Skip to content
cask.news
← Browse all apps

Forel vs Stirling PDF

Side-by-side comparison for macOS

Forel

7.0
Productivity

Rule-based file automation

Stirling PDF

8.0
Utilities

PDF utility

Metric Forel Stirling PDF
Category Productivity Utilities
AI Score 7.0 8.0
30-day Installs 100 363
90-day Installs 100 866
365-day Installs 100 2.6K
Version 1.0.9 3.2.0
Auto-updates Yes Yes
Deprecated No No
GitHub Stars 765 75.2K
GitHub Forks 23 6.4K
Open Issues 31 431
License GPL-3.0 NOASSERTION
Language Swift TypeScript
Last GitHub Commit 9d ago 7mo ago
First Seen Oct 12, 2026 Nov 29, 2025

Reviews

Forel

Forel is an open-source, rule-based file automation tool for macOS, offering a free alternative to Hazel. It enables users to automate file organization and management with customizable rules, ideal for those seeking a non-proprietary solution.

Forel automates file organization on macOS using user-defined rules.

Pros

  • + Open-source alternative to Hazel
  • + Active development and maintenance
  • + Customizable file automation rules

Cons

  • - May not appeal to users preferring proprietary software
  • - Some open issues may indicate areas for improvement

Stirling PDF

Stirling-PDF is a versatile, open-source PDF utility that allows users to edit, annotate, and manipulate PDF files locally. Its web-based approach ensures cross-platform compatibility, making it ideal for users needing a reliable PDF tool.

Stirling-PDF is a local web application designed for editing and manipulating PDF files.

Pros

  • + Open-source and cross-platform
  • + Versatile PDF editing and manipulation features
  • + Works offline as a local web application

Cons

  • - Lacks auto-update functionality
  • - Historical installation issues on Windows