Honest comparison
reader.me vs Stirling-PDF
Both turn PDFs into other things. The difference is where the work happens — and that single architectural choice cascades into privacy, pricing and offline behaviour.
reader.me
100% in your browser
Open DevTools → Network tab — zero requests leave your machine while a tool is running.
Stirling-PDF
Self-hosted on your own server
Whatever the operator configures. By default, files are processed on the instance you run (Docker / Java) and not retained. There is no Stirling-Tools-hosted SaaS — every deployment is independently operated.
| reader.me | Stirling-PDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Client-side (WebAssembly + PDF.js + pdf-lib) | Self-hosted on your own server |
| File retention | None — files never leave the browser | Whatever the operator configures. By default, files are processed on the instance you run (Docker / Java) and not retained. There is no Stirling-Tools-hosted SaaS — every deployment is independently operated. |
| Encryption model | AES-128 (Protect tool); TLS for static assets only — no document data travels over the network | Up to the operator (typically TLS via reverse proxy + the host file-system). Files are decryptable by the instance during processing. |
| Account required | No account, no sign-up, no telemetry tied to a user | No account by default. Optional login + SSO can be enabled on the instance (v1+). |
| Offline support | Full PWA — works without network after first visit | Works offline if your self-hosted instance is on a local network — no internet round-trip needed. |
| Free tier | All 20 tools, unlimited use, 50 MB per file. | Free, open-source (MIT). Self-host with Docker / Java — your hardware, your bandwidth. |
| Paid plan | Not offered — there is nothing to upsell when processing is local. | No commercial tier. You pay for the server / VPS you deploy it on. Community support via GitHub issues. |
| HQ | Madrid, Spain (Color Vivo Internet S.L.) | United Kingdom (Stirling Tools, community-driven, MIT licence) (2022) |
Tool parity
Every tool in this table is free on reader.me. On the other tool, some require Premium/Pro — sourced from their public pricing page.
| Tool | reader.me | Stirling-PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Merge PDF files | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Split PDF | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Compress PDF | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Rotate PDF pages | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Reorder pages | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Sign PDF | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Add watermark to PDF | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Protect PDF with password | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Convert images to PDF | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Convert PDF to images | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| OCR PDF — extract text | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Extract text from PDF | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Add page numbers to PDF | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Unlock PDF — remove password | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Crop PDF pages | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Add header & footer to PDF | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Compare PDFs | ✓ Free | Not offered |
| Edit PDF bookmarks | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Fill PDF forms | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Convert PDF to PDF/A | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
Pick reader.me if…
- • You work with confidential documents (legal, medical, HR).
- • You're in an environment that can't allow uploads (regulated industry, internal compliance).
- • You want to verify the privacy claim yourself (DevTools → Network).
- • You want offline-capable, unlimited free use.
Pick the other tool if…
- • You want to self-host on your own server, network or NAS.
- • You need 50+ tools including OCR, advanced split rules and AI-assisted features.
- • You have ops capacity to deploy and update a Docker / Java service.
- • You want full local control inside a corporate intranet.
Sources
Everything above cites public pages. Verify any claim:
- Stirling-PDF: GitHub repository →
- Stirling-PDF: Docker image →
- Stirling-PDF: Project website →
- reader.me: Privacy page →
- reader.me: How it works (technical) →
- reader.me: Security model →
Last reviewed 2026-05-18. Policies may change — if you spot something stale, drop a note to [email protected].
Try reader.me with your next PDF
Open any tool, drop your file. Nothing uploads. No account.