DocSend is a document sharing platform with built-in analytics.
You upload a file. Create a link. Share it. Then see who viewed it, which pages they read, and for how long.
Founded in 2013, acquired by Dropbox in 2021. Used by sales teams, startups, and consultants to track document engagement.
The platform starts at $15 per user monthly. No free plan exists.
This guide covers how DocSend works, who uses it, pricing details, and whether it fits your needs. Plus alternatives worth considering.
Let's start with the basics.
Need document tracking that actually works?
You share important documents daily. Proposals. Contracts. Presentations.
But email attachments disappear into inboxes. You can't see who opened them. Which pages they read. When they stopped engaging.
That's why document tracking exists. Know when someone opens your file. See time spent per page. Get alerts when shared internally.
Ellty makes it simple. Share secure links. Track document engagement. See exactly what matters to your recipients.
What is DocSend?
DocSend is a document sharing and tracking platform. Think of it as analytics for your PDFs.
Core functionality:
Upload any document. Generate a secure link. Control who sees it.
Then track:
- Who opened your document
- How long they viewed each page
- If they downloaded or forwarded it
- Which sections got skipped
Real-time notifications tell you when someone's reading. You can update documents after sending. Revoke access anytime.
Company background:
Started in 2013 by Russ Heddleston, Dave Koslow, and Tony Cassanego. Built to solve their own problem - not knowing if investors read their pitch decks.
Grew independently until March 2021. Dropbox acquired them for $165 million.
Now part of Dropbox's suite. Still operates as a standalone product. Serves millions of links monthly.
Market position:
DocSend defined the document tracking category. Most competitors compare themselves to DocSend.
Primary users: sales teams, fundraising startups, financial advisors.
Competes with: PandaDoc, Showpad, and newer entrants like Ellty and Papermark.
How DocSend works
Simple five-step process.
1. Upload your document
Drag and drop PDFs, PowerPoints, Word docs. File size limit: 100MB on basic plans.
Supports: PDF, PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX.
2. Create a secure link
DocSend generates a unique URL. Looks like: docsend/view/abc123xyz
Each link tracks separately. Create multiple links for the same document.
3. Set permissions
Control access:
- Require email to view
- Add password protection
- Set expiration date
- Allow/block downloads
- Enable/disable printing
4. Share with recipients
Copy link. Paste in email. Or use DocSend's built-in email tool.
Works on any device. No app download required.
5. Track engagement
Dashboard shows:
- Total views and unique visitors
- Average time per page
- Most/least viewed pages
- Forward tracking
- Download attempts
Real-time updates. Email notifications optional.
Key features breakdown:
Page-by-page analytics - See exact time spent on each page. Identifies which content resonates.
Visit tracking - Know when someone returns. Track multiple sessions from same viewer.
Link controls - Update documents without changing links. Disable access instantly.
Team spaces - Organize documents in folders. Set team permissions. Share analytics.
Who uses DocSend
DocSend serves four main groups.
Sales teams sharing proposals
Track which sections prospects read. See if they share internally. Know when to follow up.
Common documents: sales decks, proposals, contracts, pricing sheets.
Use case: Rep sends proposal Friday. Sees prospect spent 5 minutes on pricing Monday morning. Calls immediately.
Startups sending pitch decks
Monitor investor engagement. See which slides get attention. Track if partners view the deck.
Common documents: pitch decks, financial models, term sheets, due diligence files.
Use case: Founder notices investor spent 10 minutes on traction slide. Prepares detailed metrics for next meeting.
Legal teams distributing contracts
Control sensitive documents. Track who accessed what. Maintain audit trails.
Common documents: NDAs, agreements, compliance docs, board materials.
Use case: Legal sends acquisition documents. Sees all stakeholders viewed. Confirms before deadline.
Marketing sharing content
Measure content engagement. Test different versions. Track sharing patterns.
Common documents: whitepapers, case studies, research reports, media kits.
Use case: Marketer sees 80% drop-off on page 3. Redesigns content flow.
Industries served:
Technology companies lead usage. Followed by:
- Financial services
- Real estate
- Healthcare
- Consulting firms
- Media agencies
Company size varies. From solo founders to Fortune 500. Sweet spot: 10-500 employees.
DocSend pricing & plans
DocSend starts at $15/user/month. No free tier.
Personal ($15/user/month) 100 visits monthly. That's it. Hit 101? Time to upgrade.
Standard ($65/user/month) Unlimited visits. Team features. Salesforce integration. The plan most businesses need.
Advanced ($250/month) Minimum 3 users, so really $750/month. Gets you API access and SSO.
Enterprise Custom pricing. Call sales.
The real cost:
Five person sales team on Standard? $3,900/year.
Twenty person company? $15,600/year.
Fifty people? $39,000/year.
Adds up fast.
What's missing from cheaper plans:
Personal plan blocks team collaboration. No shared folders. No central billing.
