Here's what confuses people: Dropbox owns DocSend. Acquired them in 2021 for $165 million.
Yet they remain separate products. Different purposes. Different pricing. Different teams.
Dropbox stores and syncs files. DocSend tracks who views them. You might need both. Or neither. Let's figure it out.
Why Dropbox keeps them separate
Dropbox tried adding document tracking features directly. Basic view notifications. Simple share analytics. But power users wanted more.
Instead of complicating Dropbox, they bought DocSend. Kept the specialized tool specialized. Smart move.
Now Dropbox handles file storage and collaboration. DocSend handles document intelligence and control. Clear separation.
Need document tracking without the Dropbox ecosystem?
Using Dropbox just for DocSend feels excessive. Paying for storage you don't need.
Ellty provides focused document tracking. Upload, share, analyze. No ecosystem lock-in.
Free tier with 50 documents. See who's actually reading your content.
What each does well
Dropbox
Everyone knows Dropbox. Upload files. Sync across devices. Share folders with teams. Comment on documents. Basic stuff that works.
Recent additions include Dropbox Sign (formerly HelloSign) and Dropbox Replay for video collaboration. Building an ecosystem beyond storage.
Pricing starts at $9.99/month for individuals. Business plans from $15/user/month. Lots of storage. Unlimited devices.
DocSend
DocSend doesn't store files long-term. You upload documents to share and track. See who opens them. Which pages they read. How long they spend.
Control access with passwords, expiration dates, download restrictions. Update documents after sending. Revoke access anytime.
Pricing starts at $15/user/month. No free tier. Focus on document analytics, not storage volume.
Integration question
DocSend integrates with Dropbox. Pull files directly from your storage. Share via DocSend links. Track engagement. Makes sense if you're already paying for both.
But it's not seamless. Still two separate interfaces. Two different workflows. Upload to Dropbox, then share via DocSend. Extra steps.
Some teams want everything in one place. Others prefer specialized tools. Neither approach is wrong.
Common scenarios
"I need both storage and tracking"
You're already paying for Dropbox Business. Adding DocSend makes sense. Integration works. One vendor relationship.
Total cost: $30/user/month minimum. That adds up for larger teams.
"I just need document tracking"
Don't pay for Dropbox storage you won't use. DocSend works independently. Or consider alternatives built specifically for tracking.
Skip the ecosystem. Focus on what you actually need.
"I just need storage and basic sharing"
Dropbox alone handles this. Share links. See basic view counts. Set passwords. For many teams, that's enough.
DocSend becomes overkill if you don't need detailed analytics.
What users say
"We use Dropbox for everything except pitch decks. Those go through DocSend for the analytics" - Startup founder on Reddit
"Paying for both feels redundant but the integration saves time" - Sales manager on G2
"Switched to alternatives after Dropbox acquisition. Worried about long-term product focus" - Marketing director on ProductHunt
The ecosystem lock-in
Dropbox wants you using their entire suite. Storage. Signatures. Document tracking. Video tools. Makes business sense.
But ecosystems create dependencies. Harder to switch. Pricing power shifts to the vendor. Your data spread across multiple tools from one company.
Some teams embrace this. One vendor, one bill, integrated tools. Others prefer best-in-class solutions from different providers. More flexibility, more complexity.
Alternatives to consider
If you want document tracking without the Dropbox ecosystem, options exist.
Ellty focuses purely on document analytics. Papermark offers open-source flexibility. Others provide specific features neither Dropbox nor DocSend include.
The document tracking space has room for different approaches. Not everyone needs or wants the Dropbox ecosystem.
Making the decision
Ask yourself three questions:
Are you already using Dropbox for storage? If yes, adding DocSend might make sense despite the cost.
Do you need detailed document analytics? If no, Dropbox's basic sharing might suffice.
Does ecosystem lock-in concern you? If yes, consider independent alternatives.
Your answers guide the choice. No universal right answer.
FAQs
Does DocSend come free with Dropbox?
No. Despite Dropbox owning DocSend, they're separate subscriptions. No bundled pricing. You pay for each independently.
Can I use DocSend without Dropbox?
Yes. DocSend works standalone. You don't need a Dropbox account. Upload documents directly to DocSend for tracking.
Is the integration between them good?
Basic integration exists. Pull files from Dropbox into DocSend. But it's not seamless. Still requires switching between platforms.
Why didn't Dropbox just add DocSend features?
They tried basic tracking features. But DocSend's advanced analytics would complicate Dropbox's simple interface. Keeping them separate serves both user bases better.
Which is better for sharing large files?
Dropbox. Built for storage and transfer of large files. DocSend focuses on document tracking, not bulk storage. Has file size limits.
Will Dropbox eventually merge DocSend features?
Unlikely. Three years post-acquisition, they remain separate. Dropbox seems committed to the multi-product strategy.
Can I replace both with one tool?
Depends on your needs. Some tools like Google Drive handle storage with basic sharing. Others like Ellty focus on tracking. Few do both equally well.
Is it worth paying for both?
Only if you actively use both feature sets. Many teams find they use one 90% of the time. Test your actual usage before committing to both subscriptions.
