How do RTF and EPUBcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
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.
Electronic Publication
EPUB is the open standard for digital books and publications. It supports reflowable content that adapts to any screen size, making it the preferred format for e-readers and reading apps.
| Specification | RTF | EPUB |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rich Text Format | Electronic Publication |
| Extension | .rtf | .epub |
| MIME type | application/rtf | application/epub+zip |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | Microsoft | International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) |
| Year introduced | 1987 | 2007 |
RTF and EPUB serve different purposes. RTF is ideal for cross-platform document sharing, while EPUB excels at e-books and digital publications.
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