Want to connect Salesforce? Pay 4x more for Standard.
Need basic security like SSO? That's Advanced only.
Most teams end up on Standard. DocSend knows this. Prices accordingly.
Compare to other options:
Some alternatives offer more reasonable pricing. Ellty gives you 50 documents free. Then $29/month with all features included. No tiers. No feature gates.
DocSend pros and cons
Advantages
Established platform. Around since 2013. Millions of documents tracked. Reliable uptime.
Simple interface. Upload, share, track. No learning curve. Works as advertised.
Dropbox integration. Already use Dropbox? One login. Shared storage. Unified billing.
Mobile apps. iOS and Android. View analytics on the go. Get push notifications.
Wide adoption. Recipients know DocSend. Less friction. No "what's this?" questions.
Limitations
No free plan. Can't test properly. 14-day trial isn't enough for occasional use.
Expensive scaling. Each user costs more. No bulk discounts until Enterprise.
Basic analytics. Shows views and time. But which paragraph made them stop reading? No heat maps. No scroll depth.
No built-in tools. Want to find investor emails? Use another service. Need e-signatures? Another service. Contact management? Another service.
Limited customization. Viewer sees DocSend branding on cheaper plans. Your brand takes second place.
Feature restrictions. Essential features locked behind expensive tiers. SSO for security? Advanced only. API for automation? Advanced only.
The verdict
DocSend works for basic tracking. If you need "did they open it?" - job done.
But modern teams often need more. Better analytics. Fair pricing. Integrated features.
That's why alternatives exist.
DocSend alternatives to consider
Ellty
Secure document sharing and tracking platform. 50 documents free. Then $29/month flat. All features included. Built for fundraising, sales, m&a.
PandaDoc
Full document lifecycle platform. Create, send, track, sign. More expensive at $35/month but replaces multiple tools.
Papermark
Open-source option. Self-hosted available. Privacy-focused. Similar pricing to Ellty at $29/month.
GetAccept
Sales engagement platform. Includes video messages and chat. Starts at $25/month.
Others
Qwilr (interactive docs), Proposify (design-focused), Bit.ai (collaborative), Notion (all-in-one).
Each serves different needs. DocSend isn't the only option anymore.
Is DocSend right for you?
Depends on your specific needs.
DocSend works best for
Basic tracking needs. You just need to know: Did they open it? Which pages? For how long? DocSend delivers.
Existing Dropbox users. Already paying for Dropbox? Integration makes sense. One vendor. Simplified billing.
Established workflows. Team already uses DocSend? Switching costs time. If it works, keep it.
Simple use cases. Sending occasional documents. No complex requirements. Basic analytics suffice.
Consider alternatives if
Budget matters. Small team paying $3,900/year? Could get similar features for less elsewhere.
You need more insights. Want to know which sentence stopped them? Need engagement scores? DocSend won't help.
You're fundraising. Pitch deck tracking is one thing. But finding investor emails? Building relationships? You need specialized tools.
You want integrated features. Tired of switching between DocSend, signature tool, CRM, email finder? All-in-one platforms exist.
You value modern UX. DocSend works but feels dated. Newer alternatives prioritize user experience.
The bottom line
DocSend pioneered document tracking. Still does it well.
But the market evolved. More options exist. Better pricing. Advanced features. Modern interfaces.
Test DocSend's trial. Then test alternatives. Compare actual usage, not feature lists.
Your documents. Your choice.
Getting started with document tracking
Document tracking isn't complicated. You need four things.
Real-time alerts when someone opens your file. Details on what they actually read. Security to protect sensitive stuff. Pricing that won't bankrupt you.
That's it.
Start testing today:
DocSend offers 14 days. Try it.
But also try alternatives. Ellty gives you 50 documents free. No credit card. See how tracking actually works.
Send a real proposal. Watch the analytics. Compare the insights.
FAQs
What does DocSend do?
Tracks who views your documents. Shows time spent per page. Lets you control access.
How much does DocSend cost?
Starts $15/user/month. Most teams need Standard at $65/user/month. No free plan.
Is DocSend secure?
Yes. SOC 2 certified. Encryption in transit and at rest. Dropbox's security infrastructure.
What are the best DocSend alternatives?
Ellty for fundraising, sales, m&a. PandaDoc for all-in-one document management. Papermark for open source. Depends on your needs.
Can I try DocSend for free?
14-day trial only. No free plan. Some alternatives like Ellty offer 50 free documents permanently.
Does DocSend integrate with CRM?
Salesforce and HubSpot. But only on Standard plan ($65/user) and above.
Can recipients download documents?
You control this. Enable or disable downloads per link.
What file types work?
PDF, PowerPoint, Word, Excel. Maximum 100MB on basic plans.
Is DocSend GDPR compliant?
Yes. Data processing agreements available. EU data residency options.
Who owns DocSend?
Dropbox. Acquired in 2021 for $165 million.
