What is an RTF file, and which programs open one today?
An RTF file (.rtf) is a Rich Text Format document: plain text plus formatting codes, such as \b for bold, that almost any word processor can read. Microsoft created the format in 1987 and published its last update, version 1.9.1, in 2008. Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) opens RTF files in a browser so you can read them free, with nothing to install.
Works on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Linux and iPad. Files up to 250 MB.
Opening and viewing are free on every plan; changing text and PDF export are on paid plans.
- Bold and italicsShown
- Swapped fontsReported
- Add-ons requiredNone
What an RTF file can hold, and what you can do with it
Formatted text
Fonts, sizes, colors, bold, italics and underlining, stored as codes.
Paragraph layout
Alignment, indents, line spacing and tab stops travel with the text.
Simple tables
Rows and columns usually survive the move between word processors.
Embedded pictures
A logo or photo can sit inside the file itself.
Read it anywhere
Open the same .rtf on Windows, Mac, Linux or Chromebook.
Turn it into PDF
Export a print-ready PDF from PublishMedia on a paid plan.
Know what it is? Here’s what to do next
Three common next steps once you know your file is Rich Text Format.
Open it on your device
Steps for Windows 11 without WordPad, plus Mac, Chromebook and iPhone.
Get the stepsMake a PDF from it
Menu-by-menu ways to save an RTF as a PDF in apps you may already own.
Convert to PDFJust read it online
See the pages in a browser tab without installing a word processor.
Use the viewerWhat is an RTF file?
An RTF file is a document saved in Rich Text Format, a Microsoft format from 1987 that stores text and its formatting as readable codes. Because the codes are plain text, Word, TextEdit, LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs, Apple Pages and Publish Media Software (PublishMedia) all open it, which is why RTF still works for sharing simple documents.
Ways to begin with an RTF file in PublishMedia
Sign up at publishmediasoftware.com without a credit card, then choose one.
Open the .rtf you have
Drag it from your computer or iPad onto the start screen, or click to find it in your folders.
The .rtf extension, up to 250 MB
Find your fileMove the text into a template
Give a plain RTF announcement a designed look by pouring its words into a ready-made layout.
Choose a layoutWrite something new
Start an empty page with text boxes, pictures, shapes and tables of your own.
Create a blank pageHow the page editor handles Rich Text Format
RTF text flows to fit whichever program opens it, so PublishMedia lays it out as pages you can check and print.
Styled text boxes
Text comes in as editable text boxes that keep the RTF’s fonts, sizes and styles where they’re available on your device.
Import Report
Because an RTF usually names its fonts instead of carrying them, the report flags any font that had to be swapped for a close match.
Whole-page layout
On a paid plan, move and resize any box, add pictures, shapes and tables, and add, delete or reorder pages.
PDF, not RTF, out
Finished pages export as a print-ready PDF on a paid plan. PublishMedia doesn’t save back to .rtf or .docx.
Want a printed program, not a plain document?
RTF is good at plain text. For a designed page, start from a template.
Church bulletin maker
Print-ready bulletin designs you fill in with your own church’s details. Included with paid plans.
Kinds of templates
How to open and read an RTF file with PublishMedia
Four steps from a .rtf file to readable pages, and a PDF if you need one.
Make your account
Sign up at publishmediasoftware.com. Viewing files is part of the Free plan.
Add the .rtf file
Drag the file in. PublishMedia lays the text out as pages in the page editor.
Review the pages
Scroll through each page and read the Import Report for any swapped fonts.
Keep it as a PDF
On All-Access or Monthly, correct the text if needed and export a print-ready PDF.
6 programs that open RTF files in 2026
Ranked by how many people can use them. Each card gives the platform, the price and one limit.
As of October 2026, six programs that open RTF files are Publish Media Software (PublishMedia), Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, TextEdit, Google Docs and Apple Pages. Rich Text Format was created by Microsoft in 1987; its final specification, version 1.9.1, came out in 2008. Word, LibreOffice Writer and TextEdit all open and save .rtf files. Google Docs opens an RTF uploaded to Google Drive through Open with › Google Docs. Pages opens RTF on a Mac. WordPad, the long-time RTF editor on Windows, was removed from Windows 11 starting with version 24H2 in 2024. PublishMedia opens RTF in a browser at no charge and exports PDFs on paid plans.
1. Publish Media Software — best for reading on any device
Opens .rtf files in a web browser on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Linux and iPad. Viewing is on the Free plan; editing and PDF export cost $99 a year or $9.99 a month. Limit: no saving back to .rtf.
