How to Send a PDF Without Email Attachment (5 Better Methods)
Stop attaching PDFs to email. Learn better ways to send PDFs that bypass size limits, look more professional, and let you track views.
Email attachments are the default way to send PDFs. They're also the worst way. Here's why you should stop attaching PDFs to emails and what to do instead.
Why Email Attachments Are Problematic
Size Limits Block Your Files
| Email Provider | Max Attachment Size |
|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB |
| Outlook.com | 20 MB |
| Yahoo Mail | 25 MB |
| Corporate Outlook | Often 10 MB |
| Some corporate | 5 MB |
That 30MB proposal? It's not getting through.
Files Get Lost in Inboxes
Your PDF is now:
- One of 200 emails your recipient got today
- Buried in their inbox
- Competing with spam for attention
- Easy to accidentally delete
No Way to Track Engagement
When you attach a PDF:
- Did they open the email?
- Did they download the attachment?
- Did they actually read it?
You'll never know.
Attachments Look Dated
In 2024, sending email attachments signals:
- "I don't know better methods"
- "I'm not tech-savvy"
- "This is how we did it in 2005"
For professional documents, this matters.
Multiple Versions Cause Confusion
You send v1. Then you update and send v2. Recipient opens v1 by accident. Now they're reading outdated information.
Corporate Firewalls Block Attachments
Many corporate email systems:
- Strip attachments for security
- Quarantine unknown file types
- Block executables (and sometimes misidentify PDFs)
Your important document may never arrive.
Method 1: PDF Link (Best for Most Cases)
Convert your PDF to a shareable link.
How It Works
- Upload PDF to LinkyHost PDF Link Generator
- Get a link like
your-document.linkyhost.com - Paste link in your email
- Recipient clicks to view instantly
Example Email
Hi [Name],
Please find the proposal here:
https://acme-proposal-2024.linkyhost.com
Let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
[Your Name]
Benefits
- No size limits - Works with any PDF size
- Track views - Know when they open it
- Always current - Update PDF, same link works
- Professional - Clean, modern approach
- Mobile-friendly - Opens perfectly on phones
Best For
- Resumes and CVs
- Business proposals
- Contracts and agreements
- Marketing materials
- Reports and presentations
Method 2: Compress Then Share Link
If you want recipients to have the actual file (not just view it), compress first.
Steps
- Compress your PDF using PDF Compressor
- Upload compressed version to get a link
- Share the link
- Recipient can view and download
When to Use
- Recipient needs offline access
- Legal requirements for file possession
- Very large documents that won't compress enough
Method 3: Compress and Share (One-Click)
The fastest method for sending PDFs:
Steps
- Go to Compress and Share
- Upload your PDF
- Get compressed file + shareable link + QR code instantly
This combines compression and hosting in one step.
Method 4: QR Code for In-Person Sharing
For meetings, conferences, or printed materials:
Steps
- Go to File to QR Code
- Upload your PDF
- Download the QR code
- Recipients scan to view
Best For
- Business cards
- Presentations (audience can scan to get slides)
- Printed materials
- Conference handouts
- Real estate flyers
Method 5: Cloud Storage Links (Acceptable Alternative)
Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive links work but have drawbacks.
Google Drive
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aBcD.../view
Problems:
- Ugly URLs
- Permission issues common
- No view tracking
- May require Google account
See: Google Drive PDF Link Problems
Dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com/s/abc123/file.pdf
Problems:
- Dropbox interface surrounds your file
- Some corporate networks block Dropbox
- Free tier has bandwidth limits
When Cloud Storage Works
- Internal team sharing (everyone has accounts)
- Temporary files you don't care about tracking
- You're already paying for business-tier cloud storage
Comparison: All Methods
| Method | Size Limit | Tracking | Professional | Setup Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Email Attachment | 10-25MB | None | Low | Instant |
| PDF Link (LinkyHost) | 50MB | Full | High | 30 sec |
| Compress + Link | 50MB | Full | High | 1 min |
| QR Code | 50MB | Full | High | 1 min |
| Google Drive | 5GB | None | Medium | 1 min |
| Dropbox | 2GB | Limited | Medium | 1 min |
Winner: PDF Link for most professional use cases.
Email Templates for Sharing PDF Links
Formal Business Email
Subject: [Document Name] - For Your Review
Dear [Name],
Please find the requested document at the link below:
[Your LinkyHost Link]
The document covers [brief description]. I've highlighted the
key sections on pages 3 and 7 for your convenience.
Please let me know if you have any questions or need any
clarification.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Company]
Casual Internal Email
Subject: [Document] attached
Hey [Name],
Here's the doc we discussed:
[Your LinkyHost Link]
Let me know what you think!
[Your Name]
Job Application Email
Subject: Application for [Position] - [Your Name]
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my interest in the [Position] role
at [Company].
Please find my resume here: [Your Resume Link]
[2-3 sentences about your qualifications]
I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can
contribute to [Company].
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Phone]
[LinkedIn]
Client Proposal Email
Subject: Proposal for [Project Name]
Hi [Name],
Thank you for meeting with us on [date]. As discussed,
here is our proposal:
[Your Proposal Link]
Key highlights:
- [Point 1]
- [Point 2]
- [Point 3]
I'll follow up [day] to discuss next steps. Please don't
hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Best,
[Your Name]
Pro Tips for Link-Based PDF Sharing
1. Use Descriptive URLs
Good: acme-q4-proposal-2024.linkyhost.com
Bad: quiet-forest-892.linkyhost.com
Custom subdomains are more professional and memorable.
2. Tell Recipients What to Expect
Here's the report (15 pages, 5-minute read):
[Your Link]
This sets expectations and increases open rates.
3. Follow Up Using View Tracking
If your analytics show they viewed it:
Hi [Name],
I noticed you had a chance to review the proposal.
Do you have any questions?
If they haven't viewed it:
Hi [Name],
Just checking if you had a chance to look at the
document I sent. Happy to resend if needed.
4. Update Without Resending
Made a change to your PDF? Upload the new version to the same link. No need to send another email.
5. Create Different Links for Different Recipients
Sending a proposal to 3 prospects? Create 3 links:
client-a-proposal.linkyhost.comclient-b-proposal.linkyhost.comclient-c-proposal.linkyhost.com
Now you can track which client is engaging.
Common Questions
"But what if they don't have internet?"
Rare in 2024, but:
- They can download from the link for offline viewing
- Use Compress and Share to provide a download option
"Is this secure?"
- Links are private (not indexed by Google)
- Optional password protection available
- More secure than email (email can be forwarded indefinitely)
"Will corporate firewalls block it?"
LinkyHost links are rarely blocked because:
- It's a legitimate hosting service
- No executable files
- HTTPS encrypted
- Clean domain reputation
Compare this to cloud storage services which are commonly blocked.
"What about file formats besides PDF?"
You can also share:
- Images (JPG, PNG, GIF)
- Documents (will be converted to viewable format)
- Websites (HTML/CSS/JS as ZIP)
Summary: Stop Attaching, Start Linking
| Old Way | New Way |
|---|---|
| Attach PDF to email | Create PDF link |
| Hope it's under 25MB | No size worries |
| No idea if they read it | Track every view |
| Send new email for updates | Update same link |
| Look like everyone else | Stand out professionally |
The modern way to send PDFs:
- Upload to LinkyHost
- Get a clean link
- Paste in email
- Track engagement
- Update anytime
Email attachments had their time. That time was 2005.