Free online EPUB to RTF converter

Some word processors, legacy publishing systems, and document archives accept RTF more reliably than EPUB. Converting an EPUB creates an editable document for revision, printing, or transfer to software that does not support ebook packages.

What the EPUB format is

EPUB is a reflowable ebook format built from XHTML, CSS, images, fonts, and metadata inside a ZIP-based package. Its content adapts to screen size, orientation, and reader settings instead of preserving fixed pages.

Publishers, authors, libraries, ebook stores, and reading applications commonly use EPUB. Production tools include Adobe InDesign, Apple Books publishing tools, Sigil, Calibre, and specialist publishing systems.

An EPUB can include a navigation document, table of contents, cover, embedded fonts, SVG or bitmap illustrations, MathML, footnotes, internal links, and accessibility metadata. DRM may prevent conversion by software that cannot open the book with the required authorization.

What the RTF format is

RTF, or Rich Text Format, stores formatted text as plain text containing control words and groups. Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, and many document-management systems can open it.

RTF is suitable when the recipient needs editable paragraphs, headings, lists, basic tables, fonts, colors, and inline images without an ebook reader. It does not preserve EPUB's responsive layout, CSS behavior, reader-specific font scaling, scripts, audio, video, or interactive features.

Convert with 101convert.com

1. Open the EPUB-to-RTF converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the .epub file and select RTF as the output format.
3. Start the conversion, then download the generated .rtf file.
4. Open the result in Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer and inspect its headings, page breaks, lists, tables, images, and special characters.

This option requires no locally installed conversion software. Do not upload DRM-protected books, confidential manuscripts, or files whose license prohibits third-party processing.

Convert with Calibre

1. Install Calibre from its official desktop distribution and open it.
2. Choose Add books, select the .epub file, and wait for it to appear in the library.
3. Select the book and choose Convert books.
4. Set Output format to RTF.
5. Review the Look & Feel, Page setup, and RTF output settings available in your Calibre version. Adjust margins, remove unwanted headers or footers, and retain the cover only if it belongs in the editable document.
6. Click OK. Select the book after conversion and use Open containing folder to locate the generated .rtf file.
7. Open the file in a word processor and correct any formatting changes before sharing or archiving it.

Convert with Pandoc

Pandoc is useful for repeatable or batch conversions from a command line:

pandoc input.epub -o output.rtf

For filenames containing spaces, quote both paths:

pandoc "My Book.epub" -o "My Book.rtf"

Pandoc can discard EPUB-specific styling, cover placement, complex tables, and some footnote or image behavior. It is best suited to text-centered books and automated workflows rather than visual reproduction.

Quality and compatibility limits

EPUB-to-RTF conversion is a structural rewrite, not a page-faithful export. EPUB CSS targets browser-like reflow, while RTF describes word-processor formatting; complex selectors, floating elements, columns, media queries, JavaScript, and embedded media may disappear or change appearance.

Because reflowable EPUBs do not contain fixed page boundaries, the RTF will have different pagination, line wrapping, margins, and heading positions. A cover usually becomes an ordinary image at the beginning of the document. Inspect tables and multi-column content because conversion tools may linearize them or alter their widths.

Check accented characters, em dashes, non-Latin scripts, mathematical symbols, and ligatures. Incorrect display can result from missing fonts or incomplete conversion support; try a current Calibre or Pandoc version and choose a font with the required glyph coverage in the word processor.

DRM is an access-control layer, not a conversion format. Calibre, Pandoc, and word processors generally cannot convert an EPUB that remains encrypted; use an authorized DRM-free source or the publisher's permitted export method.