{
  "slug": "stirling-pdf",
  "category": "pdf-tools",
  "name": "Stirling PDF",
  "description": "Open-core PDF toolkit that runs as a desktop app, in the browser or on a self-hosted server, with tools to merge, split, convert, OCR, sign and redact PDFs.",
  "website": "https://www.stirling.com",
  "source": "https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF",
  "license": null,
  "platforms": [
    "windows",
    "macos",
    "linux",
    "web"
  ],
  "jurisdiction": {
    "code": "US",
    "name": "United States",
    "eyes": "Five Eyes",
    "eu": false,
    "gdpr": false,
    "cloud_act": "provider"
  },
  "pick": false,
  "pick_reason": null,
  "disclosure": null,
  "grade": "D",
  "score": 50,
  "coverage": 100,
  "summary": "Stirling PDF scores 50 out of 100 (grade D) on the PDF readers and editors criteria. It meets 2 of 4 criteria: open source and no ads or data sales. It does not meet no trackers or telemetry and independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.",
  "url": "https://privacyratings.com/pdf-tools/stirling-pdf/",
  "markdown": "https://privacyratings.com/pdf-tools/stirling-pdf/index.md",
  "answers": {
    "open_source": {
      "title": "Open source",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF/blob/main/LICENSE",
      "note": "All code is public. The core is MIT, and the engine, proprietary and SaaS directories in the same repository use the source-available Stirling PDF User License."
    },
    "no_trackers": {
      "title": "No trackers or telemetry",
      "weight": 3,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": "https://www.stirling.com/legal/privacy-policy",
      "note": "The website uses Google Analytics through Google Tag Manager, and the product can send PostHog analytics."
    },
    "no_ads": {
      "title": "No ads or data sales",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "yes",
      "evidence": "https://www.stirling.com/legal/privacy-policy",
      "note": "Funded by paid plans. The privacy policy states that personal data is not sold or shared for targeted advertising."
    },
    "independent_audit": {
      "title": "Independent audit",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "no",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "No independent audit is published."
    },
    "transparency_report": {
      "title": "Transparency report",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "user_notice": {
      "title": "Tells users about requests",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "tls": {
      "title": "TLS configuration",
      "weight": 2,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "security_headers": {
      "title": "Security headers",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    },
    "web_standards": {
      "title": "Modern web standards",
      "weight": 1,
      "answer": "n/a",
      "evidence": null,
      "note": "Only applies to hosted services with a website to test."
    }
  },
  "tests": {
    "ssllabs": null,
    "observatory": null,
    "internetnl_web": null,
    "internetnl_mail": null,
    "trackers": [
      {
        "name": "Cloudflare Web Analytics",
        "host": "static.cloudflareinsights.com",
        "effect": "partial"
      },
      {
        "name": "Google Fonts",
        "host": "fonts.gstatic.com",
        "effect": "none"
      }
    ],
    "tested_at": "2026-10-01T06:38:46.226Z"
  },
  "last_modified": "2026-10-01T06:56:31Z"
}