Receiving files from your clients: request, upload link or widget?
Half of all business exchanges are about receiving files. Three tools to collect them without chasing people or making clients sign up — and when to use each one.
We always talk about sending files — yet half of professional exchanges are receptions: the client’s assets, the case documents, the correspondent’s photos. And receiving is harder than sending: the other person has to make the effort, with their tools, their limits and their level of patience. Three mechanisms solve the problem.
The problem: collecting, not sending
Asking for files by email triggers the familiar cascade: attachments split across three messages, a drive link that asks for permission, a blurry photo over a messaging app. Everyone improvises — and you do the reassembling. The solution: provide the channel, instead of enduring everyone else’s.
The file request: one-off and framed
You send a request by email: your contact receives a secure upload link, drops their files in from their browser, and you get notified. Ideal for the one-off, named need — “send me the documents for case X” — with per-request tracking, and the ability to remind whoever hasn’t uploaded yet.
The upload link: permanent and effortless
The permanent upload link is your universal drop-off inbox: place it in your email signature, on your profile, in your quotes. Anyone can drop files there at any time, without an account — and every upload is notified to you. It’s the tool for continuous inbound flow: client feedback, applications, contributions.
The widget: embedded in your website
The file reception widget takes the logic all the way: uploads happen on your website, in your branding, via a simple copy-paste of code. Your clients never leave your site — the favorite option of print shops, agencies and services that collect files daily.
Which one should you choose?
| Need | Tool | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One-off, tracked collection | File request | Documents for a specific case |
| Permanent inbound flow | Upload link | Email signature, quotes |
| Collection integrated with your brand | Widget on your website | A “send us your files” page |
All three share the essentials: no account on the uploader’s side, a notification for every upload, files scanned by antivirus. Collecting stops being a chore — for both sides.
Frequently asked questions
Do my clients need to create an account to send me files?
No, never: file requests, upload links and the widget all work from the uploader’s browser, with no sign-up and no software.
How am I notified when a client uploads files?
A notification is sent to you for every upload, whatever the mechanism — and the received files are centralized in your transfer manager.
Are uploaded files safe?
Every file is scanned by an antivirus engine before being made available, and transfers are encrypted (SSL/TLS).
What’s the difference between a file request and an upload link?
The file request is one-off and named: you ask a specific person, with tracking and reminders available. The upload link is permanent and open: placed in a signature or on a profile, it receives files from anyone, at any time.
Can file reception be embedded in a website?
Yes, with the reception widget: one copy-paste of code and your clients upload their files directly on your website, in your branding — without ever leaving it. It’s the favorite option of print shops and agencies.
5 GB per transfer for free, no sign-up