Two toolboxes, two origins
Stirling PDF vs PDF24 is a comparison of where the work runs; PDF24 is a long-running PDF toolkit (online tools and a Windows Creator) from Geek Software. Stirling PDF is the install you run from GitHub, winget, or Docker; Stirling files stay on GitHub Releases. PDF24 files and the online apps stay on pdf24.org.
This is not a ranking and not a restatement of PDF24’s home marketing; both names show up when someone wants merge, split, or a free-looking PDF utility. The useful difference is install versus a vendor website (and PDF24’s own Windows Creator); other comparisons: vs Adobe Acrobat, vs Sejda, vs iLovePDF, vs Bento.
Shape of each PDF editor
Stirling PDF: Windows desktop with no login, Docker with login on (admin / stirling, change it) at http://localhost:8080, or a JAR with Java JDK 25. Local desktop tools include merge, split, rotate, and sign; OCR needs a server backend, or Stirling Cloud. Image docker.stirlingpdf.com/stirlingtools/stirling-pdf:latest; docs: docs.stirlingpdf.com.
PDF24 on pdf24.org: a set of PDF tools in the browser, plus a Windows Creator you download from that origin. If PDF24 documents a desktop Creator, that is their Windows app, not Stirling’s winget id; open pdf24.org for their current list.
Web PDF tools (including PDF24’s online side) send or process files according to that vendor’s rules. Stirling desktop local keeps merge and sign on the device; Stirling Docker keeps them on the container you run. That is the privacy shape that matters for names, payroll, or medical scans; details for leaving websites sit on move PDF tools off the web.
Feature table
| Feature | Stirling PDF | PDF24 |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor origin | stirling.com, docs.stirlingpdf.com, GitHub Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF | pdf24.org |
| Where work runs | Your desktop app, your Docker/JAR server | PDF24 online tools and PDF24’s Windows Creator, as they document |
| How you install it | winget, MSI, Scoop, compose, or JAR | Use pdf24.org |
| Accounts | Desktop: none. Docker: login on by default | Follow pdf24.org for accounts and the online tools |
| Source | Public repo, mixed licenses (MIT on most of the public tree) | PDF24 product on their site |
| Merge, split, rotate | Yes on the install you run | PDF24 lists those jobs on pdf24.org |
| OCR | On a server you run, or Cloud. Not desktop local-only | Read PDF24 for how their OCR runs |
| Login default on server | Docker admin / stirling | Not a Stirling compose |
| File host | GitHub Releases and docker.stirlingpdf.com | pdf24.org |
| Self-host price | Free up to 5 users; Server about US$99/month or US$999/year | Check pdf24.org |
| Licence mix | MIT with directory exceptions | PDF24 terms on their site |
When PDF24 still fits
If your team already standardised on pdf24.org, and the files are public flyers, PDF24’s online tools may already be the habit. If you use PDF24 Creator on Windows and it already does the job, there is no demand to uninstall it.
If the file has names, medical scans, or payroll, a website toolbox is a different privacy shape from a desktop local tool or a Docker instance on your LAN. That sentence is about where bytes go, not about a score.
How you install Stirling PDF if you want that shape
Windows desktop:
winget install StirlingTools.StirlingPDFIf winget is missing, use How to install winget; MSI Stirling-PDF-windows-x86_64.msi is on the current GitHub release. Docker compose and port 8080: PDF editor Docker; JAR: JAR server; first jobs: merge pdf and split pdf.
PDF24 stays on pdf24.org. Do not download a “PDF24” or “Stirling” bundle from a mirror that is not the vendor origin.
Licence and price
Most of Stirling’s public repo is MIT (Copyright 2025 Stirling PDF Inc.); other licenses apply to proprietary, saas, engine, desktop, cloud, and portal. PDF24’s terms live on pdf24.org; Stirling self-host is free up to 5 users; Server is about US$99 per month or about US$999 per year; Enterprise is custom. Read Paid Offerings and stirling.com/pricing; check pdf24.org for PDF24.
Trust pages: about, editorial policy, is it safe; Windows and Docker installs start at home; Guides lists the rest of this cluster.
Common questions
Is Stirling PDF the same as PDF24? No. Stirling PDF is the project you install with winget, Docker, or a JAR, files on GitHub. PDF24 is Geek Software’s suite at pdf24.org, with online tools and a Windows Creator; both can merge and split. They are different vendors, licenses, and install shapes; read pdf24.org for PDF24.
Does PDF24 run in Docker like this PDF editor? PDF24’s public site is online tools plus a Windows Creator. Stirling PDF’s server path is Docker at http://localhost:8080 or a JAR on JDK 25; do not assume PDF24 compose exists because Stirling compose does. For PDF24 installers and the online toolbox, use pdf24.org only.
Can I keep using PDF24 and install this PDF editor? Yes. They do not share a workspace file; use PDF24 where you already use it. Install Stirling PDF when you want merge, split, sign, or redact on a machine you control with the winget or compose path. Save outputs into folders you name so the two toolboxes do not overwrite each other.
What does PDF24 cost next to this PDF editor? PDF24 describes its tools on pdf24.org. Stirling self-host is free up to 5 users; Server is about US$99 per month or about US$999 per year. Enterprise is custom; read Paid Offerings and pdf24.org; check each vendor’s pricing page.
How do I download each PDF editor? Stirling PDF: GitHub Releases, winget install StirlingTools.StirlingPDF, or docker.stirlingpdf.com. PDF24: pdf24.org; skip Softonic, CNET, and unofficial mirrors that wrap either name.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stirling PDF the same as PDF24?
No. Stirling PDF is the project you install with winget, Docker, or a JAR, files on GitHub. PDF24 is Geek Software's suite at pdf24.org, with online tools and a Windows Creator. Both can merge and split. They are different vendors, licenses, and install shapes. Read pdf24.org for PDF24.
Does PDF24 run in Docker like this PDF editor?
PDF24's public site is online tools plus a Windows Creator. Stirling PDF's server path is Docker at http://localhost:8080 or a JAR on JDK 25. Do not assume PDF24 compose exists because Stirling compose does. For PDF24 installers and the online toolbox, use pdf24.org only.
Can I keep using PDF24 and install this PDF editor?
Yes. They do not share a workspace file. Use PDF24 where you already use it. Install Stirling PDF when you want merge, split, sign, or redact on a machine you control with the winget or compose path. Save outputs into folders you name so the two toolboxes do not overwrite each other.
What does PDF24 cost next to this PDF editor?
PDF24 describes its tools on pdf24.org. Stirling self-host is free up to 5 users. Server is about US$99 per month or about US$999 per year. Enterprise is custom. Read Paid Offerings and pdf24.org. Check each vendor's pricing page.
How do I download each PDF editor?
Stirling PDF files stay on GitHub Releases, winget install StirlingTools.StirlingPDF, or docker.stirlingpdf.com. PDF24 files stay on pdf24.org. Skip Softonic, CNET, and unofficial mirrors that wrap either name.