PDF to RTF Converter

Convert PDF to RTF online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.

Free to useNo file stored beyond 1 hourEncrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3No watermarks

or drag and drop files here

Maximum file size is 1GB

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How it works

Three steps to your converted file

Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.

Upload your file

Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.

Choose an output format

Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.

Convert & download

Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.

What is a PDF file?

The Portable Document Format (PDF) is a comprehensive file format, standardized as ISO 32000, designed to present documents consistently independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. It encapsulates a complete description of a fixed-layout 2D document, including text, fonts, vector graphics, and raster images, based on the PostScript language. Advanced implementations support interactive form fields, JavaScript scripting, 3D objects (U3D/PRC), and various encryption standards.

How to open a PDF file

PDF viewing is natively supported by all major modern web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari) and most operating systems via built-in previewers. For advanced manipulation, form filling, or pre-press validation, dedicated software such as Adobe Acrobat DC, Foxit Reader, or open-source tools like Ghostscript and Poppler is required.

PDF Technical Info

Full Name: Portable Document Format
Developed By: Adobe Inc. / ISO
Initial Release: 1993
MIME Type: application/pdf

What is an RTF file?

The Rich Text Format (RTF) is a proprietary document file format with published specifications developed by Microsoft Corporation in 1987 for cross-platform document interchange. It encodes formatted text and graphics using 7-bit ASCII characters, utilizing a structure of control words, control symbols, and groups to define formatting properties such as bolding, italics, and fonts. Unlike binary formats, RTF is human-readable and was designed to facilitate interoperability between different word processing software and operating systems before the standardization of XML-based formats.

How to open an RTF file

Due to its design as an interchange format, RTF possesses native support across almost all major operating systems without requiring third-party installation. Microsoft Windows opens RTF files natively with WordPad or Microsoft Word, while macOS utilizes TextEdit. For Linux users or cross-platform consistency, LibreOffice Writer and Apache OpenOffice provide robust handling of the format's styling attributes.

RTF Technical Info

Full Name: Rich Text Format
Developed By: Microsoft Corporation
Initial Release: 1987
MIME Type: application/rtf

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Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

Convert PDF to RTF in seconds

Every PDF to RTF conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.

Fast, cloud-powered

No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.

Secure & private

Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.

Free - no account needed

Convert without creating an account - no credit card, no trial clock. Sign in only if you want history and higher daily limits.

Developer API

Convert PDF to RTF via API

Automate PDF to RTF conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tag": "pdf-to-rtf",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "output_format": "rtf"
      },
      "export-result": {
        "operation": "export/url",
        "input": "convert"
      }
    }
  }'

# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.pdf

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.