15 DocSend alternatives and competitors

DocSend pioneered document tracking. Millions of links shared. Thousands of deals closed.

It works well for what it does. Simple link sharing. Basic view tracking. Secure access control.

But document sharing has evolved since 2013.

Some teams need deeper analytics to understand buyer intent. Others want built-in CRM features. Startups seek investor contact databases. Enterprises require advanced compliance tools.

Different needs, different tools.

This guide covers 15 alternatives that excel in specific areas. From advanced analytics to enterprise security. From free tools to comprehensive platforms.

Why teams look beyond DocSend

DocSend works well. Some teams need different features or pricing.

Common reasons:

Price jumps quickly. $15 → $65 → $250 per user as you need more features. No free tier.

All-in-one needs. DocSend tracks documents. Some want tracking + signatures + CRM in one tool.

Different analytics. DocSend shows views and time. Others offer heat maps or engagement scores.

Team size. 50 users = $9,000/year minimum. Flat-rate alternatives exist.

Specific workflows. Investor outreach needs email finder. Sales needs native Salesforce sync. Legal needs specific compliance.

Not about better or worse. About finding the right fit.

Quick сomparison

15 Best DocSend alternatives

1. Ellty

Visit Ellty • $29/month • 50 documents free

Best for teams who need secure document tracking without complexity.

What makes it different:

Ellty focuses on what matters. Share documents. Track engagement. Get insights.

No bloated features. No confusing interface. Just clean analytics that show exactly how recipients interact with your documents.

Key features:

• Page-by-page analytics showing time spent
• Real-time notifications when documents open
• Password protection and expiry dates
• Custom branding on viewer interface
• Email verification requirements
• Download restrictions

Pricing that works:

50 documents free every month. Actually free. No credit card games.

Pro plan at $29/month includes unlimited documents, advanced analytics, and team features. No per-user pricing that kills your budget at scale.

Real use case:

Startup founder shares pitch deck with 10 investors. Sees 3 spent over 5 minutes on financials. Follows up with those three specifically. Gets meetings scheduled.

When to choose Ellty:

• You want DocSend functionality without DocSend pricing
• Analytics matter more than document creation
• You share sensitive documents regularly
• Simple deployment matters

Skip if:

• You need built-in e-signatures
• You require API access (coming soon)

2. PandaDoc

Visit PandaDoc • $35/month • 14-day trial

All-in-one platform when tracking alone isn't enough.

What makes it different:

PandaDoc does everything. Create documents. Track views. Collect signatures. Process payments.

For sales teams, it's a complete workflow. For others, might be overkill.

Key features:

• Drag-and-drop document builder
• 1000+ templates
• E-signature collection
• CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Payment processing
• Detailed analytics

Pricing reality:

Starts at $35/user/month. Gets expensive with larger teams.

Enterprise features like advanced workflows and API access push costs higher.

Real use case:

Sales rep creates proposal in PandaDoc. Sends tracked link. Sees prospect spent 10 minutes on pricing. Adjusts follow-up strategy. Closes deal with integrated e-signature.

When to choose PandaDoc:

• You need document creation + tracking
• E-signatures are essential
• CRM integration matters
• Budget allows for per-user pricing

Skip if:

• You just need simple link tracking
• Price sensitivity is high
• You already have document creation tools

3. Papermark

Visit Papermark • $29/month • 50 documents free

Open-source alternative for teams wanting control.

What makes it different:

Papermark is open source. Host it yourself or use their cloud. Full control over your data.

Popular with security-conscious teams and developers who like customization.

Key features:

• Self-hosted option available
• Custom domains and branding
• Page-by-page analytics
• Lead capture forms
• Password protection
• Open-source transparency

Pricing structure:

Free tier: 50 documents/month with core features.

Pro at $29/month: Unlimited documents, advanced analytics, priority support.

Self-hosted: Free forever if you manage infrastructure.

