The free PDF editor I can’t live without

XDA Developers

Stirling PDF is a free, open-source, self-hosted PDF editor that covers merging, splitting, OCR, watermarking, password protection, digital signatures, compression, and more. It can be deployed via Docker in 10–15 minutes on a home server, making it a privacy-friendly alternative to subscription-based or cloud PDF tools. The depth of customization per feature — such as fine-tuning watermark opacity and rotation — sets it apart from simpler free tools.

I started editing all my PDF files with this free, self-hosted tool, and I’m not going back

<p>Stirling had been great for my organization for over a year. Many paid Acrobat licenses were dropped. Politely suggesting readers first see <a href="https://www.xda-developers.com/replaced-stirling-pdf-with-this-self-hosted-pdf-toolkit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">this article</a>, also on XDA, regarding Stirling, and then <a href="https://app.daily.dev/posts/the-best-pdf-editor-i-use-isn-t-adobe-and-it-s-better-in-ways-that-actually-matter-vwr7s61uo" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">this daily.dev post</a>. There have been recent changes in the Stirling roadmap, including a requirement for account creation. Then choose the best tool for your needs!</p>
