Stirling PDF rolls out a major 2.0 upgrade with desktop apps, text editing, and a new open-core model, strengthening its position as an open source challenger to Adobe Acrobat.
Stirling PDF has released version 2.0, marking its most significant upgrade and positioning the tool as a fully fledged open-source alternative to Adobe Acrobat. The update arrives after a year of development and elevates the project from a community favourite to an enterprise-ready PDF platform.
A key addition is the launch of native desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux. These apps integrate with system-level “Open with” actions, delivering a true desktop experience comparable to proprietary PDF tools. Version 2.0 also introduces text editing as an alpha feature, initially available to paying users and expected to see continuous refinement.
The interface has been completely redesigned to accelerate workflows. Users can now upload files once and perform multiple actions without re-uploading, supported by undo, redo, and a full version history. Enterprises gain further flexibility through separate frontend and backend deployments, hybrid setups where desktop clients connect to server infrastructure, and full administrative control through a web-based console.
A new open-core licensing model underpins this release. Individuals and teams of up to five users continue to access Stirling PDF for free, while larger organisations require a commercial licence. A separate server licence, priced at $99 per month or $1000 annually, offers unlimited users, text editing, and full admin capabilities. Developers describe this as the lowest-cost option for comparable enterprise PDF features.
Adoption data signals strong traction: Stirling PDF has reached 18 million downloads and is reportedly used by more than 53,000 companies, including 72 percent of Fortune 500 firms. Existing features such as merge, split, compress, convert, redact, sign, OCR, compare, and watermark remain intact. Developers recommend backing up configuration files before upgrading, and the software continues to be accessible through GitHub.
