RST to OPML Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
reStructuredText is the markup of the Python world — Sphinx documentation, PyPI READMEs, docstrings tooling. Underline-style headings, directives and cross-references, designed for technical docs that scale. Convert OPML outlines into Markdown or Word documents, or turn bullet lists back into an importable outline.
iLoveConverter processes everything locally on your computer, which makes it private and fast: no upload wait, no server storage, no limits. Add as many files as you like — batch conversion is built in.
How RST compares to OPML
| RST | OPML | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Plain text + directives | XML <outline> tree |
| Best for | Technical documentation | Subscriptions lists and mind maps |
How to convert RST to OPML
- 1
Select your files
Select your RST 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 OPML — structure preserved, heavy layout simplified.
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
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
Why convert RST to OPML?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of OPML meet what RST cannot give you. Universal outline exchange between outliners Meanwhile Less widely known than Markdown One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this RST to OPML 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 RST to OPML?
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.
Will the layout of my RST file be preserved exactly?
This converter renders your RST content into OPML 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.
Can I edit the OPML result afterwards?
That depends on the target: OPML is designed for what it does, and this converter reproduces its content faithfully rather than inventing editable structure. For heavy re-editing, work from a format built for editing and export the final version here.