Convert WordStar .WS to RTF
RTF is the universal interchange format for formatted text — the safest choice when you do not know what opens the file next.
TL;DR
Install the free WordStar Converter trial, add your .ws files, choose RTF, and convert. You get formatted, editable documents that open in Word, WordPad, LibreOffice, and most e-discovery platforms — converted locally.
How to convert WordStar to RTF — step by step
Install WordStar Converter (free trial)
Download the installer for Windows 10/11. The trial converts up to 10 files with every feature enabled.
Add your WordStar documents
Drag in files or point the app at a folder tree. Versioned extensions (.ws3–.ws8) are included automatically.
Choose RTF as the output format
Select RTF. If the receiving system also accepts DOCX, tick both and produce each version in one pass.
Convert and hand off
Click Convert, then load the RTF files into Word, a DMS, a review platform, or an older internal application.
Why convert WordStar files to RTF?
RTF has been readable by essentially every word processor since the early 1990s. If converted files have to land somewhere you do not control, RTF is the lowest-risk target.
RTF keeps formatting as markup rather than a zipped XML package, which makes it easy to diff and audit when you are migrating thousands of WordStar documents.
Safer than free online converters
Online converters require uploading confidential WordStar documents to third-party servers. WordStar Converter runs entirely on your Windows PC — nothing is uploaded.
That matters for contracts, case files, board minutes, and any archive covered by privilege, GDPR, HIPAA, or confidentiality clauses.
FAQ
Is there a free way to convert .WS to RTF?
Yes. The free trial of WordStar Converter converts up to 10 files with full features — no signup and no watermarks. Unlimited conversions are a one-time $39.95 license (no subscription).
Is this an online converter? Do my files get uploaded?
No. WordStar Converter is a Windows desktop app. Every conversion runs locally on your PC. Nothing is uploaded.
Can I convert an entire folder of WordStar files at once?
Yes. Point the app at a folder (it scans subfolders), select RTF as the output, and it batch-converts .ws, .wsd, and .ws3–.ws8 files in parallel.
Which WordStar versions are supported?
WordStar Converter reads classic WordStar documents through Release 7, including high-bit wrap flags, print controls, and later symmetrical sequences.
Should I choose RTF or DOCX?
Choose DOCX if the documents go back into Microsoft Word for editing. Choose RTF when the destination is unknown, older, or picky.
Related conversions
Convert WordStar documents to universal RTF
Free trial converts 10 files — batch, offline, and no watermarks.
Free trial
Full app features — up to 10 files
Windows 10 or 11
Download the Windows installer for the full 10-file trial. Same app you unlock with a license — 100% local on your PC.