# iLovePDF vs Stirling-PDF

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** iLovePDF

| Attribute | iLovePDF | Stirling-PDF |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 64 (73% (medium)) | 59 (67% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | - | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | - | 0 |
| adoption.github_stars | - | 94,282 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"A cloud-based service offering a comprehensive suite of PDF editing and conversion tools, available across web, mobile, and desktop platforms with both free and paid plan options. It is indexed under PDF Editors.","source":"https://www.ilovepdf.com/pricing","question":"What is iLovePDF?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"iLovePDF offers a free tier, so you can start without paying. Paid plans start at £5 per month. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://www.ilovepdf.com/pricing","question":"Is iLovePDF free?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"iLovePDF supports the web, iOS and Android. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://www.ilovepdf.com/pricing","question":"What platforms does iLovePDF support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have only confirmed a cloud / SaaS deployment for iLovePDF, so it appears to be vendor-hosted. If a self-hosted option exists we have not found it documented publicly.","source":"https://www.ilovepdf.com/pricing","question":"Can iLovePDF be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 3 integrations for iLovePDF, including REST API (iLoveAPI), Webhooks and Cloud storage services. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://www.ilovepdf.com/ms/pricing","question":"What does iLovePDF integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have independently confirmed ISO 27001 and GDPR for iLovePDF. Certifications we do not list are ones we have not been able to verify from public sources, which is not the same as iLovePDF not holding them. Always confirm compliance directly before you rely on it.","source":"https://www.ilovepdf.com/pricing","question":"What security certifications does iLovePDF have?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"iLovePDF is available worldwide. Its primary markets are the United Kingdom and the EU. The vendor is headquartered in the EU.","source":"https://www.ilovepdf.com/ms/pricing","question":"Where is iLovePDF available?","confidence":0.75}]` | `[{"answer":"A versatile PDF platform offering editing, signing, redaction, and conversion capabilities. Can run as a standalone desktop application, in a web browser, or deployed on private servers, with REST APIs for integration and workflow automation. It is indexed under PDF Editors.","source":"https://stirlingpdf.com/pricing","question":"What is Stirling-PDF?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Stirling-PDF is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://stirlingpdf.com/pricing","question":"Is Stirling-PDF free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Stirling-PDF supports the web, Windows, macOS, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://stirlingpdf.com/pricing","question":"What platforms does Stirling-PDF support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Stirling-PDF can be deployed hybrid, on-premise and self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://stirlingpdf.com/pricing","question":"Can Stirling-PDF be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"air_gapped":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | An online suite of tools that allows users to edit, convert, merge, split, protect, and digitally sign PDF documents through web, desktop, and mobile applications. | A comprehensive PDF platform offering 60+ tools for editing, signing, redacting, and converting documents. Available as desktop applications, a web interface, or self-hosted server with API access. |
| features.capabilities | `{"iso_27001":true,"pricing_model":"freemium","deployment_model":"cloud_saas","file_size_compression_engine":true,"interactive_form_field_creation":true,"password_protection_and_encryption":true,"permanent_blackout_redaction_engine":true,"microsoft_office_docx_xlsx_conversion":true,"page_merging_extraction_and_splitting":true,"base_text_and_image_editing_within_pdf":true,"ocr_optical_character_recognition_scanning":true,"digital_signature_certification_enforcement":true}` | `{"pricing_model":"freemium","deployment_model":"cloud_saas","file_size_compression_engine":true,"interactive_form_field_creation":true,"permanent_blackout_redaction_engine":true,"microsoft_office_docx_xlsx_conversion":true,"page_merging_extraction_and_splitting":true,"base_text_and_image_editing_within_pdf":true,"ocr_optical_character_recognition_scanning":true,"digital_signature_certification_enforcement":true}` |
| integrations.count | 3 | 4 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"REST API (iLoveAPI)"},{"name":"Webhooks"},{"name":"Cloud storage services"}]` | `[{"name":"SharePoint","native":true,"category":"collaboration","direction":"outbound"},{"name":"S3","native":true,"category":"storage","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"FTP","native":true,"category":"file_transfer","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"OAuth","native":true,"category":"authentication","direction":"bidirectional"}]` |
| language.primary | - | TypeScript |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":["GB"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"web":true}` | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"web":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"freemium","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","summary":"Free","features":["Access to essential iLovePDF tools","Limited document processing"],"description":"Access to core PDF tools with processing limitations","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"tools":"Limited selection","file_size":"100 MB","processing":"Limited","pages_per_task":"200"}},{"free":false,"name":"Premium","summary":"£60/year (£5/month equivalent) or £9/month. Up to 25 users.","features":["Full access to all iLovePDF tools","Unlimited document processing","Access across Web, Mobile, and Desktop","Digital Signatures","Workflows","Ad-free experience","Priority customer support","Regional file processing","2,000 AI Credits"],"minSeats":1,"commitment":"month","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":60,"period":"year","currency":"GBP"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":9,"period":"month","currency":"GBP"}],"description":"Full tool suite with unlimited processing across all platforms and priority support","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"file_size":"4 