# pikvm vs Stirling-PDF

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | pikvm | Stirling-PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 72/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #3 of 23 in Remote Access | #1 of 46 in Document Management |
| GitHub stars | 10 424 | 95 280 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +66 | +2 318 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 0 | 25 ✓ |
| Latest release | — | v3.2.2 · 24 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate ✓ |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes ✓ |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Other |
| Main language | — | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Stirling-PDF scores 87/100 against 72/100 for pikvm, so it is the safer default.

Stirling-PDF ships more often: 25 stable releases in the past year, against 0 for pikvm.

If you want the quickest setup, Stirling-PDF is easier to run; pikvm needs more configuration.

Stirling-PDF is growing faster right now (+2 318 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [pikvm](https://selfhost.directory/project/pikvm) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/pikvm.md)
- [Stirling-PDF](https://selfhost.directory/project/stirling-pdf) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/stirling-pdf.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/pikvm-vs-stirling-pdf