every word processor and text editor on every platform can open and save it — Word, WordPad, LibreOffice, Pages, Google Docs and many more. This made it the traditional choice for sending a formatted document when you had no idea what software the recipient used, and it is still a reliable fallback today.
It also crops up as the default output of some simple editors (Windows' old WordPad saved RTF), and as an export option when a program wants to offer "formatted text" without committing to a specific proprietary format. When maximum openness matters more than advanced features, RTF is a sensible choice.
When to use RTF and when to move on
Choose RTF when you need light formatting and the broadest possible compatibility, or when a system specifically asks for it. It is a good format for a simple formatted document that has to open cleanly in unknown software, and its text-based nature makes it robust and unlikely to corrupt.
For most modern work, though, DOCX is the better default: it is just as widely supported now, handles complex documents far better, and is what collaborators expect. And once a document is final and meant to look identical for everyone — signed, printed or archived — exporting to PDF is the right move, just as it is for DOCX. Use RTF for maximum compatibility of a simple document; use DOCX for real editing and PDF for a frozen final version.
How to open and convert an RTF
Almost any word processor opens RTF directly — Word, LibreOffice, Pages, Google Docs and the text editors built into Windows and macOS. To move an RTF into the modern workflow, open it in a word processor and save as DOCX for further editing, or export to PDF for a final, fixed version. If you have received a PDF and want an editable document instead, converting PDF to Word gives you a DOCX you can edit and, if needed, re-save as RTF. OfficePad's document tools run in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between RTF and DOCX?
RTF is a simpler, older, highly compatible format that keeps basic formatting like bold, fonts and colours. DOCX handles far more complex documents and collaboration but is a richer, more modern format. Both open in most word processors today.
How do I open an RTF file?
Almost any word processor opens RTF — Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, Apple Pages, Google Docs, and the text editors built into Windows and macOS.
Should I use RTF or plain text?
Use RTF when you need basic formatting like bold, fonts or colours while keeping wide compatibility. Use plain text (TXT) when you want the absolute simplest, most universal and future-proof file with no formatting.
Work with RTF on OfficePad
See also in the glossary: Metadata, Character encoding, Rendering.