Stirling-PDF
Local hosted web application that allows you to perform various operations on PDF files, such as merging, splitting, file conversions and OCR.
- GitHub stars
- 94,085
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Latest release
- v3.1.0
5 October 2026 - Last commit
- 12 October 2026
- Runs on
- Docker, Java
Commits per month, last 12 months
1,992 commits
Replaces
Paid products Stirling-PDF can stand in for.
How to self-host Stirling-PDF
Stirling-PDF runs on Docker and Java. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.
- Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
- Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
- Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
- Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.
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Questions
Is Stirling-PDF free?
Yes. Stirling-PDF is open source under the Apache-2.0 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.
Can I self-host Stirling-PDF?
Yes. Stirling-PDF runs on Docker and Java. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.
What does Stirling-PDF replace?
People use Stirling-PDF instead of Adobe Acrobat, iLovePDF or Smallpdf.
Is Stirling-PDF still maintained?
The last change to Stirling-PDF's code was on 12 October 2026, with 1992 commits in the last 12 months.
Topics
App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.