compare
OCRmyPDF vs Stirling PDF
The same facts for both, read from GitHub every night, and the relation a person reviewed.
| Fact | OCRmyPDF | Stirling PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Licence | MPL-2.0 | Other |
| Stars | 35k | 94k |
| Latest | v17.13.0 | v3.1.0 |
| Last push | 2026-10-06 | 2026-10-06 |
| Release cadence | about 15 days between releases | about 5 days between releases |
| Active contributors | 8 commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days | 22+ commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days |
| Flags | none | none |
How they relate
Both replace Adobe Acrobat. Alternatives to Adobe Acrobat →
PartialOCRmyPDFThe OCR step only: makes scanned PDFs searchable.
PartialStirling PDFEditing, merging, splitting, conversion, OCR and signing on your own server; some features sit in proprietary directories.
OCRmyPDF
- v17.13.02026-09-28PDF/A made without Ghostscript ("speculative" conversion) is now validated
- v17.12.12026-09-16Fixes
- v17.12.02026-09-16OCRmyPDF now requires pikepdf 10.2 or later, up from pikepdf 10. This is the
- v17.11.02026-08-28Enhancements
- v17.10.02026-08-05The watcher.py watched-folder helper (the watcher extra) has been
Stirling PDF
- v3.1.02026-10-053.1.0 Stirling Sign, signature improvements, Stirling Office Convert (beta) and text editor upgrades
- v3.0.22026-10-013.0.2 bug fixes and dependency updates
- v3.0.12026-09-263.0.1 hotfix for windows desktop bugs
- v3.0.02026-09-243.0.0 PDF Processor, Brand new text editor, Free OAuth and tons of new features
- v2.14.32026-08-062.14.3 lots of bug fixes
OCRmyPDF
unsigned The latest release, v17.13.0, carries no signature GitHub could verify.
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Stirling PDF
✓ signed The latest release, v3.1.0, carries a signature GitHub verified.
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