Stirling PDF Review: Features, Safety & Alternative

Introduction:

Stirling PDF is a free, open-source PDF editor offering a vast range of tools for working with PDFs securely and offline. However, many users are still unaware of this tool and its functions. In this review, we'll explore what Stirling PDF is, its main features, free services, download and installation process, and provide a great alternative for those needing complete text editing. So stay tuned and let’s dive in to see if it meets your PDF needs.

Overview of Stirling PDF

Stirling PDF, also known as Stirling-PDF, is a powerful, self-hosted, open-source, and publicly available web-based tool that enables various operations on PDF files. It gives full control over your data and ensures that your files aren't sent to any external server for processing. Designed for privacy and flexibility, it runs via Docker. You should also note the Stirling PDF desktop compatibility, which includes Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can get the usage analytics reports and automate your workflow.

In addition, you can also try Stirling PDF online in your browser. For full control and data privacy, running it locally is the best option. It offers a user-friendly, clean interface and supports integration through a flexible Stirling PDF API for automated workflows. Although it is a web-based tool, it offers regular support to its users.

Stirling PDF Features

Most users prefer the Stirling PDF editor to work on professional documents due to its basic and advanced features. The platform also supports batch processing and detailed customization options for power users. To boost productivity, users can search for a needed Stirling PDF tool directly from the software interface's search bar.

Take a look at all its PDF-handling features:

#1. Edit Text: Stirling PDF only allows free editing for adding text, but not directly changing the existing text in a PDF. It can also add images, redact content, and rearrange or delete pages, making it useful for markup and document preparation—even if full text editing isn't supported.

#2. Edit Images: Stirling PDF can edit images in a PDF without compromising quality. Additionally, it allows you to select your preferred color type. And convert multiple images to a PDF.

#3. Annotate PDF: Whether you need to draw, highlight text, add comments, or sticky notes, Stirling PDF does it all. It can also underline, strike through, insert shapes, and add text boxes to a PDF.

#4. Page Organizing: With Stirling PDF, you can organize PDF pages hassle-free. It can merge pages and PDFs together. Alternatively, it lets you split the page into two parts. The open-source tool also enables you to remove a page from a document and rotate it. 

#5. Convert PDFs: Stirling PDF can change file formats to/from PDFs. Transform PDFs into CSV or an image without compromising quality. Plus, you can convert PDFs to RTF and get the output file in TXT format.

#6. Sign PDF: Stirling PDF lets you sign with a certificate or remove it.

#7. Secure PDF: With Stirling PDF, security is never at risk. It allows you to add and remove passwords, as well as add a stamp or watermark. You can also hide sensitive information automatically or manually.

#8. More Stirling PDF tools: In addition, Stirling PDF lets you perform more advanced functions. Such as,

• View documents
• Change metadata
• Replace and invert the color
• Remove annotations and blank pages
• Change the brightness of the PDF
• Compress and rename PDFs
• Categorize documents into different sections
• Detect JavaScript inserted in PDFs
• Run multiple actions on PDFs simultaneously

Is Stirling PDF Free?

Sterling PDF stands out among the open-source PDF editors. It does offer a free plan with core PDF tools, but it has certain drawbacks. If you need features beyond basic customization options, exploring the subscription tier can be helpful. Here’s a look at all its plans.

Is Stirling PDF Safe?

Striling PDF is considered safe, especially for privacy-conscious users. Because it’s open-source, the tool operates fully offline, guaranteeing that no information is sent over the internet. Users can even self-host it via Docker, reducing reliance on third-party servers. The platform does not store or share uploaded files. That said, using hosted demos or third-party versions may come with typical online security concerns. It can cause temporary file exposure, so self-hosting is recommended for sensitive documents.

How to Download and Install Stirling PDF

Stirling PDF can be downloaded on Windows, Linux/Unix, and Mac computers. Sterling PDF can also be used as a service for hosting by Docker users and through manual server setup.

Here’s how Windows users can proceed with the Stirling PDF download and installation.

Step 1: Download the official installer. Windows desktop users can use: (Stirling-PDF-win-installer.exe).

Similarly, users looking to host Stirling-PDF as a server to share with multiple users can download the Stirling-PDF-server.exe file. Or install the Stirling-PDF-server-with-login.exe file. The server version also requires you to install the latest java jdk21.

Step 2: Install desired Optional Dependencies. Among the tools required are Python-based utilities, QPDF, and LibreOffice. And Tesseract OCR, WeasyPrint, and PDFtoHTML.

Step 3: Run the Stirling PDF executable and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. 

A Top Stirling PDF Alternative

Stirling PDF lacks essential editing tools. With its modern interface and powerful performance, SwifDoo PDF is the ideal alternative for handling complex tasks. It offers full-text editing, annotation, conversion, and more. SwifDoo PDF is highly recommended for users who require advanced features. It runs smoothly without being expensive.

Advantages of the Alternative PDF editor:

• View PDF files in various modes
• Edit, annotate, merge/split, and compress PDFs
• Includes SwifDoo AI to analyze, chat, and improve work productivity
• Compress PDF files without compromising formatting or quality
• Digitally sign and password-protect PDF documents for added security

Is Stirling PDF Any Good?

While the Stirling PDF appears impressive, it is not without its limitations. Here’s a glimpse of its drawbacks.

• Doesn’t support editing existing text and images
• Slow processing speed and crashes often
• Inaccurate PDF conversion with disruptive font size and images
• Allows performing only one function at a time
• OCR supports very few languages

To get around these limitations, you might want to try a dependable option like SwifDoo PDF.

Final Wrap Up

In a nutshell, Stirling PDF is a robust, self-hosted PDF editor. It is perfect for those who need secure and multi-platform PDF editing. However, despite its limitations, its secure offline environment and Docker compatibility distinguish it from others. For full-text editing, consider pairing it with a reliable alternative.