Best / PDF tools
Best open-source PDF tools
The best self-hosted PDF-tool split in the c17.io catalog is Stirling PDF for an MIT-community toolbox (the published Acrobat / Smallpdf stack — skip proprietary/saas directories), Gotenberg when you want that MIT convert-to-PDF API, pdfcpu when the job is Apache-2.0 CLI and Go tooling, and Paperless-ngx when the job is a GPL-3.0 archive rather than an editor — /compare/stirling-pdf-vs-paperless-ngx. An envelope stays on /best/e-signature. A tracked share link stays on /replace/docsend. This is not Acrobat's every legal-certify SKU or Smallpdf's every e-sign SKU.
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Ranked picks
1
Stirling PDFMIT-community PDF toolbox — the c17 Acrobat / Smallpdf path. /compare/stirling-pdf-vs-paperless-ngx.
When to pick it: Merge, split, OCR, and convert on a box you run.
94,432 stars in the catalog
2
GotenbergMIT document-to-PDF API (gotenberg/gotenberg).
When to pick it: A convert URL if Stirling is not the UI you want.
13,451 stars in the catalog
3
pdfcpuApache-2.0 PDF CLI and Go library (pdfcpu/pdfcpu).
When to pick it: A script, not a Smallpdf tab.
8,885 stars in the catalog
4
Paperless NgxGPL-3.0 document archive. /compare/stirling-pdf-vs-paperless-ngx.
When to pick it: Scan and keep, not an editor.
46,640 stars in the catalog
How they compare
| Tool | License | Self-host | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stirling PDF | MIT License | Easy | Merge, split, OCR, and convert on a box you run. |
| Gotenberg | MIT License | Easy | A convert URL if Stirling is not the UI you want. |
| pdfcpu | Apache License 2.0 | Easy | A script, not a Smallpdf tab. |
| Paperless Ngx | GNU General Public License v3.0 | Medium | Scan and keep, not an editor. |
Related pages
- Stirling PDF stack
- Papermark + Postgres stack
- Documenso stack
- Replace Adobe Acrobat
- Replace Smallpdf
- Replace iLovePDF
- Replace DocSend
- Replace Docusign
- Replace PandaDoc
- Replace Dropbox Sign
- Replace SignNow
- Replace Yousign
- Replace Zoho Sign
- Replace Adobe Acrobat Sign
- Replace HelloSign
- Stirling PDF vs Paperless-ngx
- All best open-source pages
- All compare pages
- All replace pages
- All stacks
- Tools catalog
FAQ
- Stirling PDF or Paperless-ngx?
- Stirling if you want the published Acrobat / Smallpdf editor. Paperless-ngx if the job is an archive — /compare/stirling-pdf-vs-paperless-ngx.
- Acrobat or Smallpdf?
- Same published toolbox — /replace/acrobat and /replace/smallpdf.
- Is this DocuSign?
- An envelope stays on /replace/docusign. This page is edit and convert.
- Are these free?
- Stirling community is MIT if you skip proprietary/saas dirs. Gotenberg is MIT. pdfcpu is Apache-2.0. Paperless-ngx is GPL-3.0. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.
- How do I deploy it?
- Open /stacks/stirling-pdf. Bind HTTP. Merge or split one PDF.
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