MITopen-coreRuns locallyWriting & Office
Stirling-PDF: Open-Source PDF Toolbox
Self-hosted PDF toolbox. MIT core with named proprietary directories (open-core).
- License
- MIT
- Stars
- 94,632 (2026-10-21)
- Platforms
- Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker, Web
- First seen
- 2023-01-27
TL;DR. Stirling-PDF is Self-hosted PDF toolbox. MIT core with named proprietary directories (open-core). License: MIT (verified). Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker, Web. Price: open-core. Runs locally: yes. It is an alternative to Adobe Acrobat.
| Name | Stirling-PDF |
|---|---|
| Language | TypeScript |
| License | MIT |
| Pricing | open-core |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, macOS, Docker, Web |
| Runs locally | Yes |
| Stats | 94,632 stars · 11,324 forks (as of 2026-10-21) |
| First seen | 2023-01-27 |
| Repository | https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF |
Stirling-PDF is a self-hosted PDF toolbox. Official hosts we opened on 2026-10-21: Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF, release v3.2.0, and stirling.com. It is listed on Adobe Acrobat alternatives as an open-core toolbox, not because we measured feature parity.
Key facts (2026-10-21)
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stars / forks | 94,632 / 11,324 | GitHub API |
| Created | 2023-01-27T18:22:42Z | same |
| Last push | 2026-10-21T00:46:11Z | same |
| License file | MIT outside named proprietary dirs | LICENSE |
| GitHub license field | NOASSERTION | GitHub API |
| Latest release | v3.2.0, 2026-10-15T20:36:26Z | GitHub Releases |
| Language | TypeScript | GitHub |
License carve-outs
The LICENSE (opened 2026-10-21) lists separate licenses for app/proprietary/, app/saas/, engine/, and several frontend/editor/src/* trees if those directories exist. Everything else is MIT. Treat official binaries and hosted editions as possibly mixing those trees. Not legal advice.
Related
Comparisons
FAQ
Is Stirling-PDF open source?
The core outside named proprietary/SaaS directories is MIT (LICENSE, 2026-10-21). The same file carves those directories out. We list it as open-core. GitHub shows NOASSERTION. Not legal advice.
What version did you check?
v3.2.0 (GitHub, 2026-10-15T20:36:26Z). API 2026-10-21: 94,632 stars, last push 2026-10-21T00:46:11Z. Homepage stirling.com.
Does it replace Adobe Acrobat Pro?
The repository describes a PDF application you can run on a device or host. We did not test forms, e-sign, or OCR against Acrobat Pro. See Adobe Acrobat alternatives.
Sources & verification
- https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF
- https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/LICENSE
- https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v3.2.0
- https://stirling.com/
License notes are not legal advice. Read the original LICENSE. Trademark & disclaimer.