GateDocs vs. DocSend
DocSend gates your files behind one field: an email address. GateDocs asks for more — name, company, and job title — so every download becomes a real lead. You can start free, and the paid plans have simple, published pricing.
| Feature | GateDocs | DocSend |
|---|---|---|
| Lead capture forms | ✓1 | —2 |
| Custom form fields | ✓ | — |
| Password protection | ✓ | ✓* |
| Watermarks | ✓*3 | ✓*4 |
| Download limits | ✓ | — |
| Link expiry | ✓ | ✓* |
| View analytics | ✓ | ✓* |
| Spaces | ✓ | ✓*5 |
| Webhooks & API | ✓*3 | ? |
| Custom domains | ✓*6 | ✓*7 |
| Team management | ✓ | ✓* |
| Free tier | ✓ | —8 |
1 Lead capture is on every GateDocs plan. The Free plan includes 3 gated links and 50 leads a month; paid plans remove the caps. 2 DocSend offers email-gating (single field) but not multi-field lead capture forms. 3 Watermarking, webhooks and the REST API are included on the GateDocs Business plan ($99 a month) and up. 4 DocSend includes dynamic watermarking on its Advanced plan ($150 or more a month). 5 DocSend's own file-grouping feature happens to be called Spaces too (a naming coincidence, not a shared product). Unlimited Spaces on DocSend need its Standard plan ($45 per user per month, billed annually). 6 GateDocs custom domains are included on the Pro plan ($29 a month) and up. 7 DocSend includes custom branding, including domains, from its Standard plan and up. 8 DocSend has no free plan — a 14-day trial only.
The verdict
DocSend is an established tool, and GateDocs is the newer player. So why switch? Two reasons: lead capture and price. DocSend can ask a reader for an email address before a file opens, and that is it. GateDocs asks for name, company, and job title, then shows the lead in your dashboard straight away. Now the price. DocSend’s team plan, Standard, costs $45 per user per month, billed annually. For a team of three, that is about $135 a month. GateDocs Pro is $29 a month flat, and it covers up to 10 team members. DocSend does offer extras like dynamic watermarking, but only on its Advanced plan, which starts at $150 a month. GateDocs includes watermarking on its Business plan at $99 a month — flat, not per user. And DocSend has no free plan, just a 14-day trial. GateDocs starts at $0. If simple tracking is all you need, DocSend may be enough. If you want each shared file to earn you a lead, try GateDocs free and see.
Frequently asked questions
What makes GateDocs different from DocSend?
DocSend offers email gating: one field before the file opens. GateDocs offers full lead forms with custom fields, such as company and job title. GateDocs also has a free plan, which DocSend does not. On price, compare like with like. DocSend’s Standard plan is $45 per user per month, billed annually — about $135 a month for a team of three. GateDocs Pro is $29 a month flat for up to 10 team members.
Can I switch from DocSend to GateDocs?
Yes, and it is quick. Upload your files to GateDocs, set a form or password gate on each one, and share the new links. Your recipients never need an account. Lead capture is on every plan, including Free, which covers 3 gated links and 50 leads a month. Upgrade to Pro ($29 per month) when you want to remove those caps and the GateDocs branding.