Repos / Stirling-PDF
AlternativesStirling-PDF
For anyone who handles PDFs often and prefers to process them on their own machine or server instead of uploading them to an outside site.
What it does.
- edit, merge, split, sign, redact, compress and convert PDFs, with more than 50 tools
- OCR scanned documents
- automate tasks with no-code workflows and a REST API
- use it as a desktop app, in the browser or on a server of your own
Systems: Server with Docker (amd64 and arm64 images), Kubernetes or a JAR with Java. A desktop client is also available.
What you need.
- RAM, recommended: 4 GB Depends on the load "1-10 users" row of the sizing table. source for this requirement (opens in a new tab)
- CPU, minimum: 2 cores Depends on the load "1-10 users" row (2-4 cores). source for this requirement (opens in a new tab)
- CPU, recommended: 4 cores Depends on the load "1-10 users" row (2-4 cores). source for this requirement (opens in a new tab)
- Disk, recommended: 10 GB Depends on the load "1-10 users" row; with an SSD recommended from 10-50 users. source for this requirement (opens in a new tab)
- RAM, another documented figure: 2 GB Depends on the model Suggested memory for the ultra-lite image. source for this requirement (opens in a new tab)
- RAM, another documented figure: 4 GB Depends on the model Suggested memory for the latest image. source for this requirement (opens in a new tab)
- RAM, another documented figure: 6 GB Depends on the model Suggested memory for the latest-fat image (more with AI turned on). source for this requirement (opens in a new tab)
- Docker, or Java and the conversion tools installed by you if you use the JAR. source for this requirement (opens in a new tab)
- Mount the /configs volume: the documentation says it must always be mounted. source for this requirement (opens in a new tab)
Check whether your machine can handle it. It adds up its RAM, CPU and disk together with other repos.
How to install.
With Docker, a single command:
docker run -p 8080:8080 docker.stirlingpdf.com/stirlingtools/stirling-pdfOpen http://localhost:8080. Login is on by default: you sign in as admin with the password stirling and the system asks you to change it.
For daily use, the documentation provides a docker-compose.yml with the configuration, logs and storage volumes.
Commands taken from the official documentation. Read them before you run them: it is your machine.
Permissions and data.
- With login enabled by default, change the initial password right away. With SECURITY_ENABLELOGIN=false, anyone who can reach the server can use it.
- The first administrator decides whether anonymous usage data is sent; nothing is sent until someone answers, and the content of your documents is not sent.
Limits and warnings.
- It is "open-core": parts of the repo (folders such as proprietary, engine and saas) have a different license.
- The server's free plan covers up to 5 users; the paid Team and Enterprise plans add seats and features.
- The ultra-lite image ships no OCR or Office conversions; the latest image does not include rar, so it does not convert PDF to CBR.
- If you use the JAR without Docker, installing the conversion tools is on you.
Real cost and cloud.
- Free for personal use and small teams; the real cost is the server and your maintenance time.
- The README says you can edit and sign without sending your documents to outside services, as long as you run it yourself.
- There is a cloud service and paid plans; choose consciously which one you use.
License.
MIT Permissive open source
MIT for the repo core, with folders under other licenses (open-core). You can use and modify the MIT part, but not the whole repository is MIT.
MIT core; some directories (proprietary, engine, saas…) have their own license.
This is a summary to orient you, not legal advice. For commercial use, read the original LICENSE file.
Where all of this comes from.
Checked against the official documentation on October 29, 2026; this is not a lab test. Nothing was installed or measured to write this guide. If something has changed, the project's documentation is the authority.