# Shlink vs Stirling-PDF

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

| | Shlink | Stirling-PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 70/100 | 87/100 ✓ |
| Rank in category | #3 of 23 in URL Shortener | #1 of 46 in Document Management |
| GitHub stars | 5 379 | 95 266 ✓ |
| Stars, last 30 days | +76 | +2 353 ✓ |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 13 | 25 ✓ |
| Latest release | v5.1.8 · 21 Oct 2026 | v3.2.2 · 24 Oct 2026 ✓ |
| Setup | Easy ✓ | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | MIT | Other |
| Main language | PHP | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Stirling-PDF scores 87/100 against 70/100 for Shlink, so it is the safer default.

Stirling-PDF ships more often: 25 stable releases in the past year, against 13 for Shlink.

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

Stirling-PDF is growing faster right now (+2 353 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [Shlink](https://selfhost.directory/project/shlink) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/shlink.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/shlink-vs-stirling-pdf