2. Microsoft Word — best for full word processing
Opens and saves .rtf on Windows and Mac, with every Word tool available for the text. Limit: it’s paid Microsoft software, and Word saves new documents as .docx unless you choose Rich Text Format.
3. LibreOffice Writer — best open-source choice
A full word processor for Windows, Mac and Linux that opens and saves RTF at no cost. Limit: you have to download and install the whole LibreOffice suite to use it.
4. TextEdit — best built-in Mac option
Comes with every Mac, opens RTF with a double-click and saves rich text by default. Limit: Mac only, and it lacks the page-layout and long-document tools of a full word processor.
5. Google Docs — best for Chromebooks and sharing
Upload the RTF to Google Drive, then Open with › Google Docs to read and edit it in the browser. Limit: it makes a Google Docs copy, and you need a Google account.
6. Apple Pages — best for Mac page design
Apple’s word processor opens RTF files on a Mac and adds page-layout tools TextEdit lacks. Limit: there’s no Pages app for Windows, so it won’t help most PC users.
Reading an RTF costs nothing; changing it is paid
The Free plan opens and views as many RTF files as you like and keeps them for 7 days, sending a reminder email before they’re deleted. Paid plans add text and layout changes, print-ready PDF export, every template, saved projects and unlimited storage: All-Access is $99 a year and recommended; Monthly is $9.99 and you can cancel anytime.
Free Starter
$0
Open and view unlimited Publisher, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, and picture files free — stored for 7 days, then deleted automatically. Editing and export are on the paid plans.
Start freeAll-Access
$99/yr
Everything unlocked — full editing, every template in the library, and unlimited storage.
Monthly
$9.99/mo
All the same features, billed monthly — cancel anytime.
RTF file format FAQ
What does the .rtf file extension stand for?+
The .rtf extension stands for Rich Text Format, a document format Microsoft introduced in 1987 so formatted text could move between different programs and computers. Rich means the text carries formatting such as fonts, bold and colors, unlike a plain .txt file. Any file ending in .rtf should open in a word processor.
Is an RTF file the same as a Word document?+
No, an RTF file is a separate, simpler format, even though Microsoft created both and Word opens both. Since Word 2007, Word’s own format has been .docx, which supports far more features than RTF. RTF covers the basics, which makes it easier for other programs to read.
How is RTF different from a .txt file?+
A .txt file holds only characters, with no fonts, bold, colors or layout, while an RTF file adds formatting codes around the text. Both are plain text underneath, so both open in a basic editor, but only a program that understands RTF turns the codes back into styled words. Choose .txt when formatting doesn’t matter at all.
What are the backslash codes I see when I open an RTF as text?+
The backslash codes are the formatting instructions that make up Rich Text Format, such as \b for bold, and every RTF file begins with {\rtf1. You see them when a plain text editor like Notepad opens the file. Open it in Word, LibreOffice Writer, TextEdit, Google Docs or PublishMedia to see formatted text instead.
When does it still make sense to save a document as RTF?+
Saving as RTF makes sense when you need simple formatted text that almost any program on any computer can open, such as a letter sent to someone whose software you don’t know. Older programs and form generators often export RTF for the same reason. For complex layouts, .docx or PDF is the better choice.
Can an RTF file include pictures and tables?+
Yes, Rich Text Format can store pictures and simple tables inside the file, along with the text. Pictures make an RTF much larger, and very complex tables may look slightly different from one program to the next. On a Mac, TextEdit saves a document with pictures as .rtfd, a package format other computers handle less well.
What is an .rtfd file?+
An .rtfd file is Apple’s Rich Text Format Directory, which TextEdit on a Mac uses when a rich text document contains pictures or other attachments. It’s a folder that looks like a single file, so it doesn’t travel well to Windows. Before sending one, save or export it as a PDF, or remove the pictures and save as .rtf.
Why do some programs and websites still give me RTF files?+
Some programs and websites still produce RTF files because the format is simple to generate and opens in nearly every word processor. Older business software, report tools and form generators often export .rtf for that reason. The file isn’t outdated or broken; open it in any program from the list on this page.
Does PublishMedia save files in RTF format?+
No, Publish Media Software opens RTF files but doesn’t save back to .rtf or .docx. It shows each page in the page editor, lets paid plans change the text and layout, and exports a print-ready PDF. If you need to keep an editable RTF, make your changes in Word, LibreOffice Writer or TextEdit.
Publisher retires October 2026
Get a short guide to moving off Microsoft Publisher — opening your Publisher files online and creating new documents.