# Stirling-PDF vs YT Zero

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

| | Stirling-PDF | YT Zero |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 87/100 ✓ | 52/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 46 in Document Management | #53 of 118 in Media Server |
| GitHub stars | 95 273 ✓ | 669 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +2 360 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 25 ✓ | 9 |
| Latest release | v3.2.2 · 24 Oct 2026 ✓ | 2026.09.9 · 28 Sept 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| License | Other | Unlicense |
| Main language | Typescript | Typescript |

## Which one should you pick?

Stirling-PDF scores 87/100 against 52/100 for YT Zero, so it is the safer default.

Stirling-PDF ships more often: 25 stable releases in the past year, against 9 for YT Zero.

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

Stirling-PDF is growing faster right now (+2 360 stars in 30 days).

## Details

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

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