Convert PDF text to an editable RTF file
Move selectable text from PDF pages into widely supported RTF paragraphs; detailed formatting and page layouts are not retained.
- 1 free task a day, no account needed
- No watermarks
- Encrypted in transit
- Deleted automatically
PDF to RTF online, free
Save selectable PDF text as an RTF document that common word processors can edit. The conversion builds RTF paragraphs from extracted text, not the original design; detailed formatting, pictures and complex tables do not transfer faithfully.
Good for: editing plain document copy, sharing text across word processors, migrating text-based records.
- Widely readable
- Editable paragraphs
- Simple document flow
Widely readable
Open RTF in many desktop word-processing applications.
Editable paragraphs
Revise extracted words without modifying the original PDF.
Simple document flow
Focus on text rather than fixed PDF page coordinates.
Works on any device
PDF to RTF runs in the browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. Nothing to install.
How to convert PDF text to an editable RTF file
- 1
Upload the text-based PDF.
- 2
Convert its extracted text into RTF paragraphs.
- 3
Download the RTF and format it in your editor.
Limits and formats
- Input
- Output
- RTF
- Files per run
- One file
- Max file size
- 25 MB for guests; free account 50 MB, Premium 500 MB
- Kept for
- 1 hour, then deleted
- Account
- Not required
Frequently asked questions
Does RTF keep the original PDF layout?
No. It carries extracted paragraphs; images, typography and complex columns need manual recreation.
Can I open the result in Word?
Yes. Word and many other word processors support RTF files.
Why is my scanned PDF blank or incomplete?
An image-only scan has little or no selectable text. Use OCR PDF first to add a text layer.
What is the free file size limit?
Guests can upload files up to 25 MB each. A free account raises the limit to 50 MB per file, and Premium allows 500 MB per file with larger batches.
Are uploaded documents private?
Files are encrypted in transit and automatically deleted after a short time following processing.
Anything missing? Read how files are handled or write to support.
Related PDF tools
Tools people use before or after PDF to RTF.
- RTF to PDFNewExport RTF documents as PDF with basic text formatting retained.
- PDF to WordMove text from a PDF into an editable DOCX for revisions and reuse.
- PDF to TextNewExtract text-based PDF content to a TXT file with layout choices.
- OCR PDFAdd searchable, selectable text to scanned PDF pages using OCR.
- PDF to MarkdownNewGet editable Markdown from PDF text with inferred headings and lists.
- PDF to JPGExport PDF pages as compact JPG images with resolution and quality controls.
74 free PDF tools in one place
Convert, organize, edit, protect and compress PDFs without installing anything.