Why sending a PDF by email can go wrong
Email attachments are capped around 25 MB, and scanned PDFs, brochures and design proofs exceed that quickly. A smaller attachment is not much safer: it sits in several inboxes and backups forever, and you cannot take it back.
A link solves both problems. The document stays on a server you control, the email stays small, and you can switch the link off.
How to keep a confidential PDF confidential
For anything sensitive, combine the controls. They are all available on the free plan:
- Add a password and send it through a different channel than the link.
- Set a short lifetime, such as 24 hours, so the link dies after the deadline.
- Use a download limit of one for a one-time delivery.
- Lock the link to one email address, which the recipient confirms with a one-time code.
Documents people send most often
Typical PDFs worth sending this way:
Contracts and quotes
Names, addresses and prices deserve a lock, not an open link.
Invoices and statements
Send them to the right person and know when they were downloaded.
Scans and ID copies
Passport and ID scans should expire after use.
Reports and proposals
Large decks with images, shared with one link and tracked downloads.
Brochures and catalogues
Print-ready PDFs that exceed email limits.
Application packages
Several PDFs in one group link.
Other document types
PDF is the most common, but the same page works for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, text files, e-books and archives. Only formats the browser can preview open inline; everything else downloads normally. File size is limited by the plan, not the format.
Receive documents, not just send them
If you collect documents from clients or applicants, give them an Upload Inbox link or a Drop Room with a deadline. They upload without accounts, you accept or decline each file, and everything lands in your cloud storage. For repeat clients, a branded portal adds click-to-sign.
How to send a PDF securely in four steps
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1
Drop the PDF
Drag the document onto the upload box.
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2
Set a password and lifetime
Protect confidential files and choose how long the link works.
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3
Share the link
Send the link in an email or message and the password separately.
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4
Check and revoke
See downloads in your cabinet and switch the link off when the document has been received.
Frequently asked questions
Can I password-protect a PDF link for free?
Yes. Link passwords are included on the free plan.
How large a PDF can I send?
Up to 5 GB per file on the free plan.
Can the recipient read it without downloading?
Yes. PDFs preview in the browser.
Is the PDF itself encrypted?
The link is protected by a password. For encryption of the file contents, encrypt it first; the Windows app offers optional local encryption.
Will the link last forever?
No. Choose a lifetime, or revoke it yourself at any time.