Real use case:

FinTech startup needs document sharing but can't use US-based servers. Self-hosts Papermark on EU servers. Maintains compliance while getting full analytics.

When to choose Papermark:

• Data sovereignty matters
• You have technical resources
• Open source is a requirement
• Budget is tight

Skip if:

• You need enterprise support
• Self-hosting sounds complicated
• Integration ecosystem matters

4. GetAccept

Visit GetAccept • $25/month • 14-day trial

Sales engagement platform with document tracking.

What makes it different:

GetAccept adds personality to document sharing. Video messages. Live chat. E-signatures. All in one platform.

Built for sales teams who want to stand out.

Key features:

• Video messages in documents
• Live chat during document viewing
• E-signature collection
• Email tracking
• Meeting scheduler
• Sales automation

Pricing breakdown:

Essential: $25/user/month Professional: $45/user/month Enterprise: Custom pricing

Real use case:

Sales rep sends proposal with personalized video intro. Prospect watches video, reviews proposal, asks questions via live chat. Deal closes 40% faster than email-only approach.

When to choose GetAccept:

• Sales engagement is priority
• Personal touch matters
• You want all-in-one solution
• Team uses video regularly

Skip if:

• Simple tracking suffices
• Video feels gimmicky for your industry
• Budget is limited

5. Qwilr

Visit Qwilr • $35/month • 14-day trial

Interactive web-based documents instead of PDFs.

What makes it different:

Qwilr creates web pages, not documents. Mobile-responsive. Interactive pricing. Embedded videos.

Your proposals look like landing pages.

Key features:

• Web-based documents
• Interactive pricing calculators
• Video embedding
• Analytics tracking
• E-signatures included
• Template library

Pricing model:

Business: $35/user/month Enterprise: $59/user/month

Real use case:

Agency creates interactive proposal with embedded case studies, video testimonials, and dynamic pricing slider. Client engagement increases 3x compared to PDF proposals.

When to choose Qwilr:

• Design matters highly
• Mobile viewing is common
• Interactive elements add value
• You sell creative services

Skip if:

• PDFs are industry standard
• Simplicity is key
• Traditional documents required

6. Proposify

Visit Proposify • $49/month • 14-day trial

Proposal software with excellent design tools.

What makes it different:

Proposify focuses on beautiful proposals. Design editor rivals desktop software. Templates actually look professional.

Popular with agencies and design-conscious teams.

Key features:

• Advanced design editor
• Team collaboration
• E-signatures
• Analytics tracking
• Template library
• Brand management

Cost structure:

Team: $49/user/month Business: Custom pricing

Real use case:

Design agency maintains 20 proposal templates matching brand guidelines. Creates custom proposals in 15 minutes. Tracks engagement. Closes deals faster.

When to choose Proposify:

• Design quality is crucial
• You send many proposals
• Brand consistency matters
• Team collaboration needed

Skip if:

• Simple documents suffice
• Budget is tight
• You rarely send proposals

7. Digify

Visit Digify • $16/month • 7-day trial

Virtual data room for sensitive documents.

What makes it different:

Digify adds security layers DocSend doesn't. Watermarking. Screenshot protection. Granular permissions.

Built for M&A, legal, and financial documents.

Key features:

• Dynamic watermarking
• Screenshot protection
• Virtual data rooms
• Detailed audit trails
• Time-based access
• Geographic restrictions

Pricing tiers:

Basic: $16/user/month Standard: $32/user/month Premium: $80/user/month

Real use case:

Law firm shares confidential merger documents. Each page watermarked with viewer's email. Access expires after 48 hours. Full audit trail for compliance.

When to choose Digify:

• Security is paramount
• Compliance requirements exist
• Documents are highly sensitive
• Audit trails matter legally

Skip if:

• Basic tracking suffices
• Security features feel excessive
• Price point too high

8. Bit.ai

Visit Bit.ai • $8/month • Free plan available

Collaborative documents with tracking.

