Stirling PDF Hosting

Open the pod and use the initial administrator credentials configured for it. Upstream can set this account with SECURITY_INITIALLOGIN_USERNAME and SECURITY_INITIALLOGIN_PASSWORD before the first startup; those settings do not reset an existing user database. Review the sign-in settings and change the initial password. If the pod opens straight to the tools, check whether login is disabled: without it, anyone who can reach the site can use the server.

No. PikaPods sets up and runs Stirling PDF for you, including OS and app updates and HTTPS. You won't touch Docker or a server. Your files and database stay accessible if you ever want to move them elsewhere.

The browser is the direct way to use your pod. The official desktop app can also connect to a login-enabled self-hosted server; its local mode is a different processing setup. When you use server-side tools on the pod, documents are uploaded to that server, so this is not browser-only processing or end-to-end encryption. See the desktop guide before choosing a connection mode.

Optional AI or Cloud connections can involve additional services and accounts. They are not assumed configured, included or necessary for the core document operations described here.

No. Stirling PDF is open-core, with an MIT core and separately licensed components. Upstream’s current server documentation describes a Free plan with up to five users, while Team and Enterprise unlock additional capabilities. Licensing terms for proprietary components and production or commercial use may apply beyond the hosting bill. AI, automation and API processing can also have allowances or account requirements; consult plans and licences and the release-specific license. Do not assume a paid Stirling subscription is bundled with your pod.

Set up incremental backups to S3 in your pod settings for automatic nightly snapshots, or download your files and database yourself. We keep whole-server backups for server failures, but they aren't a per-pod restore service, so your own backup is what protects your data.

You can use Stirling PDF instead of Adobe Acrobat, Smallpdf and iLovePDF. PikaPods runs it for you, and you can move your files and database elsewhere.

Adobe Acrobat is a paid suite with its own apps, editing and e-signature services. Stirling PDF focuses on operations such as merging, splitting, converting, compression and OCR on your own pod, without sending files to a public site. Check that edition's license terms cover how you plan to use it.

Do not assume so. Upstream’s server file storage and sharing feature requires login, and its share links still require recipients to sign in. Storage must be enabled and configured with a persistent location; emailing shares also needs SMTP. Check the file-storage guide before relying on it, rather than treating a processed PDF as automatically saved or publicly shared.

No. You add prepaid credit and your pods are billed by the hour from that balance, rounded up to full hours. There are no contracts or minimum terms: delete a pod anytime and billing stops. Optional automatic top-ups keep your pods running without manual payments.

You do. And you're in full control. If you ever want to download, migrate, edit or delete your data, just enable file and database access for your pod and it will be right there.