Fonts are embedded in the PDF
An RTF stores font names, not fonts. The PDF we got back carried every font it used as an embedded subset, so it shows the same on a phone, a laptop or a print shop's computer.
RTF to PDF Converter
Add an RTF file from WordPad, TextEdit or an old export and download a PDF that looks the same on every device.
To convert rtf to pdf, add the .rtf file, keep PDF as the output format and download the result. In our test a 66 KB, two-page RTF with a picture, a table and Persian text became a 52 KB pdf with the fonts embedded, though Calibri was swapped for a look-alike font.
Transfers use HTTPS, and files converted on the free tier are deleted after 24 hours, so the result is not a long-term archive. Quality depends on the source file, so open the PDF file once before you share it.
Need more PDF options? Open the PDF Converter hub.
FromRTFLossless
RTF (Rich Text Format)
A text-based document format from Microsoft that carries fonts, styles, tables and embedded pictures in plain 7-bit markup, so most word processors can open it. It stores font names but not the fonts, so a computer without them substitutes others and the text can reflow. The last specification, 1.9.1, dates from March 2008 and has not been extended since.
ToPDFLossless
PDF (Portable Document Format)
A fixed-layout document format published as ISO 32000. Each page records the exact position of every character, image and line, usually with the fonts embedded, so it displays and prints identically in any reader and is awkward to edit.
A two-page RTF test document with a picture, a table and Persian text, converted on indox.org
- RTFthe original, 2 pages
- 66.4 KB
- PDFfrom indox, 2 pages, Letter, fonts embedded
- 52.4 KB
- Pictureinside the PDF, 240 × 120 px, as JPEG
- 5.5 KB
Why use indox to convert RTF to PDF?
Pictures and tables come through
The picture in our test file kept its size of 2.5 by 1.25 inches, and the table text stayed in place. Our table had no borders in the source, so none appear in the PDF.
Persian and right-to-left text renders
Persian written with Unicode escapes was shaped and right-aligned on the page, and so was Persian saved in the older Windows-1256 code page. See the limits below for one catch with copying that text.
Nothing to install
The conversion runs on indox servers, so it works from any device with a browser. You do not need Word or an office suite, and WordPad has no PDF export of its own.
What happens to your RTF
Stays
- Your original RTF, which is not touched
- The words, the headings and the table text
- The printed size of the picture, 2.5 × 1.25 inches in our test
- Persian text, shaped and right-aligned in our test
Changes
- Layout: the page is fixed at Letter size, 2 pages in our test
- Fonts: Arial, Times New Roman and Calibri were replaced by Liberation Sans, Liberation Serif and Carlito
- Picture: re-encoded from PNG to JPEG at the same size
- Editing: the PDF is for reading and printing, not for changing text
How do I convert RTF to PDF online?
- 1
Add your RTF file
Drop the .rtf file on the box or choose it from your device. Keep the original, since the PDF is not meant to be edited.
- 2
Confirm PDF, then start the conversion
Check that PDF is the output format and start the conversion. In our test the 66 KB file took 13.1 seconds from the click to Completed, and a tiny 460-byte file took 3.3 seconds.
- 3
Download the PDF and read it once
Open the PDF before you send it. Check the fonts, the pictures and any right-to-left text, because those are the parts a converter can change.
What do I get from indox's RTF to PDF converter?
You hand over an RTF and take away a PDF you can email, print or archive. The page reports what happened to fonts, pictures and Persian text in a real run, so you know what to check before you send it.
- One PDF from the RTF you add, in a few clicks
- Works on a phone or any computer with a browser
- Measured result shown, with the font substitutions we saw
- Your original RTF is left as it was
What are the limits for RTF to PDF?
Size
The upload box shows the live size limit before you add a file. Signing in raises it; a paid plan does not change it.
Formats
RTF in, PDF out. Pick another output on the converter if you need a different format.
Privacy
Files are encrypted in transit over HTTPS and processed on indox infrastructure.
