ElementvsStirling-PDF
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Element | Stirling-PDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 76/100 | 87/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 13 in Instant Messaging | #1 of 46 in Document Management |
| GitHub stars | 13 621 | 95 261 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +119 | +2 348 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 18 | 25 |
| Latest release | v1.12.33 · 27 Oct 2026 | v3.2.2 · 24 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |
Which one should you pick?
Stirling-PDF scores 87/100 against 76/100 for Element, so it is the safer default.
Stirling-PDF ships more often: 25 stable releases in the past year, against 18 for Element.
Stirling-PDF is growing faster right now (+2 348 stars in 30 days).
Element details →Stirling-PDF details →
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