PCPDFCraft

PDF to RTF Converter

Convert a PDF to an RTF file online. RTF (Rich Text Format) is one of the most universally supported document formats — it opens in Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, WordPad, Google Docs, macOS TextEdit, and nearly every other word processor. This tool extracts text from your PDF and produces a properly formatted RTF document. Like all browser-based PDF text converters, complex formatting such as tables, images, and columns is not preserved.

Quick answer: Upload a PDF, click Convert, and download an .rtf file. RTF opens in Word, LibreOffice, WordPad, Google Docs, and most editors.
Drop your PDF here
Drag and drop, or browse files
Maximum file size: 50 MB
This tool processes your files directly in your browser. Files are not uploaded to our servers.

How it works

  1. Upload PDF. Drag a PDF onto the upload area or click to browse. Maximum 50 MB.
  2. Options. Toggle page separator headings on or off.
  3. Convert. Click Convert to RTF. Text is extracted from every page.
  4. Download. Download the .rtf file and open it in your preferred word processor.

Common use cases

  • Convert a PDF for editing in WordPad or TextEdit without installing Office
  • Share document text with users on any operating system
  • Import PDF text into a DTP application that accepts RTF
  • Extract contract or policy text into a universally editable format

Options explained

Page separators add a bold 'Page N' marker between extracted pages so you can track where content came from. Disable them if you want uninterrupted text.

Privacy

RTF conversion runs locally in your browser. No file is sent to a server. The RTF is generated on your device and downloaded directly.

This tool processes your files directly in your browser. Files are not uploaded to our servers.

Troubleshooting

  • Scanned PDFs contain images, not text. Use OCR to extract text from scanned files.
  • Password-locked PDFs need to be unlocked first.
  • Non-ASCII characters are encoded as Unicode escapes and should display correctly in any modern editor.
  • Files above 50 MB are not accepted.

Related PDF tools

PDF to DOCX

convert

Convert PDF to Word DOCX.

PDF to DOC

convert

Convert PDF to Word DOC.

PDF to ODT

convert

Convert PDF to OpenDocument text.

PDF to JPG

convert

Convert PDF pages to JPG images.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert PDF to RTF?

Upload your PDF, choose options, click Convert to RTF, and download.

What programs open RTF files?

Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, WordPad (Windows), TextEdit (macOS), Google Docs, WPS Office, and most other word processors open RTF.

Why choose RTF over DOCX?

RTF has near-universal compatibility and is a plain-text-readable format. DOCX is more structured and better for complex documents. RTF is a good choice when you need the widest possible compatibility.

Is PDF to RTF free?

Yes. This converter is free for any PDF up to 50 MB.

Are my files private?

Yes. Everything happens in your browser — your PDF is never uploaded.

Definition: PDF to RTF means extracting text from a PDF and encoding it as an RTF (Rich Text Format) document.

Technical notes: This tool runs in your browser using JavaScript. PDFCraft does not upload your files to a server for this tool.

Last updated: 2026-06-08

More tools: See all PDF tools.