Deletion
Free-tier files are kept for 24 hours after the job finishes, then deleted automatically.
Limits worth knowing
- Fonts that the server does not have are replaced. In our test Calibri became Carlito. If a letterhead or form depends on an exact typeface, compare the PDF with your original before you send it.
- Persian text looks right on the page, but copying or searching it can fail. When we extracted the text from the PDF, some letters came out in the wrong order, for example the word for text came back with its letters swapped. If you need searchable Persian, test a copy first.
- You get no options for page size, margins or image quality. Our file came out as Letter, and we did not test an RTF that sets another page size.
- We tested files of 460 bytes and 66 KB. We did not reach any size limit, so we cannot tell you where one starts.
- Pictures that are only linked to a file on your disk, not stored inside the RTF, were not part of our test.
When the result is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Letters look different from your editor | The RTF names a font the server does not have, so another font is used | Compare the PDF with your original, and pick a common font such as Arial or Times New Roman before converting |
| Persian text cannot be copied correctly | The text renders right but the PDF stores it in a different order | Keep the RTF as your text source and use the PDF for reading and printing |
| A picture is missing | A picture linked from your disk is not stored inside the RTF | Insert the picture into the document again so it is embedded, then convert |
| You need to change the text | A PDF is not meant for editing | Edit the RTF, or convert it with RTF to DOCX |
| You only need the words | A PDF is more than plain text | Use RTF to TXT |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
Which conversions are close to RTF to PDF?
RTF vs PDF: what is the difference?
| Compared on | RTF | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Reflows to the reader's fonts and page size | Fixed, every character has a set position |
| Fonts | Names only, so a missing font is replaced | Usually embedded, as in our test |
| Editing | Opens in WordPad, TextEdit and most word processors | Needs a PDF editor and is awkward to change |
| Pictures | Stored inside the markup, often as hex text | Stored as image objects in the file |
| Typical use | Drafts and exchange between editors | Sending, printing and archiving |
Who can use a RTF to PDF converter?
When to use it
- Sending a cover letter or CV written in WordPad as a PDF.
- Archiving an old RTF report in a format that does not depend on installed fonts.
- Attaching a form or contract from a legacy system to an email.
- Printing an RTF at a shop whose computer lacks your fonts.
Where can I read more about converting files?
Sources
- Rich Text Format (RTF), Version 1.9.1Library of Congress
- PDF 1.7, ISO 32000-1Library of Congress
Facts checked on November 4, 2026
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RTF to PDF FAQs
How do I convert RTF to PDF?
Open the converter, add your .rtf file, keep PDF as the output and download the result. Open the PDF afterwards and check the fonts and pictures.
Is it free, and do I need to sign in?
We ran our test as an anonymous visitor, with no sign-in, and saw no limit or payment prompt. Limits can change, so check the converter page when you use it.
What is an RTF file?
RTF stands for Rich Text Format, a Microsoft format that stores text with fonts, styles, tables and pictures in plain markup. Most word processors open it, WordPad and TextEdit among them.
Why does my text look different in the PDF?
An RTF names fonts without carrying them. When the server lacks a font it uses another. In our test Calibri became Carlito and Arial became Liberation Sans, so check the result against your original.
Are pictures kept?
Yes in our test. A 240 by 120 pixel picture stayed at 2.5 by 1.25 inches, but it was re-encoded to JPEG. Pictures that are only linked from your disk were not tested.
Does Persian or right-to-left text survive?
In our test it rendered correctly, shaped and right-aligned, for both Unicode text and the older Windows-1256 code page. Copying text out of the PDF scrambled some letters, so test that if you need it.
Can I convert RTF to PDF on my phone?
Yes. The conversion runs on our servers, so any phone with a browser can add the file and download the PDF.
Can I edit the PDF afterwards?
Not easily, since a PDF fixes the layout. Edit the RTF and convert it again, or turn the RTF into a DOCX if you need Word.