Convert a Rich Text Format (.rtf) file into a real PDF, keeping bold, italic, color and alignment. Free, in your browser.
🔒 Processed entirely in your browser. Your file is never uploaded.
Yes — built with a purpose-written parser, not a repurposed old library. The free JavaScript RTF libraries available are several years unmaintained and cover a similarly limited subset of the format, so this tool reads RTF control codes directly: bold, italic, underline, text color, font size, paragraph breaks, and left/center/right alignment all carry through to the PDF, along with the file's own page size and margins when specified. What's out of scope: embedded images and OLE objects, real tables, tracked changes, and list/bullet formatting — that content is skipped cleanly rather than rendered incorrectly.
| Carries over | Does not carry over |
|---|---|
| Bold, italic, underline | Embedded images and OLE objects |
| Text color and font size | Real tables (grid structure) |
| Paragraph breaks and left/center/right alignment | Tracked changes / revision marks |
| Page size and margins (when specified in the file) | Bullet and numbered list formatting |
Is this a genuine conversion, or does it just extract plain text?
It's a genuine, formatting-preserving conversion, built with a purpose-written RTF parser rather than a third-party library. It reads the RTF control words directly and keeps bold, italic, underline, text color, font size, paragraph breaks, and left/center/right alignment. It's honestly scoped to standard text formatting — see below for what's out of scope.
What isn't supported?
Embedded images and OLE objects, real tables, tracked changes/revision marks, and bullet/numbered list formatting aren't currently supported — that content is skipped rather than shown incorrectly. Very old or unusual RTF variants (pre-1.9 spec quirks, exotic code pages) may not parse perfectly.
Why write a custom RTF parser instead of using an existing library?
The available free JavaScript RTF libraries are several years unmaintained and only cover a similarly basic subset of RTF. Writing a small, purpose-built parser scoped to exactly what this tool needs — and testing it directly — gives a more predictable, verifiable result than depending on an old, lightly-tested dependency.
Will my page size and margins be preserved?
Yes, when the RTF file specifies them — page size and margins are read directly from the file. If they're not specified, standard A4 with 1-inch margins is used.
Where does RTF still get used?
RTF shows up as an export option in older software, some legal and government document systems, and as a universal plain-formatting exchange format between different word processors — this tool exists for exactly that 'I have an .rtf and need a PDF' moment.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. Parsing and PDF generation both happen entirely in your browser — your file is never sent to a server.