GB","max_users":"25","ai_credits":"2,000/month","processing":"Unlimited"}},{"free":false,"name":"Business","summary":"Custom pricing. Contact for quote.","features":["All Premium features","Custom contracts for scalability","Dedicated Account Manager","Single Sign On (SSO)"],"minSeats":25,"description":"Customizable enterprise solution with dedicated support and single sign-on for large teams","contactSales":true}],"summary":"Free tier available. Premium from £5/month (annual) or £9/month (monthly). Business plans with custom pricing for 25+ users.","currency":"GBP","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.ilovepdf.com/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-09-29T10:49:44.492Z","startingPrice":{"amount":9,"period":"month","currency":"GBP"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` | `{"type":"hybrid","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","summary":"$0/month, free forever","features":["60+ PDF tools","Web, desktop, and self-hosted options","Private and open-source","1,000 monthly credits for automation"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Open-source PDF editor for individuals","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"credits":"1,000/month"}},{"free":false,"name":"Team","summary":"$99/month for 100 users","features":["Everything in Free","Single sign-on (SSO)","Team workspace and invites","Add capacity in blocks of 100 users","One bill instead of per-seat licenses","Central control of tool catalog and deployment"],"minSeats":100,"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For team administration and infrastructure","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"users":"100"}},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"Custom pricing","features":["Everything in Team","Air-gapped and self-hosted deployment","SCIM provisioning","Data residency and audit logs","Uptime SLAs","Custom agreement and invoicing"],"description":"For regulated and air-gapped deployments","contactSales":true}],"addOns":[{"name":"PDF Processor Credits","components":[{"per":{"qty":1,"unit":"credit"},"kind":"metered","amount":0.01,"currency":"USD"}]}],"summary":"Free for individuals. Team plan from $99/month for 100 users. Enterprise with custom pricing.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://stirlingpdf.com/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-10-15T21:11:27.454Z","startingPrice":{"amount":99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | freemium | freemium |
| pricing.price_level | low | high |
| pricing.starting_price | `{"amount":9,"currency":"GBP"}` | `{"amount":99,"currency":"USD"}` |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| release.cadence_days | - | 6 |
| release.history | - | `[{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v3.2.0","date":"2026-10-15T20:36:26Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v3.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v3.1.0","date":"2026-10-05T22:30:24Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v3.0.2","date":"2026-10-01T15:15:05Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.0.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v3.0.1","date":"2026-09-26T21:51:10Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v3.0.0","date":"2026-09-24T11:36:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.0.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.14.3","date":"2026-08-06T18:48:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.14.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.14.2","date":"2026-07-08T09:59:54Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.14.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.14.1","date":"2026-07-07T21:56:29Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.14.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.14.0","date":"2026-06-30T22:48:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.14.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.13.2","date":"2026-06-24T21:06:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.13.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.13.1","date":"2026-06-19T18:27:49Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.13.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.13.0","date":"2026-06-18T21:29:00Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.13.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.12.0","date":"2026-06-09T20:40:03Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.12.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.11.0","date":"2026-05-19T10:52:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.11.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.10.1","date":"2026-05-07T20:07:16Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.10.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.10.0","date":"2026-04-24T13:12:51Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.10.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.9.2","date":"2026-04-04T09:32:15Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.9.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.9.1","date":"2026-04-03T16:48:50Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.9.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.9.0","date":"2026-04-02T18:02:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.9.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/releases/tag/v2.8.0","date":"2026-03-24T18:58:13Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.8.0"}]` |
| reliability.sla_pct | 99.99 | - |
| security.certifications | `[{"name":"ISO 27001","status":"active"}]` | - |
| security.gdpr | yes | - |
| security.iso27001 | yes | - |
| security.vulnerabilities | - | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=nixpkgs&package_name=stirling-pdf&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (PDF Editors)

| Capability | iLovePDF | Stirling-PDF |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Capabilities** |  |  |
| Deployment model | Cloud saas | Cloud saas |
| Base text and image editing within PDF | ✓ | ✓ |
| Page merging extraction and splitting | ✓ | ✓ |
| OCR optical character recognition scanning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Permanent blackout redaction engine | ✓ | ✓ |
| Password protection and encryption | ✓ | - |
| Interactive form field creation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Digital signature certification enforcement | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microsoft office docx xlsx conversion | ✓ | ✓ |
| File size compression engine | ✓ | ✓ |
| SOC2 type ii | - | - |
| ISO 27001 | ✓ | - |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T20:16:23.948Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*