Google Drive link sharing alternative: send files with links that expire
"Put it in Drive and send the link" is how most people share a file too big for email. It works, but Drive is built for storing and collaborating on files, not for sending one to someone. That shows up in a few ways that are easy to miss.
The problems with sharing from Google Drive
- Links don't expire. On a personal Google account, "anyone with the link" access has no expiry date. Setting an expiry is only available on paid Google Workspace accounts, and only for specific people, not public links.
- No download limit. Once a link is out, anyone who gets it can download the file as many times as they like, until you remember to turn sharing off.
- It uses your storage. Every shared file counts against the 15 GB of free storage shared by Drive, Gmail and Google Photos.
- Google can read it. Drive encrypts files, but Google holds the keys. It's not end-to-end encrypted on personal accounts.
- Permission mix-ups. Share it wrong and the recipient gets "You need access"; share it too openly and it's public.
A tool built for sending
| Google Drive link | Send Shed Quick Share | Send Shed Encrypted Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Link expires by itself | No (personal accounts) | 1 hour to 7 days | 1 hour to 30 days |
| Download limit | No | 1, 5, 25 or unlimited | 1, 5, 25, 100 or unlimited |
| Password | No | Optional | Optional |
| Email when downloaded | No | Yes | Yes |
| Uses your Google storage | Yes | No | No |
| Provider can read the file | Yes | Stored unencrypted, screened | No, encrypted in your browser |
| Account needed | Google account | No | Yes, free |
Upload to Quick Share with no account, pick how long the link lives and how many downloads it allows, and it cleans itself up. For anything sensitive, Encrypted Share encrypts the file before it leaves your device.
When Drive is still the right tool
If you and the other person will keep working on the same file, editing a document or building a shared folder over months, Drive is the better fit. For "here's the file", a link that expires is cleaner and safer.
Send it with a link that expires
Up to 3 GB free with no account, or encrypted with a free account.
Send it with Quick Share Send it encrypted