EPUB RTF Swap

EPUB to RTF

Your file never leaves this device. Conversion runs in your browser. The document itself is not uploaded.

1 · Choose a EPUB file

…or drop a EPUB file here

.epub · stays in this tab

2 · Convert

3 · Download

Choose a file to convert. It is not uploaded.

FAQ and format details
Why convert EPUB to RTF?

Rare, but real: a production system that still ingests RTF manuscripts. Or a proof copy on a machine without Word.

How this conversion runs

EPUB unwrap → HTML → RTF subset. Images generally become placeholders. Long books make long RTF.

Keep in mind for EPUB → RTF

You shred most ebook semantics. Lists and emphasis may survive; CSS and fonts will not. DRM EPUBs fail.

After you have a RTF file

WordPad test. If the recipient can take DOCX or ODT, reconvert. Keep the EPUB.

Why is RTF even on the matrix for EPUB?

The matrix is complete for live types. RTF is the weak destination on purpose so the limitation is documented instead of hidden.

Do chapter files become separate RTF files?

No. One RTF, full spine order.

This pair at a glance
Accepts
.epub
Writes
.rtf · application/rtf
Read fidelity
high (EPUB → HTML)
Write fidelity
medium (HTML → RTF)
Source size
Plan for files under 38 MB

The file is read in this tab. It is not uploaded.

Something off with this pair? Send feedback.

About EPUB and Rich Text Format

Source file

EPUB

The open ebook format: a ZIP of XHTML chapters, CSS, and a package manifest. What Apple Books, Google Play Books, and most non-Kindle readers consume.

EPUB 3 is HTML in a spine. That makes the HTML hub almost native: we concatenate or split XHTML documents and rewrite the OPF package. Kindle’s AZW/MOBI family is a different type and is not in this matrix.

Extensions
.epub
MIME types
application/epub+zip
Kind
zip · binary
Category
ebook
Standard
Open format · since 2007
Comfortable size
Up to about 38 MB in this browser converter
Read into HTML
high fidelity · implemented — Spine XHTML documents are concatenated in reading order.

What this format can hold

  • headings
  • paragraphs
  • lists
  • links
  • images
  • inline formatting
  • chapters
  • table of contents

Usually dropped on the way in

  • per chapter css
  • fixed layout pages
  • media overlays
  • encryption

Apps that consume EPUB

  • Apple Books (Apple) — opens on macOS, iOS
  • Google Play Books (Google) — opens on Web, Android, iOS
  • Calibre — creates and opens on Windows, macOS, Linux
  • Thorium Reader — opens on Windows, macOS, Linux
  • Foliate — opens on Linux
  • Kindle (via conversion) (Amazon) — opens on e-ink, iOS, Android
  • Sigil — creates on Windows, macOS, Linux

Catalog notes

  • DRM-encumbered EPUBs are rejected.
  • Kindle AZW3/MOBI is a later type, not an alias of EPUB.

Destination file

Rich Text Format

A text-based interchange format from Microsoft for basic rich text: fonts, colors, bold/italic, and simple pictures.

RTF was designed so Word, WordPad, TextEdit, and mail clients could exchange formatted text without the full Word binary. It is verbose (control words like \b, \i, \par) but human-inspectable. Fidelity is lower than DOCX: no modern styles, limited tables, and vendor-specific extensions.

Extensions
.rtf
MIME types
application/rtf, text/rtf
Kind
text · mixed
Category
word processing
Standard
Open format · since 1987
Comfortable size
Up to about 7.6 MB in this browser converter
Written from HTML
medium fidelity · implemented — Emits RTF 1.x with ANSI/Unicode mixed encoding, nested list indents, Word-style tables, and PNG/JPEG picts.

What this format can hold

  • paragraphs
  • lists
  • inline formatting
  • images
  • tables

Usually dropped on the way out

  • css layout
  • semantic html5
  • responsive images

Apps that consume RTF

  • Microsoft Word (Microsoft) — creates and opens on Windows, macOS
  • WordPad (Microsoft) — creates and opens on Windows
  • TextEdit (Apple) — creates and opens on macOS
  • LibreOffice Writer (The Document Foundation) — creates and opens on Windows, macOS, Linux
  • Apple Notes (Apple) — creates and opens on macOS, iOS

Catalog notes

  • WordPad-era RTF is the target subset — not the full Word RTF dump.
  • WMF/EMF and OLE picts are skipped; PNG/JPEG picts are inlined as data URLs.
Other conversions

Other conversions from EPUB: HTMLMarkdownWordOpenDocumentPDF

Other ways to get RTF: HTMLMarkdownWordOpenDocumentPDF