# Stirling PDF Tools for Windows PC - **Name:** Stirling PDF Tools for Windows PC - **Version:** 3.2.0 - **Developer:** Stirling PDF Inc. - **License:** MIT License - **Platform:** Windows - **Requires:** Windows 10 / 11 - **File type:** MSI Installer - **Size:** 256.37 MB - **Category:** Office & PDF Tools - **Updated:** 2026-10-15T20:36:26Z - **SHA-256:** 043a2b01324dea6fe126fb6e658aa52f8106abe33ef5df8ef752c4ca05f5c8b1 - **Canonical page:** https://filecobra.com/app/stirling-pdf-tools-pc/ - **Download page:** https://filecobra.com/download/stirling-pdf-tools-pc/ - **Direct download:** https://dl.filecobra.com/releases/windows/stirling-pdf-tools-pc/3.2.0/sha256-043a2b01324d/Stirling-PDF-windows-x86_64.msi > Stirling PDF is a free, open source, self hosted PDF toolkit that performs more than fifty operations on PDF files — merge, split, compress, convert, OCR, watermark, redact, sign, and rearrange pages among them —… Stirling PDF is a free, open-source, self-hosted PDF toolkit that performs more than fifty operations on PDF files — merge, split, compress, convert, OCR, watermark, redact, sign, and rearrange pages among them — entirely on your own machine. Built by the Stirling-Tools community and licensed under Apache 2.0, it ships as a native Windows desktop app (MSI installer) as well as Docker/Java builds for servers, so your documents never leave your PC: no uploads, no accounts, no per-file limits, no watermarks. For offices, schools, and anyone handling sensitive documents, that local-only design is the whole point — it replaces a stack of sketchy “ free PDF online” sites with one private toolbox. Install the desktop app and you get an Adobe-grade utility belt for the price of disk space; run the Docker image if you want it as a shared family or office service. ## Installation 1. **Download the installer** — Download Stirling PDF from the official vendor link on this page. 2. **Run the setup** — Open the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen installation steps. 3. **Launch the app** — Start Stirling PDF from the Start menu or desktop shortcut. ## Editorial verdict Everyone has a folder of PDFs that need merging, splitting, compressing, or OCR-ing, and the internet's answer has always been a minefield of upload-your-document-to-our-server converters with daily limits. Stirling PDF ends that. It is a full PDF utility belt that runs on your own machine, does more than fifty operations, and charges nothing. The first time you merge a dozen scanned pages without creating an account anywhere, the value proposition lands instantly. Setup is a normal Windows MSI installer — no Docker knowledge required — with container and Java builds available for servers and shared deployments. But that is also the source of its strength — local processing means private processing, and for schools, offices, and anyone handling contracts or IDs, that matters more than a slicker UI. It is that rare open-source project that is both genuinely useful and genuinely trustworthy. Install the desktop app, and delete those converter bookmarks. The operation list keeps growing because the community keeps contributing: PDF/A conversion, Bates numbering, metadata scrubbing, and pipeline mode for chaining operations are the kind of features that turn a utility into infrastructure. Small offices run it as a shared PDF station; homelab enthusiasts host it alongside their other self-hosted services. The honest limitation remains the setup friction — but once the container is running, it becomes a bookmark you open weekly. For privacy-conscious document work, there is simply no better free option. ### Strengths - 50+ PDF operations — merge, split, compress, OCR, watermark, redact, sign — in one free, open-source package. - Everything runs locally, so sensitive documents are never uploaded to a third-party website. - No accounts, no file-count limits, no watermarks, and no subscription tiers gating features. - Apache 2.0 licensed with an active community; new operations and fixes land regularly. - Replaces a whole bookmark folder of dubious “free PDF online” converters with one private, trustworthy tool. ### Trade-offs - The desktop app is an Electron-style wrapper around the web UI, so it uses more memory than a fully native PDF tool. - The interface is functional rather than beautiful; it prioritizes the operation list over visual polish. - Very large PDFs or heavy OCR batches can be slow on modest hardware since everything processes locally. ## FAQ **Is Stirling PDF really free?** Yes. Stirling PDF is open source under the Apache 2.0 license and free to use, including the Docker image. There are no premium tiers gating the PDF operations. **Do my documents get uploaded anywhere?** Your files stay on your machine. Stirling PDF runs locally (as a Docker container or Java app on your PC) and processes documents there — nothing is uploaded to any external server. **How do I run it on Windows?** Download the official Windows MSI installer from the Stirling-PDF GitHub releases — it runs as a normal desktop app. Docker Desktop and Java distributions are also available if you prefer a container or want to host it for a team. **How does it compare to Adobe Acrobat?** Adobe Acrobat is a polished commercial editor with deep editing, forms, and e-sign workflows. Stirling PDF covers the utility operations — merge, split, compress, convert, OCR — for free and privately. For heavy document authoring Acrobat still leads; for everyday PDF chores Stirling PDF is more than enough. --- Source: https://filecobra.com/app/stirling-pdf-tools-pc/ · Mirrored from the publisher's own release channel by FileCobra. FileCobra runs no antivirus lab of its own.