Here's the thing about Attach.io - it doesn't really exist anymore. Not as the product people knew.
Cirrus Insight acquired them. Integrated the tracking features into their sales platform. What was Attach.io became part of a bigger CRM-focused tool.
But people still search "Attach.io vs DocSend" because they remember what Attach.io did well. Email-based document tracking. Simple. Effective. Gone.
So let's talk about what Attach.io was, why people miss it, and what actually replaces it today.
What made Attach.io different
Attach.io lived inside your email. Gmail or Outlook extension. Attach a document, send normally, get tracking data. No separate platform. No new workflow.
DocSend requires uploading to their platform. Creating links. Managing permissions there. More powerful, but also more steps.
The simplicity made Attach.io popular with salespeople. Send proposals like regular attachments. See who opened them. Follow up intelligently. That was it.
Need simple document tracking?
Missing Attach.io's simplicity? You're not alone.
Ellty brings back straightforward document tracking. Upload, share, track. No complexity.
See who's engaged. Which pages matter. When to follow up. Plus features Attach.io never had - like finding investor emails automatically.
Free tier with 50 documents. Takes 2 minutes to start.
Where Attach.io users went
When Cirrus Insight absorbed Attach.io, users scattered in different directions.
Some moved to DocSend. More features, higher price, steeper learning curve. Works well if you need advanced permissions and team analytics.
Others tried email tracking plugins. Mixmax, Yesware, Mailtrack. These track email opens but not document engagement. Different problem, partial solution.
Many switched to simpler alternatives. Tools that balance Attach.io's simplicity with DocSend's capabilities. The sweet spot between basic and bloated.
Comparison
Since pure Attach.io doesn't exist, let's compare what people actually choose:
DocSend gives you everything. Upload documents. Create secure links. Track detailed engagement. Control access precisely. Share with teams. Generate reports.
Starting at $15/user monthly with no free option. Powerful but requires commitment.
Cirrus Insight (with old Attach.io features) focuses on CRM integration. Document tracking is one small part. Really for Salesforce power users who want everything connected.
Starts at $27/user monthly. Overkill if you just need document tracking.
Alternatives like Ellty or Papermark learned from both. Simple sharing like Attach.io. Useful analytics like DocSend. Reasonable pricing with free tiers.
What teams actually need
Most Attach.io users weren't looking for enterprise features. They wanted to know three things:
Did they open my proposal? Which parts interested them? Should I follow up now?
DocSend answers these questions. But it also adds team dashboards, visitor identification, API access, virtual data rooms, and complex permissions.
Great if you need them. Expensive complexity if you don't.
That's why simpler tools gained traction. They focus on core tracking without enterprise overhead.
Making the switch
Former Attach.io users typically want:
Email-like simplicity. Upload document, get link, send. No training required.
Meaningful analytics. Not just "opened" but "spent 5 minutes on pricing page."
Reasonable cost. Attach.io was affordable. DocSend at $15-65/user feels steep.
Quick setup. Install extension, start tracking. Not configure platform, invite team, set permissions.
Modern alternatives deliver this balance. Less than DocSend's complexity. More than basic email tracking.
The practical choice
If you're comparing Attach.io (memory) vs DocSend (reality), consider what you actually do:
Sending 10 documents monthly? DocSend's $15/user might be overkill.
Need enterprise features? DocSend makes sense despite the cost.
Want Attach.io's simplicity with modern features? Look at current alternatives.
Test with your real workflow. Most tools offer free trials or tiers. Send an actual proposal. Check the analytics. See what data helps you close deals.
The best tool is the one you'll consistently use. Attach.io worked because it fit naturally into email workflow. Find something that fits yours.
Your options
For DocSend-level features: Pay for DocSend. It's the market leader for good reasons.
For CRM integration: Cirrus Insight if you're deep in Salesforce. HubSpot Sales for HubSpot users.
For balanced simplicity: Ellty gives you core tracking. Papermark offers open-source flexibility.
For basic email tracking: Mixmax or similar. But you lose document-level insights.
The document tracking space evolved since Attach.io disappeared. More options, better features, various price points.
Pick based on what you need today, not nostalgia for what worked yesterday.
Don't overthink document tracking
You came here comparing Attach.io vs DocSend. One doesn't exist. The other might be overkill.
Modern tools like Ellty learned from both. Simple like Attach.io. Capable like DocSend. Priced fairly with free tiers.
See what works for your team:
- Upload a real document
- Share with a colleague
- Check the analytics
- Compare the workflow
Start with Ellty's free 50 documents. No credit card. No complexity.
If you need more, upgrade. If you need different, try others.
