PDF hosting

Host a PDF online. See which pages get viewed.

Turn your PDF into a browser link. See opens and recorded time by page. Replace the PDF or revoke its link from your workspace.

No credit card required. Open-link recipients do not need a HummingDeck account.

Sample browser PDF viewer with sample opens and recorded time by page.
Built for trustTLS encryptionGDPR-readyGoogle CloudSecure paymentsSecurity overview
G2

Rated 5.0 out of 5 on G2

Read the reviews on G2
The page-level analytics are the best part because they show real engagement instead of just basic opens.
Verified User in Computer Software
What I like most about the product is how easy it is to use, especially when it comes to listing all my links and embedding demos in one place for leads and prospects.
Jerome K.Founder
Responsiveness, configurability and development velocity.
Suman K.Co-Founder & CEO

How PDF hosting works

Upload the PDF, choose a link, and see what happens next.

Recipients open the PDF in their browser. HummingDeck records each link's views in your workspace.

  1. Upload the PDF

    Add a PDF up to 100 MB from your workspace.

  2. Choose the link

    Use one Open link for everyone, or create separate links for different recipients or campaigns.

  3. Check the views

    See qualifying opens after you share the link. Starter adds page views, recorded time, and return sessions.

Mobile-ready viewing

Open the PDF in the browser. Skip the download step.

Recipients can open an Open link in a current mobile browser without a HummingDeck account. Page navigation and zoom stay inside the viewer.

  • No recipient account for Open links
  • Page navigation and zoom in the browser
  • Qualifying mobile opens are recorded on the same share link
Open the PDF in the browser. Skip the download step.. Q4 growth plan

Browser viewing and page analytics

They open the PDF in a browser. You see views and recorded time by page.

Recipient experience

Open the PDF without downloading it first

Open links work in the browser without a HummingDeck login. Replace the PDF later and keep the same link.

  • One browser link instead of an attachment
  • Desktop and mobile PDF viewer
  • Current version stays behind the same standard link

Sender activity

Review opens, pages, and return visits

Every plan records qualifying views, bot signals, and view notifications. Starter adds recorded time by page, page coverage, return sessions, approximate location, and supported link clicks.

  • Page coverage counts unique pages viewed; it does not show whether the last page was reached
  • HummingDeck records a personal link separately, but it does not prove who used the device
Starter+Example viewing data

Recorded time by page

PDF · 12 pages
01
Cover
Recorded time: 0m 28s
02
Overview
Recorded time: 1m 12s
03
Approach
Recorded time: 2m 45s
04
Case study
Recorded time: 4m 02s
05
Pricing
Recorded time: 3m 48s
06
Next steps
Recorded time: 1m 18s
Recorded time
Recorded time does not prove that someone paid attention or understood the page

Bot filtering removes some scanner traffic, but it cannot catch every automated event or confirm that a person caused each remaining event.

Access and lifecycle

Choose who can open the PDF. Keep control of the link after you share it.

Use Open when anyone with the URL may view the PDF, Ask Email on a Lead Magnet to collect an address, or Restricted for an exact-email allowlist.

Link mode · No gate

Let anyone with the URL open the PDF

Anyone with the URL can open the PDF in a browser without a HummingDeck account. The link can be forwarded, and its views do not verify who used the browser.

  • Available on every plan
  • No account or email gate
  • Forwardable link with no identity verification

Choose one mode per link: Choose the mode when you create the link. To switch between Open, Ask Email, and Restricted, create a new link. You can still edit an existing Restricted link's exact-email allowlist.

Manage the link after you share it

  • Revoke

    All plans

    Stop new access through the HummingDeck share page.

  • Replace

    All plans

    Update a standard PDF without changing its URL.

  • Expire

    Starter and above

    Set a date for the link to stop opening.

  • Hide download button

    Starter and above

    Reduce casual saving from the viewer.

Revoke a link to block future access through its HummingDeck share page. On Starter and above, hide the standard download action to reduce routine saving from the PDF viewer.

Business

Keep the PDF link on your domain.

On Business, you can request one branded subdomain, such as docs.yourcompany.com, for document and Room links. HummingDeck Support completes the setup after you verify DNS.

See custom-domain setup
Recipient address: docs.yourcompany.com/view/q4-plan
PDF

Q4 growth plan

PDF · 12 pages

3 / 12

Business workspaces can also remove the “Powered by HummingDeck” footer from document and Room viewers.

PDF links for lead magnets, sales, updates, and reports.

Collect an email before the guide opens

On Pro and Business, Ask Email can collect a self-reported address before a Lead Magnet opens. It is stored under Captured Leads, but it does not verify identity or record marketing consent.

Explore marketing workflows

Give each prospect a separate PDF link

Create separate links for proposals, case studies, or pricing PDFs. Starter adds page-level data and link controls. A personal link still cannot prove who used the device.

Explore sales workflows

Start with one deck. Add a Room when investors need more.

Share a pitch deck or update as one PDF. When investors need more files, tracked URLs, or a next-step plan, put them in a Room.

