Format comparison
TXT vs RTF
How do TXT and RTFcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.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.
.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 | TXT | RTF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Plain Text File | Rich Text Format |
| Extension | .txt | .rtf |
| MIME type | text/plain | application/rtf |
| Category | Document | Document |
| Developer | N/A (universal standard) | Microsoft |
| Year introduced | 1960s | 1987 |
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
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?
TXT and RTF serve different purposes. TXT is ideal for configuration files and logs, while RTF excels at cross-platform document sharing.
Best uses for TXT
Configuration files and logs
Quick notes and drafts
Data exchange between systems
README files and documentation
Best uses for RTF
Cross-platform document sharing
Simple formatted documents
Email-safe document attachments
Clipboard data exchange
Convert between TXT and RTF
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.