How long until ALL self hosted/free limitations enter in effect? Why it changed so drastic?

[thiagoor-cpu]

Hi, Im using StirlingPDF since the start in self hosted/free version, every few weeks I check the site and documentation for changes, because its always changing.

In the begin, free/self hosted version basically dont had limitations.

Today to my surprise in the Pricing page says the the Free/SelfHosted version is only for 5 users , basic function, without SSO and several other limitations.

The thing is, when I opened a topic a while ago asking the limitations of Free/SelfHosted version, the developer told the opposite #2051 , even saying it will maintain all functions at the time for free users.

I used my work time to maintain the PT-BR translation without shitty AI, explained how to use the software to several employees, had meetings..

And now, all gone, 5 manual users with several limitations.

Currently I have like 100 users using Google SSO.

Right now I dont even know what exactly is the limits of my free/selfhosted version, in the main page the Upgrade to PRO button is showing up, that means im in the FREE version right? when my SSO / and only basic function (I think it will only be basic PDF functions like cut and turn) will be enforced?

I want to know when the switch will turn because I need to inform the users I will need to remove the application, because we can not afford to pay dollars for this software, since we live in 3rd country, $12 is more than I make in a full day of work.

Thanks

[Frooodle]

Hey thanks for reaching out, let me discuss what's going to happen, this is definitely a case of the website showing things ahead of changes being made and not being fully clear since it's before a official announcement

You are correct the current version has no limitations on users and anyone can continue using it

We do plan on adding an account limitation where if a installation is using the named account system, they would be limited to 5 users before they can't add new users. (These 5 users can use SSO etc)
Any installation during this migration would keep all their users regardless of number and maintain full usage, just not be able to add new users.
A environment that does not use named accounts or uses a 3rd party authentication system would still have completely unlimited usage and would see no impacts

Also to your point about PDF functionality all of the existing functions in their current stage are not getting restricted. That worded on our page is simply so we can add new business only features in future like cost heavy AI integrations etc

If costs are a issue and you are using it in a business environment using a trusted 3rd party Auth provider should work fine and maintain existing functionality for you without you needing to drop Stirling PDF.

Happy to discuss this further and why we are making the changes etc

[thiagoor-cpu]

Sorry if I'm stupid but just to check if I understand correctly:

"We do plan on adding an account limitation where if a installation is using the named account system, they would be limited to 5 users before they can't add new users. (These 5 users can use SSO etc)
Any installation during this migration would keep all their users regardless of number and maintain full usage, just not be able to add new users.
A environment that does not use named accounts or uses a 3rd party authentication system would still have completely unlimited usage and would see no impacts"

Google SSO is a 3rd party authentication system and not "named account system" then? No user limit in that case, even if I install a new fresh version in the near future and no one logged yet? The system will still accept 100+ fresh users in Selfhosted/free tier?

Then, why PRO in the website have "Single Sign-On (SSO)" and the Free dont, also https://docs.stirlingpdf.com/Advanced%20Configuration/Single%20Sign-On%20Configuration have this information only for PRO/Enterprise too. Its really confusing.

I know majority of people dont really need SSO/Accounts, but in my use case, I cant force everyone to use a VPN, put the website behind the intranet and to just leave it open, it will not handle the load.

"Also to your point about PDF functionality all of the existing functions in their current stage are not getting restricted. That worded on our page is simply so we can add new business only features in future like cost heavy AI integrations etc"

"Core PDF Tools" and "Premium PDF Tools" right now means the same then? In the future when implementing new "PDF Tools" you will decide which goes to Core bucket and which to Premium bucket? I dont see a problem if its that way, sure, you can charge for AI tools if it using a external server or its a really difficult implementation, no problem.

"Manual Workflows" and "Automated Workflows" is also confusing, in theory there are related to "Pipelines" correct? Right now both are working in Free, but it will change too?

Sorry but Im just confused with the changes and the way everything is worded, maybe the best approach is to give more details in the pricing page, like snipeit https://snipeitapp.com/pricing and also dont add information that is not yet in effect. It also will be nice when posting the new version in Github, explain this kind of changes.

"If costs are a issue and you are using it in a business environment using a trusted 3rd party Auth provider should work fine and maintain existing functionality for you without you needing to drop Stirling PDF."

I know it looks like I just want a free software that does everything without paying, but I just want to "keep" what is working right now, since it is perfect for my situation, Im in a college maintained by the state and not a proper business, money to software is hard to get.

