Format comparison
DOC vs RTF
How do DOC and RTFcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.doc
Full guide →Microsoft Word Document (Legacy)
DOC is the legacy binary format used by Microsoft Word before 2007. While still widely encountered, it has been superseded by DOCX. Many older documents and templates still use this format.
.rtf
Full guide →Rich Text Format
RTF is a cross-platform document format that supports basic formatting like bold, italic, fonts, and colors. It's a universal middle ground between plain text and full document formats.
| Specification | DOC | RTF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Word Document (Legacy) | Rich Text Format |
| Extension | .doc | .rtf |
| MIME type | application/msword | application/rtf |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | Microsoft | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 1983 | 1987 |
DOC advantages
- Universal recognition
- Compatible with older Word versions
- Still supported by all major office suites
- Extensive installed base of existing documents
DOC limitations
- Larger file sizes than DOCX
- Binary format — harder to recover if corrupted
- Limited to older feature set
- Being phased out in favor of DOCX
RTF advantages
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Basic formatting support
- No macros — safer than DOC/DOCX
- Human-readable markup
RTF limitations
- Limited advanced formatting
- Larger than plain text
- No modern features like tables or charts
- Inconsistent rendering across editors
Which should you use?
DOC and RTF serve different purposes. DOC is ideal for opening legacy documents, while RTF excels at cross-platform document sharing.
Best uses for DOC
Opening legacy documents
Compatibility with older systems
Template archives
Government and institutional legacy files
Best uses for RTF
Cross-platform document sharing
Simple formatted documents
Email-safe document attachments
Clipboard data exchange
Convert between DOC and RTF
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.