Format comparison
DOCX vs TXT
How do DOCX and TXTcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.docx
Full guide →Office Open XML Document
DOCX is the default format for Microsoft Word documents. It's an XML-based format that replaced the older .doc format, offering better compression, easier recovery, and broader compatibility.
.txt
Full guide →Plain Text File
TXT is the simplest document format — pure text with no formatting. It's universally compatible, lightweight, and readable by every operating system and text editor in existence.
| Specification | DOCX | TXT |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Office Open XML Document | Plain Text File |
| Extension | .docx | .txt |
| MIME type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document | text/plain |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | Microsoft | N/A (universal standard) |
| Year introduced | 2007 | 1960s |
DOCX advantages
- Standard format for word processing
- Excellent formatting capabilities
- Smaller files than legacy .doc format
- Compatible with Google Docs, LibreOffice, and more
DOCX limitations
- Formatting may vary between applications
- Complex internal XML structure
- Requires office software to edit properly
- Version differences can cause compatibility issues
TXT advantages
- Universal compatibility — works everywhere
- Tiny file sizes
- No formatting issues or version problems
- Human-readable and machine-parseable
TXT limitations
- No formatting, images, or styling
- No structure beyond line breaks
- No metadata or document properties
- Not suitable for professional documents
Which should you use?
DOCX and TXT serve different purposes. DOCX is ideal for business reports and memos, while TXT excels at configuration files and logs.
Best uses for DOCX
Business reports and memos
Academic papers and essays
Resumes and cover letters
Collaborative document editing
Best uses for TXT
Configuration files and logs
Quick notes and drafts
Data exchange between systems
README files and documentation
Convert between DOCX and TXT
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.