Explore fundraising workflows

Keep one URL for each client report

Replace a standard PDF without resending the link. Business adds a branded subdomain. Use a Room when the client needs more than one file.

Explore client workflows

Sharing more than one format?

Share finished documents in one consistent way.

Host PDFs, presentations, Word documents, spreadsheets, and HTML, then share them as links you can manage and track.

Explore document hosting

One PDF or a Room

When one PDF is not enough, use a Room.

A standalone link works for one PDF. A Room groups the proposal, pricing, proof, and next steps under one URL.

Standalone PDF

Share one PDF by itself

Create separate links when you need different access settings or a separate view history for the same PDF.

Room

Group files, links, and next steps

Add workspace documents, tracked URLs, supported embeds, and a mutual action plan to one Room. Recipients do not need a HummingDeck account.

On Pro and Business, Rooms support Verify Email and eligible company-domain rules. Create separate Rooms for audiences that need different files.

Explore Rooms

Acme Corp · Enterprise Deal

Shared by Alex Chen · Account Executive

Proposal & Pricing

Q1 Sales Proposal

12 pages

Accepted

Enterprise Pricing

4 pages

ROI Calculator

docs.google.com

References

Case Study · Acme Corp

8 pages

Legal

Mutual NDA

2 pages

Bulk link creation

Create one PDF link or up to 1,000 from a CSV.

Use separate links when you share the same PDF with many recipients. HummingDeck creates the links and records views for each one; you send them from your own tool.

  1. 01CSV

    Upload the recipient list

    Generate Batch accepts up to 1,000 rows at a time. Your plan's remaining standalone-link allowance still applies.

  2. 02Personal links

    Create a separate URL per row

    CSV batch generation starts on Starter. HummingDeck records views separately for each generated link.

  3. 03Your sequence

    Export and send from your tool

    On Pro and Business, start with a connected Close Smart View and write each URL to a selected Close custom field.

A personal link is associated with the intended recipient, but it cannot prove who used the device. Forwarded views remain on that link.

REST API

Create PDF links from your own system.

Business workspaces can request REST API access. HummingDeck enables it per workspace after review. Once enabled, the API can upload documents up to 30 MB, create basic standalone Personal or anonymous links, and work with supported company, contact, and engagement data.

Compare plans for PDF hosting and sharing.

Starter adds page analytics and link controls. Pro adds gated access. Business adds a custom domain and API access by request.

Save up to 20%

Starter

$10/month

Page views, recorded time by page, expiry, download-button control, and CSV batch links.

Start 7-day Starter trial
Most popular

Pro

$25/month per user

Ask Email, Restricted access, Close, Slack, and larger Rooms.

Start 7-day Pro trial

Business

$40/month per user

Custom domain, viewer-footer removal, unlimited sharing, and REST API access by request.

Start 7-day Business trial

Just exploring? Start on the Free plan. 5 documents and 5 links, forever.

Get started free →

Plus applicable VAT/tax. Tax is added at checkout. Pricing for businesses. Prices exclude VAT/sales tax, which is calculated at checkout based on your location.

Compare all features

Compare PDF hosting options

Not every PDF needs a tracked viewer.

Use a direct host for a public URL, a flipbook for page-turn presentation, or a formal VDR for regulated diligence. Our guide compares 10 current options.

Compare 10 PDF hosting options

Questions about hosting a PDF

Can I host a PDF online for free?

Yes. HummingDeck Free supports five documents and five active standalone links across the workspace. You can upload a PDF, create an Open link, and record basic views without a credit card.

Does the recipient need an account?

An Open-link recipient does not need a HummingDeck account. Pro and Business can add Ask Email to a Lead Magnet link; the address is self-reported and appears under Captured Leads. Restricted access requires the recipient to verify an exact email address that you allowed.

Can I see which PDF pages were viewed?

Starter and above show page views, recorded time by page, page coverage, and return sessions. These report browser events, not who used the device or whether the PDF was read or understood.

Can I stop PDF downloads?

Starter and above can hide the standard download button. A recipient may still capture the screen, extract content through the browser, copy material manually, or use a copy obtained while access was valid.

Can I revoke or replace the link later?

Every plan can revoke a link and replace a standard document while keeping its URL. Revoke an active Decision Capture Proposal link before replacing its document. Revocation stops new access through the share URL but cannot recall loaded or saved content.

Can I use my own domain for a PDF link?

Business workspaces can request one branded subdomain for standalone document and Room links. HummingDeck Support completes the setup after DNS verification. Business can also remove the HummingDeck viewer footer.

What is the PDF upload-size limit?

Browser uploads accept PDFs up to 100 MB; API uploads accept documents up to 30 MB. These per-file limits do not define a workspace storage quota.

When should I use a Room instead of a standalone PDF link?

Use a Room when one recipient needs several documents, tracked URLs, supported embeds, or a shared next-step plan under one URL. Create separate Rooms when audiences need different file sets.

Send the PDF. Track opens and page views.

Upload the file, choose how the link opens, and manage it from your workspace.

Create your PDF link

No credit card required.