Stirling-PDF
Self-hosted, open-source PDF toolbox: merge, split, convert, sign, and edit PDFs in your browser
- Version
- 3.2.2
- Released
- October 2026
- Size
- 257 MB (Windows installer)
- License
- MIT · Open source
About Stirling-PDF
Stirling-PDF puts a full PDF toolbox on your own machine: merge, split, compress, convert, rotate, sign, redact, watermark, OCR, and dozens more operations, all through a web interface you host yourself. It has become the go-to open-source answer to online PDF sites, because your documents never have to touch someone else's server.
You can run it with Docker in a couple of minutes or install it natively; there are desktop installers for Windows (the current 3.2.2 installer is about 257 MB), macOS, and Linux, released in October 2026. Once running, anyone on your network gets a clean browser UI with the tools grouped by task, plus extras like a pipeline mode for chaining operations, multi-file batch processing, and an API for automating PDF work from scripts. The core application is MIT-licensed open source; some enterprise-oriented features (like SSO and advanced audit tooling) are under a separate commercial license, which the project states plainly in its repository.
The honest trade-offs: it is a server application at heart, so the "install" is heavier than a simple desktop app unless you use the desktop packages; the interface is functional rather than pretty; and OCR quality depends on the Tesseract data you install. Verdict: if you regularly manipulate PDFs and care about keeping them on your own hardware, this is the self-hosted toolbox to beat, at zero cost.
Key Features
50+ PDF operations
Merge, split, compress, convert, rotate, sign, redact, watermark, and more
Runs on your hardware
Self-hosted with Docker or desktop installers for Windows, macOS, Linux
Batch and pipeline modes
Chain operations and process multiple files in one pass
API access
Automate PDF jobs from scripts or other apps
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Documents stay on your own machine, not an upload site
- Very broad toolset covering nearly every common PDF job
- Free and open source (MIT core), no usage caps
- Docker setup takes minutes; API enables automation
- Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, or a home server
Cons
- Server-style architecture is heavier than a simple desktop utility
- Some enterprise features sit behind a separate commercial license
- Interface is functional rather than polished
- OCR depends on separately installed language data
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stirling-PDF free?
Yes, the core application is MIT-licensed open source and free with no usage caps. Some enterprise features such as SSO and advanced auditing use a separate commercial license, which the project documents openly.
Why self-host a PDF tool?
Because files processed on online PDF sites pass through someone else’s servers. Running Stirling-PDF locally or on your own server keeps contracts, IDs, and other sensitive documents under your control.
Do I need Docker?
No. Docker is the quickest route, but there are also native installers for Windows (about 257 MB), macOS, and Linux.