Scans
Scanned pages are images, so a 30-page scan can easily pass 20 MB. Run it through the PDF compressor if the recipient is on mobile data.
Compress a PDFPDF to Link
Upload a contract, portfolio or scanned document and send a link instead of an attachment. Nothing bounces, and nothing gets stuck in an outbox.
- No signup to download
- Link lasts 24 hours
- Hidden from search engines
Drop a PDF here
PDF · up to 2 GB
Will it go through?
About 23 MB. Too big for 2 of 4 apps. A link takes up to 2 GB.
30 pages
Outlook20 MB
2.5 MB overiCloud Mail20 MB
2.5 MB overGmail25 MB
FitsYahoo Mail25 MB
Fits
How to create a link for a PDF
1.Pick the PDF
Drag it onto the box above or choose it from your files. You'll see its name, size and page count before it uploads.
2.Get the link
Tap Generate Link. Most PDFs upload in a few seconds.
3.Paste it into your email
Put the link in the email body instead of attaching the file. The message stays small and delivers, and the PDF opens in any browser.
Opens in any browser, no Adobe needed
The recipient clicks the link and can open the PDF straight in their browser or download it to any PDF app. Every phone and computer can do this without extra software. Form fields, bookmarks, embedded fonts and signatures all survive, because the file is never converted or re-saved.
Signed-agreement.pdf
PDF · 18.4 MB · expires in about 23 hours
What each email app does with a big PDF
Gmail25 MB
25 MB per email. Bigger PDFs are swapped for a Google Drive link, which can ask the recipient to request access.
Outlook20 MB
20 MB in Outlook.com, then it offers a OneDrive link instead.
Yahoo Mail25 MB
25 MB per email, attachments included.
iCloud Mail20 MB
20 MB, or up to 5 GB with Mail Drop when you send from Apple's Mail app.
Discord10 MB
10 MB on the free plan.
Slack1 GB
Previews PDFs inline up to 1 GB, but only for people in your workspace.
PDF sizes at a glance
How big each kind of pdf is per page, and how much of it fits in a 25 MB email compared with one free 2 GB link.
| Format | Size per page | Fits in an email | Fits in one link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text document | 102 KB | 250 pages | 20,480 pages |
| Scanned in greyscale | 307 KB | 83 pages | 6,826 pages |
| Slides with images | 512 KB | 50 pages | 4,096 pages |
| Scanned in colour | 768 KB | 33 pages | 2,730 pages |
| Photo-heavy portfolio | 2 MB | 12 pages | 1,024 pages |
Rough per-page averages for exported documents and 300 dpi scans. Your file can be half or double this.
Things worth checking before you send
Several PDFs
One link holds one file. Merge the documents into one PDF first. It's also easier for the recipient to read.
Merge PDFsLocked PDFs
If the PDF has a password, the recipient still needs it to open the file. Send the password in a different message from the link.
Forms
Fillable fields keep working because the file isn't touched. The recipient fills it in and sends it back.
When a link isn't the right tool
A link delivers the document. Some PDFs need more than delivery.
Getting it signed
If the PDF needs a legally binding signature, use an e-signature service. A link only delivers the file.
Commenting together
For several people marking up one draft, a shared Google Doc or a review tool beats passing PDFs around.
Contracts and client files
BulkShare Pro adds a password, an expiry date you choose, your own domain, and a note telling you when the client opened the file.
See Pro
Turn other files into a link
PDF to Link questions
Upload the PDF on this page and tap Generate Link. Copy the URL and paste it wherever you'd normally attach the file.
Send the next one
from your domain.
Start a 7-day free trial — card required. Add your domain when the next project ships.
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