What makes it different:

Bit.ai combines Google Docs-style collaboration with document tracking. Real-time editing. Version control. Analytics.

Good for teams creating documents together.

Key features:

• Real-time collaboration
• Document tracking
• Smart workspaces
• Media embedding
• Template library
• Guest access

Pricing:

Free: 5 documents Pro: $8/user/month Business: $15/user/month

Real use case:

Marketing team collaborates on sales deck. Embeds videos, adds interactive content. Shares with prospects. Tracks engagement. Updates in real-time based on feedback.

When to choose Bit.ai:

• Collaboration is key
• You create content regularly
• Price matters
• Media-rich documents needed

Skip if:

• You need advanced analytics
• Simple sharing suffices
• Enterprise features required

9. Box

Visit Box • $15/month • 14-day trial

Enterprise-grade security meets document sharing.

What makes it different:

Box started as cloud storage but evolved. Now offers secure sharing with tracking capabilities through Box Shield.

Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for compliance and security.

Key features:

• Advanced security controls
• Compliance certifications (HIPAA, GDPR)
• Watermarking capabilities
• Access analytics
• Workflow automation
• 100GB storage per user

Pricing breakdown:

Business: $15/user/month Business Plus: $25/user/month Enterprise: Custom pricing

Real use case:

Healthcare company shares patient data with partners. Box maintains HIPAA compliance. Tracks access. Automatically watermarks sensitive files. IT department stays happy.

When to choose Box:

• Enterprise security required
• Compliance matters
• Large file storage needed
• IT approval necessary

Skip if:

• Advanced tracking analytics needed
• Small team or startup
• Budget conscious

10. Google Workspace

Visit Google Workspace • $6/month • 15GB free storage

Native Google integration with basic sharing controls.

What makes it different:

Google Drive + link sharing + basic analytics. Not sophisticated tracking, but works if you're already in Google ecosystem.

Recent updates added more viewer insights.

Key features:

• Native Google Docs integration
• Link sharing controls
• Basic view analytics
• Comment and suggestion modes
• Version history
• 30GB storage per user

Pricing tiers:

Business Starter: $6/user/month Business Standard: $12/user/month Business Plus: $18/user/month

Real use case:

Startup already uses Google Workspace. Shares investor updates via Drive links. Sees who viewed. Good enough for basic needs. No extra tools to learn.

When to choose Google Workspace:

• Already using Google apps
• Basic tracking sufficient
• Budget very limited
• Simplicity matters

Skip if:

• Need detailed analytics
• Page-by-page tracking required
• Advanced security needed

11. Notion

Visit Notion • $8/month • Free plan available

All-in-one workspace with document sharing.

What makes it different:

Notion isn't built for document tracking. But if your team already uses it, the sharing features work well enough.

Database + wiki + docs + basic analytics.

Key features:

• Database integration
• Wiki-style organization
• Public page sharing
• Basic analytics
• Collaborative editing
• Template gallery

Pricing:

Personal: Free Plus: $8/user/month Business: $15/user/month

Real use case:

Product team maintains roadmap in Notion. Shares with investors as public page. Tracks basic views. Everything stays in one tool. No context switching.

When to choose Notion:

• Already using Notion heavily
• Want everything in one place
• Documentation focus
• Team wikis needed

Skip if:

• Advanced tracking required
• PDF sharing important
• Security features needed

12. ShareDocView

Visit ShareDocView • $9/month • Limited free plan

Simple DocSend alternative built by former users.

What makes it different:

Created by people frustrated with DocSend pricing. Does the basics well. No fancy features. Just works.

Built specifically as DocSend replacement.

Key features:

• Link-based sharing
• View tracking
• Time per page analytics
• Download controls
• Email verification
• Custom domains

Pricing:

Starter: $9/user/month Pro: $19/user/month Team: $29/user/month

Real use case:

Consultant shares reports with clients. Tracks engagement. Sees which sections get attention. Follows up accordingly. Saves $50/month vs DocSend.