Thanks for the answers, when I asked this kind of questions do NextCloud, they didn't like it at all..

[Frooodle]

"Google SSO is a 3rd party authentication system and not "named account system" then? No user limit in that case, even if I install a new fresh version in the near future and no one logged yet? The system will still accept 100+ fresh users in Selfhosted/free tier?"

No sorry for confusion I mean a login wrapper such as Traefik, Caddy etc which can restrict access to a website until you login through them (Reverse proxy etc)

""Core PDF Tools" and "Premium PDF Tools" right now means the same then?"
Basically yes, Premium PDF tools just don't exist at all right now

""Manual Workflows" and "Automated Workflows"
This is more about new features being added, automated based on event triggers.. again a feature we don't have right now... we need to dumb down our pricing page as a lot of it is what we plan to have in future (Will remove some today to avoid confusion thanks for raising). Pipeline will stay

None of this is implemented yet which is why we have not updated our docs to match, instead I actually plan to remove it from pricing page for now..

I appreciate you reaching out and being forward about your questions!

[thiagoor-cpu]

Thanks, just to make sure about the "Single Sign-On (SSO)" then:

1. Single Sign-On (SSO) will be removed at some point in the Free tier.
2. If I make all users log at least once using SSO, in the current version, it will still work after the removal of SSO OR this strategic case will only work for "named account system"/"accounts created manually" inside StirlingPdf? (I know this question is weird because if you remove SSO authentication, even if the user exist, the module will not exist, but just asking..)

Also, I never used the software without begin logged in (by the system account or SSO), things like API Key, Accounts settings, will not work because its tied to accounts right? If its the case, when using Traefik/Caddy for the authentication part, after this, the user will be anonymous in StirlingPDF right? without API Key, accounts settings etc.

About the pricing page, you can put alot of things the software current do, and put "Soon" or, something like that, in things not yet implemented, or clear name of features, but Im not a UX/Dev guy.

Thanks again.

[Frooodle]

SSO isn't getting removed

It's getting restricted to 5 users (for new systems) or just for all current users in the system (if over 5 and old system)

If a company had 1000 users and migrated to the new system in future
They would still have 1000 users and login and use Stirling with SSO but couldn't add any more users. That way there is no sudden impact to users etc

Hope that explains it!

And yes if they went no login or 3rd party then they lively wouldn't use API key or would use one unique to the 3rd party app not Stirling pdf

Thanks for advice on pricing page not a bad idea!

[jack9603301]

@thiagoor-cpu I've been looking at this issue recently. As a personal user, it doesn't affect me much. For you, perhaps you could consider disabling the built-in account login mechanism or setting up a simple account as a shared login for all users, then using Pangolin or another authentication proxy to manage access permissions for all users. Alternatively, you could allow users to create any Stirling PDF instance they want within your domain, based on Pangolin. I think this should bypass the paid license restrictions for Stirling PDF, guiding your business until you're willing and able to purchase a commercial license.

If none of these options satisfy you, you could evaluate BentoPDF or PDFCraft.

[HydrelioxGitHub]

For those like @thiagoor-cpu who can't migrate to v2.0 due to SSO limitation (I'm working at a public French state org), is it planned to keep v1 up to date with tools already available (like bug squashes or security patches) ?
To make it simple : we need SSO but have to money to move to paid licences, so v2 is not an option for us.

Thanks for your work. It helps our co-workers every day.

[HydrelioxGitHub]

Anything to share about this ? I've read other discussions topic and a very similar question is asked in #4332

[Frooodle]

Sorry missed this, we tried to leave V1 is the best state possible. We dont plan to add any new features to V1 but we might add security patches depending how needed they are but we dont have any plans right now. We are all focused on V2

[jack9603301]

I've been looking at this issue recently. As a personal user, it doesn't affect me much. For you, perhaps you could consider disabling the built-in account login mechanism or setting up a simple account as a shared login for all users, then using Pangolin or another authentication proxy to manage access permissions for all users. Alternatively, you could allow users to create any Stirling PDF instance they want within your domain, based on Pangolin. I think this should bypass the paid license restrictions for Stirling PDF, guiding your business until you're willing and able to purchase a commercial license.

If none of these options satisfy you, you could evaluate BentoPDF or PDFCraft.

[jack9603301]

Actually, I think your commercial version is overpriced, although it doesn't affect me.