Canvas LMSvsStirling-PDF
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Canvas LMS | Stirling-PDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 68/100 | 87/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 14 in Learning Management System | #1 of 46 in Document Management |
| GitHub stars | 6 890 | 95 289 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +49 | +2 327 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 25 |
| Latest release | — | v3.2.2 · 24 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | Ruby | Typescript |
Which one should you pick?
Stirling-PDF scores 87/100 against 68/100 for Canvas LMS, so it is the safer default.
Stirling-PDF ships more often: 25 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for Canvas LMS.
If you want the quickest setup, Stirling-PDF is easier to run; Canvas LMS needs more configuration.
Stirling-PDF is growing faster right now (+2 327 stars in 30 days).
Canvas LMS details →Stirling-PDF details →
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