When to choose ShareDocView:

• Want DocSend features cheaper
• Simple needs
• Quick migration important
• Cost savings matter

Skip if:

• Need advanced features
• Want established platform
• Require enterprise support

13. Paperflite

Visit Paperflite • $50/month • 14-day trial

Content analytics for marketing teams.

What makes it different:

Paperflite goes beyond document tracking. Content scoring. Engagement heatmaps. ROI tracking.

Built for content marketers who need to prove value.

Key features:

• Content scoring algorithms
• Engagement heatmaps
• Multi-touch attribution
• CRM integration
• Content recommendations
• Team analytics

Pricing structure:

Startup: $50/month (3 users) Growth: $150/month (10 users) Enterprise: Custom pricing

Real use case:

Marketing team tracks which content drives pipeline. Sees prospect viewed 5 case studies before booking demo. Adjusts content strategy based on data.

When to choose Paperflite:

• Content marketing focus
• Need ROI tracking
• Multiple content types
• Marketing attribution important

Skip if:

• Simple document sharing
• Small team
• Limited budget

14. Highspot

Visit Highspot • Custom pricing • Demo only

AI-powered sales enablement platform.

What makes it different:

Highspot uses AI to recommend content. Tracks not just views but effectiveness. Integrates deeply with sales processes.

Enterprise-focused with sophisticated analytics.

Key features:

• AI content recommendations
• Sales readiness tools
• Advanced analytics
• CRM integration
• Training modules
• Pitch intelligence

Typical investment:

$50,000-$200,000 annually depending on team size

Real use case:

Enterprise sales team of 200 people. Highspot tracks which content leads to closed deals. AI suggests best content for each opportunity. Win rates increase 23%.

When to choose Highspot:

• Large sales team
• Complex sales process
• Budget available
• Sales enablement priority

Skip if:

• Small team
• Simple needs
• Budget conscious

15. ClearSlide

Visit ClearSlide • $35/month • Demo only

Live presentation platform with tracking.

What makes it different:

ClearSlide shines during live presentations. Screen share with analytics. See exactly what prospects look at during calls.

Real-time engagement data.

Key features:

• Live presentation tracking
• Screen share analytics
• Email tracking
• CRM integration
• Meeting insights
• Content library

Pricing:

Professional: $35/user/month Team: $65/user/month Enterprise: Custom pricing

Real use case:

Sales rep presents over Zoom using ClearSlide. Sees prospect spent 3 minutes on pricing slide during call. Addresses pricing concerns immediately. Closes deal on call.

When to choose ClearSlide:

• Live presentations common
• Inside sales team
• Real-time insights valuable
• CRM integration needed

Skip if:

• Async document sharing only
• Budget limited
• Simple tracking sufficient

For tight budgets

Google Drive + Tracking extensions

Visit Google Drive • Free to $12/month

The DIY approach that actually works.

How it works:

Use Google Drive for storage and sharing. Add tracking extensions like LinkTrackr or Bitly for basic analytics.

Not elegant, but functional.

Setup process:

1. Upload document to Google Drive
2. Create shareable link
3. Shorten with tracking service
4. Share tracked link
5. Monitor basic analytics

What you get:

• Free storage (15GB)
• Basic click tracking
• Geographic data
• Device information
• Time-based reports

Real use case:

Freelancer shares portfolio PDF via tracked Google Drive link. Sees client opened it 3 times. Follows up at the right moment. Lands the project.

Limitations:

• No page-by-page analytics
• Can't restrict downloads easily
• Multiple tools to manage
• Basic tracking only

Best for:

• Solopreneurs
• Occasional document sharing
• Extremely tight budgets
• Simple tracking needs

Notion + Tracking tools

Visit Notion • Free to $8/month

You're probably already paying for it.

The setup:

Create documents in Notion. Share as public pages. Use Google Analytics or Simple Analytics for tracking.

More sophisticated than Google Drive approach.

