OPML to RST Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
OPML is the outline-exchange XML: nested <outline> elements that carry subscription lists (podcast apps, RSS readers) and mind-map exports from Workflowy, Dynalist and OmniOutliner. Convert RST docs to Markdown/Word for non-Sphinx audiences, or bring Markdown content into a Sphinx project as RST.
Because the whole conversion happens on your device, it is instant, unlimited and genuinely private — no accounts, no watermarks, no files on anyone's server. Multiple files are converted in one go.
How OPML compares to RST
| OPML | RST | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | XML <outline> tree | Plain text + directives |
| Best for | Subscriptions lists and mind maps | Technical documentation |
How to convert OPML to RST
- 1
Select your files
Select your OPML file.
- 2
Convert instantly
The file is first converted to markdown (an interchange format that keeps headings, lists and paragraphs), then rebuilt into the target format.
- 3
Download results
Download the RST — structure preserved, heavy layout simplified.
About the OPML format
OPML (Outline Processor Markup) is XML for hierarchies: nested <outline> elements, each with text and optional attributes. It is the silent standard behind podcast and RSS subscription lists — every "export subscriptions" button produces one — and the interchange format for outliners like Workflowy, Dynalist and OmniOutliner.
An outline is already half a document: Pandoc turns OPML hierarchies into Markdown headings, Word outlines or HTML pages with the nesting preserved, and can write OPML back out so a bulleted plan becomes an importable tree in your outliner of choice.
+Strengths
- ✓Universal outline exchange between outliners
- ✓The RSS/podcast subscription standard
- ✓Trivially parseable XML
!Limitations
- −Hierarchies only — no rich text per node
- −Attribute conventions vary between apps
- −Rarely rendered directly for humans
About the RST format
reStructuredText is the markup the Python world standardized on: Sphinx builds entire documentation sites from it, PyPI renders it as project descriptions, and tools like docutils parse it. Headings are underlined with punctuation, and directives like .. image:: and .. code-block:: extend the vocabulary without breaking plain-text readability.
RST is stricter than Markdown by design — that strictness is what makes large documentation trees consistent. Converting RST into Markdown or Word opens Sphinx projects to the rest of the team; converting Markdown back into RST feeds content into a Sphinx build.
+Strengths
- ✓The native format of Sphinx/Python docs
- ✓Consistent at scale: directives, roles, xrefs
- ✓Tables and admonitions as first-class syntax
!Limitations
- −Less widely known than Markdown
- −Stricter rules have a learning curve
- −Some directives are toolchain-specific
Why convert OPML to RST?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of RST meet what OPML cannot give you. The native format of Sphinx/Python docs Meanwhile Hierarchies only — no rich text per node One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this OPML to RST converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Is there a file size limit for OPML to RST?
The only limit is your device's memory, since nothing is uploaded. Files up to a few hundred megabytes work fine on a modern desktop browser; very large files simply take a little longer.
Does the conversion work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, the conversion itself runs entirely inside your browser — you can even disconnect and keep converting. No file ever touches a server.
Will the layout of my OPML file be preserved exactly?
This converter renders your OPML content into RST with pages, proportions and images kept as close to the original as the target format allows. Use the preview before downloading to confirm it looks the way you expect.