DocSend vs Dropbox: Which One Do You Need?
Dropbox owns DocSend, but they do different jobs. Dropbox stores and shares files; DocSend tracks how documents are read. What changed when Send & Track ended.
Quick answer: Dropbox is for storing and sharing files. DocSend, which Dropbox bought in 2021, is for sending documents and seeing how they are read. If you used Dropbox's Send & Track to see whether a file was opened, that feature ended on 31 March 2025, and Dropbox now points people to DocSend, which is a separate paid product.
DocSend vs Dropbox at a glance
| Dropbox | DocSend | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Storage, sync and file sharing | Sending documents and tracking them |
| Owner | Dropbox | Dropbox (bought in 2021) |
| Free plan | Yes, Dropbox Basic | No, 14-day trial |
| Paid from | Dropbox Plus and business plans | $10 per user/month yearly ($15 monthly) |
| Page-by-page reading data | No | Yes |
| Data rooms, NDAs, watermarks | No | Yes, on Advanced ($150/month for 3 users) |
| Folder sync on your computer | Yes | No |
DocSend prices checked on docsend.com/pricing on 8 November 2026.
What happened to Send & Track
Send & Track was a Dropbox feature for sending a file as a link and seeing when it was opened. Dropbox ended it on 31 March 2025. Its notice said this included the sending feature and the analytics for those files. Reports on the Dropbox Community say old links stopped working and the analytics were deleted.
Dropbox's suggestion for people who still need tracking is DocSend. That means a second product with its own subscription, on top of Dropbox.
What Dropbox does well
Dropbox keeps files in sync across your devices and makes sharing easy: send a link to a file or folder, or share a folder with a team. It handles large files and versions well. For storage and collaboration, it is the right tool.
What DocSend does well
DocSend records each visit to a document and how long was spent on each page. Higher plans add data rooms, NDAs, watermarks, email verification and audit logs. It is used for fundraising, sales and deals, where knowing how a document was read changes what you do next.
Which one do you need?
- You store files and share them with your team: Dropbox.
- You send decks, proposals or deal documents and need page-by-page data or data rooms: DocSend.
- You used Send & Track only to see that a file was opened: you may not need either. A simpler tracked link does that for less.
Replacing Send & Track for less
If you only need to know when a PDF was opened, compare the options in our Dropbox Send & Track alternatives list.
We make SharePDF. You upload a PDF, Word or PowerPoint file and send a short link that opens in the browser with no account. The free plan emails you the first time someone else opens an unlisted PDF and shows a total view count. Paid plans start at $5 a month and add views over time, time on each page, password, expiry, email capture and your own domain. It has no data rooms, NDAs or e-signatures, so it is not a DocSend replacement for deal teams.
For DocSend's plans in detail, see DocSend pricing. For other options, see DocSend alternatives and DocSend vs Google Drive.
FAQ
Is DocSend part of Dropbox?
Yes. Dropbox bought DocSend in 2021, and DocSend's site now carries the Dropbox DocSend name. It is sold as a separate product.
Does Dropbox include DocSend?
No. DocSend has its own plans, from $10 per user a month on yearly billing.
Can I still use Dropbox Send & Track?
No. Dropbox ended it on 31 March 2025.
Can I get my old Send & Track analytics back?
We could not find a way to. Ask Dropbox support if you need them.
What is the cheapest way to see if a PDF was opened?
SharePDF's free plan emails you the first time an unlisted PDF is opened. Paid plans start at $5 a month.