Document Format Comparison

DOCX vs RTF: Modern Word Format vs Universal Text Format

RTF was Microsoft's gift to document interoperability in 1987 — a text-based format any word processor could read. DOCX arrived 20 years later as more powerful but more complex. Today, DOCX is the default document format worldwide, while RTF persists in legacy systems, email clients, and contexts where maximum backward compatibility matters.

DOCXvsRTF

Quick Verdict

Use DOCX when…

Use DOCX for any document that needs track changes, advanced formatting, comments, styles, or sharing with Microsoft Word users.

Use RTF when…

Use RTF when you need a simple document to open on any device from any era — RTF is supported by virtually every word processor ever made.

DOCX vs RTF: Feature Comparison

Feature	DOCX	RTF
Track changes	Yes — full support	Partial support only
Comments / annotations	Yes	No
Tables	Full support	Basic support
Compatibility range	Word 2007+, Google Docs, LibreOffice	Nearly universal — even WordPad
File size	Compressed ZIP (small)	Text-based (can be large)
Macros	VBA macros possible (DOCM)	None
Created by	Microsoft (2007)	Microsoft (1987)

When DOCX wins

✓Track changes: Yes — full support
✓Comments / annotations: Yes
✓Tables: Full support

When RTF wins

✓Track changes: Partial support only
✓Comments / annotations: No
✓Tables: Basic support

Frequently asked questions

Can I open DOCX on any device?

DOCX opens on all modern devices: Google Docs, LibreOffice (free), Microsoft Word Online (free), Apple Pages. Old devices pre-2007 can't open DOCX without Microsoft's compatibility pack. RTF opens on virtually everything including old devices.

Is RTF obsolete?

Not entirely. RTF remains useful for: legal software needing cross-platform exchange, content management systems, macOS TextEdit (which uses RTF natively), and email clients that use RTF for formatted email. For new documents: DOCX. For maximum backward compatibility: RTF or PDF.