Documents conversion
Convert RTF to ODT
Updated Jul 2026
RTF is a plain-text way of storing formatted documents that almost any word processor can read, while ODT is the open document format built for free office suites. To convert RTF to ODT, open the file in a converter and export it as ODT. Doing this on your own computer means the document never has to be uploaded anywhere to make the switch.
- Extension
- .rtf
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Cross-app rich text
- Extension
- .odt
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- LibreOffice / OpenOffice
Convert RTF to ODT on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert RTF to ODT
- Open Morphjet and drag in the RTF file or a whole folder of them.
- Choose ODT as the output format.
- Convert. The ODT files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
RTF vs ODT: what actually changes
| RTF | ODT | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Yes, the closest thing to a universal formatted-text format | Yes in office suites built around the open standard, sometimes needs an explicit import step in others |
| File size | Larger, formatting is written out as verbose text markup | Smaller, the document is compressed and stored as structured XML |
| Formatting fidelity | Good for basic text, limited for complex layout | Fuller support for styles, tables, and layout |
| Quality loss on conversion | None expected for standard text formatting | None expected for standard text formatting |
| Document metadata (author, revisions) | Minimal | More structured, stores author and edit history if present |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert RTF to ODT when you're moving a document into a free office suite built around the open document standard, or you want a smaller file with better support for styles and structure than RTF offers.
Keep the RTF if you need to hand the file to someone whose software you're not sure about, since RTF is the more universally recognized of the two.
Why not just use an online converter?
An online converter needs your document on its server to change the format, even if just for a minute. That's not something you want for a file that might have a name, address, or anything personal in it. Converting on your own computer keeps the document on your machine the whole time, with no upload and no account.
Questions
Does converting RTF to ODT lose any formatting?
Basic text formatting, fonts, colors, and simple layout carry over cleanly. Very complex layouts built for a specific word processor can shift slightly, so it's worth a quick check on anything with heavy custom formatting.
Will an ODT file open in the same programs as RTF?
Not quite as universally. RTF is readable by almost any word processor by design. ODT is well supported by office suites built around the open document standard, and by most modern word processors, but very old or minimal software may not open it directly.
Does the ODT keep the document's author and edit info?
If the RTF had that metadata, it typically carries over, and ODT actually stores document metadata in a more structured way than RTF does.
Can I convert RTF to ODT without uploading the file anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally, so the document never travels over the internet. You can do it with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts RTF, ODT, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.