Document analytics vs ongoing client portal — not the same thing
DocSend tells you who opened your proposal and which slides they read longest. It is excellent at that. Droplana is a private two-way portal per client — for sharing, receiving, and getting sign-off on files over the life of an engagement. If you are choosing between them, the real question is what problem you are actually solving.
What each tool is actually built for
DocSend is document analytics. You upload a proposal, pitch deck, or investor memo. You share a tracked link. You see when the recipient opened it, how long they spent on each slide, and whether they forwarded it to someone else. This information is invaluable if you are in sales or fundraising — it tells you when to follow up and which concerns to address.
Droplana is a client portal. Each client gets a private space. You share files with them. They share files back. They leave comments on specific deliverables. They approve work. The portal persists for the life of the engagement and beyond.
These tools are solving different problems for different contexts.
Side-by-side comparison
| DocSend | Droplana | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Document tracking and analytics | Ongoing client file exchange |
| Direction | One-way (you share, they view) | Two-way (both parties upload) |
| Per-client isolation | No persistent client space | Yes — one portal per client |
| View analytics | Yes — who, when, how long | No |
| File approval workflow | No | Yes |
| Persistent client portal | No | Yes |
| Client uploads to you | No | Yes |
| EU hosting | No | Yes — Germany |
| Best for | Sales decks, investor docs, proposals | Service businesses with ongoing clients |
DocSend is now part of Dropbox. Verify current features and pricing at docsend.com.
When DocSend is the right tool
DocSend is excellent when the analytics are the point. You want to know:
- Did the investor actually open the deck?
- Which section caused them to drop off?
- Did they share it with a partner or advisor?
- Is this the right time to follow up?
For sales teams, fundraising rounds, and enterprise proposals, this intelligence is genuinely valuable. DocSend's link control features — password protection, expiry, view limits — also work well for sensitive one-off documents.
If your work is primarily outbound document delivery where knowing engagement matters, DocSend is built for that.
When Droplana is the right tool
Droplana is built for ongoing client relationships where the file exchange is two-way and persistent.
- A designer sharing revision sets and getting approval on each round
- An accountant collecting bank statements from clients and delivering completed returns
- A consultant delivering reports and getting sign-off on recommendations
- A contractor sharing job site photos and collecting client sign-off on completed work
The portal exists for the duration of the engagement. Both parties contribute to it. The client always knows where to find their files.
If you are a service business with active client relationships — not primarily a sales or fundraising context — Droplana is the right category of tool.
Can you use both?
Yes, and many businesses do. DocSend for the initial proposal — you track whether the prospect engaged. Then Droplana for the client once they sign — a persistent, two-way portal for the working relationship.
The tools do not overlap. They are different phases of the same relationship.
Check our simple pricing (or start free)
Free
€0
- 1 client
- 5 GB storage
- 100 MB max file size
- Max 1 year file retention
- No team members
- Custom slug with random suffix
Pro
€10/mo+ tax
- Unlimited clients
- 100 GB storage (extra available with addons)
- 1 GB max file (5 GB available with addon)
- Unlimited file retention
- 3 team members included (unlimited with addon)
- Fully custom slug
Need more? Add the Storage addon (€25/mo stackable) or Team addon (€20/mo).
Security, per-client encryption, isolation, in-browser PDF signing, and data export are the same on every plan.
No per-client fees. Tax calculated by Creem at checkout.
See who uses Droplana
Mortgage Brokers
Collect payslips, bank statements, ID, and signed disclosures from mortgage clients in one private portal per client. EU-hosted in Germany, DPA available.
Contractors
Stop texting job photos. Give every client a private portal for progress shots, estimates, and sign-off. They open a link — no app, no account required.
Accounting
Give each accounting client their own private portal. EU-hosted in Germany, DPA available. Tax returns, source documents, and year-end packages in one place.
Coaches
Session notes, worksheets, recordings — one private portal per coaching client. No accounts, no scattered emails. Just organized work, easy to find.