The best free tools to turn a file into a link (2026, tested)

1. Link in Seconds: best for any file as a link that keeps working, with views

Good: PDF, video, image, HTML, ZIP and more open in the browser. Links never expire, and password, expiry date, QR code and analytics (views, time per page, device) are free. Replace the file and the link stays the same.

The catch: 250 MB per file and 50 live links on Free. You need a free account to upload; viewers need none.

2. Google Drive: best for files you also edit with others

Good: 15 GB free, no expiry timer, and almost everyone already has an account.

The catch: Outside viewers land in Drive's viewer, "Request access" walls are common, and Drive doesn't show who outside your team opened a file.

3. Dropbox: best for teams already on Dropbox

Good: Shared links have no timer and preview many file types.

The catch: 2 GB of free storage. Passwords, expiry and view tracking are on paid plans, and very popular links can be paused for traffic.

4. Papermark: best for pitch decks and data rooms

Good: Page-by-page analytics, passwords and email capture on the free plan, and it's open source.

The catch: Built for documents and decks. The free plan is capped at 50 documents and 50 links, per Papermark's pricing page.

5. tiiny.host: best for a tiny HTML page or PDF

Good: Quick to publish a single page.

The catch: 3 MB uploads and one site on free, and you have to log in every 3 months to keep it. Passwords and analytics are paid.

6. Jumpshare: best for screen recordings you share as links

Good: Screen recording built in, plus file uploads.

The catch: 2 GB of storage and 250 MB per file on the free plan.

7. SwissTransfer: best for one huge file, once

Good: 50 GB per transfer, free, with a password.

The catch: The link lasts 15 days (30 if you extend it), and it's a download page, not a viewer.

8. Gofile: best for throwaway anonymous uploads

Good: No account needed to upload.

The catch: Files on free accounts can go after 10 days with no downloads, so it's not for links that must last.

What is the best free tool to turn a file into a link?

It depends on the file and how long the link must work. For any file that should keep working, with a view count and an optional password, Link in Seconds. For files you edit with a team, Google Drive. For pitch decks, Papermark. For one huge file sent once, SwissTransfer.

How do I turn a file into a link for free?

Upload it to a service that gives each file a public link. On Link in Seconds you sign in for free, drop the file in and copy the link; it opens in any browser with no account, up to 250 MB per file. On Google Drive, upload it and set sharing to "Anyone with the link".

Which file link tools show who opened my file?

Link in Seconds and Papermark show opens on their free plans, including time per page. Google Drive doesn't show outside viewers, WeTransfer only says whether a transfer was downloaded, and Dropbox and tiiny.host keep analytics for paid plans.

Is there a file to link tool that never expires?

Yes. Link in Seconds links never expire on any plan, and Google Drive and Dropbox links have no timer while the file stays put. Transfer tools like WeTransfer, Smash and SwissTransfer delete files after 3 to 15 days.

Can I turn a file into a link without signing up?

Some anonymous hosts, like Gofile, allow uploads without an account, but those files can be removed after a period with no downloads. Hosts that keep links working, including Link in Seconds and Google Drive, ask for a free account so the link has an owner who can update, lock or delete it. Viewers never need an account.