Stirling PDF Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF

Open-core PDF platform with 50+ tools (edit, merge, split, sign, redact, convert, OCR) as a desktop app, browser UI or self-hosted server.

Creator kit + Compare GitHub ↗ Install guide (official) ↗

Stirling PDF at a glance

Checked 15 Oct 2026

Stirling PDF is an open-core PDF toolkit (v3.1.0, 5 Oct 2026) run via Docker, a server JAR or desktop installers for Windows, macOS and Linux. The core is MIT, but the engine/, desktop client and SaaS directories are under a proprietary Stirling PDF User License that bars production use without a paid licence. A self-hosted server is free for up to 5 users; Team and Enterprise plans are paid. Check which parts you use before relying on it commercially.

Cite this pageRepoQuarry. “Stirling PDF.” Checked 15 Oct 2026. https://repoquarry.dev/projects/stirling-pdf

How much of Adobe Creative Cloud does it replace?

1 of 7 jobs. Broad PDF toolset (merge, split, sign, redact, convert, OCR); parts of the code are proprietary.

Photo editing (Photoshop) Not covered

Vector design (Illustrator) Not covered

Raw photo editing and library (Lightroom) Not covered

Video editing (Premiere Pro) Not covered

Motion graphics and compositing (After Effects) Not covered

Page layout (InDesign) Not covered

PDF editing (Acrobat) Partial replacement

For photo editing (Photoshop), vector design (Illustrator), raw photo editing and library (Lightroom), video editing (Premiere Pro), motion graphics and compositing (After Effects), page layout (InDesign), see other Adobe Creative Cloud alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.

How much of DocuSign does it replace?

1 of 6 jobs. Signs PDFs with your own certificate (PKCS12, PEM or JKS); no sending to other signers or signing workflow.

Send documents for signature Not covered

Signing order and reminders Not covered

Audit trail and completion certificate Not covered

Reusable signing templates Not covered

eSignature API and embedded signing Not covered

Certificate-based digital signatures (PKI) Partial replacement

For send documents for signature, signing order and reminders, audit trail and completion certificate, reusable signing templates, eSignature API and embedded signing, see other DocuSign alternatives. You may also need to build an interface, an API server and hosting yourself.

Facts, with sources

Every answer links to where we found it. We read the documentation; we did not install it.

Report a correction

QuestionAnswerSourceChecked

Runs on my machine? Yes; self-hosted server (Docker or JAR) or desktop client Run it as a personal desktop app, in the browser, or deploy it on your own servers with a private API. github.com · Stirling-PDF#readme ↗ 1d ago

Code licence Open core; MIT except engine/, desktop, SaaS and proprietary directories (Stirling PDF User License) All content that resides under the "engine/" directory of this repository, if that directory exists, is licensed under the license defined in "engine/LICENSE". github.com · LICENSE ↗ 1d ago

Model weights licence No separate model weights documented github.com · Stirling-PDF#readme ↗ 1d ago

Commercial use MIT core is fine; proprietary parts (incl. engine and desktop client) need a paid licence for production use Production use of the Stirling PDF Software is only permitted with a valid Stirling PDF User License. github.com · LICENSE ↗ 1d ago

Paid services needed? Free plan for up to 5 users on a self-hosted server; Team, Enterprise and Stirling Cloud are paid A self-hosted server runs on the Free plan until you add Team or Enterprise. docs.stirlingpdf.com · Plans-and-Licences ↗ 1d ago

Hardware Not documented in the README Know the answer? —

Operating systems Docker anywhere; desktop installers for Windows (x64, ARM64), macOS (universal) and Linux Stirling-PDF-windows-x86_64.msi github.com · v3.1.0 ↗ 1d ago

Setup effort Medium; one Docker command, or desktop installers docker run -p 8080:8080 docker.stirlingpdf.com/stirlingtools/stirling-pdf github.com · Stirling-PDF#quick-start ↗ 1d ago