What you can track:

• Page views
• Time on page
• Geographic location
• Referral sources
• Return visitors

Implementation:

1. Create Notion page
2. Make it public
3. Add analytics script
4. Share link
5. Monitor engagement

Real use case:

Startup maintains investor updates in Notion. Adds Simple Analytics. Sees which investors engage most. Prioritizes follow-ups accordingly.

Limitations:

• Not PDF-friendly
• Public pages only
• Requires technical setup
• No download controls

Free PDF tracking services

Several services offer limited free tiers:

PDFTron • Free for 1 user

• 100 document views/month
• Basic analytics
• Watermarking

DocFly • Free tier available

• 3 documents/month
• View tracking
• Basic security

Adobe Acrobat Online • Free with limits

• Basic sharing
• Comment tracking
• Adobe account required

Real comparison:

Each has severe limitations. Fine for occasional use. Painful for regular sharing.

Most startups outgrow these in weeks.

Open source solutions

Visit GitHub • Free (self-hosted)

For teams with technical resources.

Popular options:

Paperless-ngx

• Document management system
• Basic sharing capabilities
• Requires server setup

Mayan EDMS

• Enterprise document management
• Workflow capabilities
• Steep learning curve

OpenPDF

• PDF creation and tracking
• Developer-friendly
• Limited UI

Reality check:

"Free" means time investment. Setup takes days. Maintenance ongoing. Updates manual.

Only worth it if you have dedicated technical resources.

When it makes sense:

• Developer on team
• Security requirements
• Custom needs
• Long-term thinking

The hidden costs of "Free"

Let's be honest about free alternatives.

Time costs:

• Setup: 5-10 hours minimum
• Learning: Another 5 hours
• Maintenance: 2-3 hours monthly
• Migration later: 10+ hours

Feature limitations:

• No page-by-page tracking
• Basic analytics only
• Poor mobile experience
• No team features

Business impact:

• Missed follow-up opportunities
• Unprofessional appearance
• Security concerns
• Integration headaches

Real calculation:

If your time is worth $50/hour, "free" tools cost $500+ in setup alone.

A $29/month tool pays for itself if it saves 35 minutes monthly.

The verdict:

Free tools work for testing. Not for scaling.

Start free. Upgrade when you need to. Usually happens faster than expected.

Ready to switch from DocSend?

See why thousands of teams choose Ellty for secure document sharing.

Start free. No credit card required.

Share up to 50 documents monthly. Get full analytics. See who's actually interested.

What you get immediately:

• Page-by-page engagement tracking
• Real-time open notifications
• Password protection and expiry dates
• Your brand, not ours

Takes 2 minutes to set up:

1. Sign up with email
2. Upload your first document
3. Create trackable link
4. See who engages

No sales calls. No demo required. Just create your account and start tracking.

Frequently asked questions

Is DocSend worth the price?

At $15-250/month per user, many teams find better value elsewhere. Ellty offers similar features starting at $29/month with 50 free documents monthly.

What's the closest alternative to DocSend?

Ellty and Papermark offer the most similar experience. Same link-based sharing, page tracking, and security features. Just better pricing.

Can I try these tools for free?

Yes. Ellty gives 50 documents free monthly. Papermark too. Most others offer 14-day trials. Only DocSend has no free tier.

Do I lose my data when switching?

No, if you export first. Download all documents and analytics before canceling DocSend. Takes about 30 minutes.

Which is easiest to set up?

Ellty and Papermark. Upload document, get link, start tracking. No complex onboarding.

What about security?

All major alternatives offer password protection, encryption, and access controls. Digify and Box add extra layers for sensitive documents.

How much should I budget?

• Basic tracking: $10-30/month
• With signatures: $35-50/month
• Enterprise features: $100+/month

Which has the best customer support?

PandaDoc and GetAccept offer chat support. Ellty responds quickly.

Can I white-label the viewer?

Ellty, Papermark, and most paid alternatives offer custom branding. Usually starts at the pro tier.