Sharing PDFs and Tracking Views
StackBloom PDF Suite lets you share any PDF with a secure, trackable link. Recipients can view documents in the browser without downloading, and you can monitor exactly who opened your PDF, when, and for how long.
Step 1: Open your PDF project and click Share
From your PDF Suite dashboard, open the project containing the PDF you want to share. Hover over the file and click the Share button, or open the file and click Share in the top toolbar of the editor.
- Each PDF version can have its own share link
- Sharing a file does not affect other files in the same project
- You can manage all active share links from the project's Share panel
Step 2: Choose sharing options
Configure the share link settings to control who can access your document and how long the link remains active.
- Public link — anyone with the link can view the PDF
- Password-protected — recipients must enter a password before viewing
- Expiry date — the link automatically deactivates after a chosen date
- Email gate — require viewers to enter their email before accessing
- Download disabled — viewers can read but not save the PDF locally
Step 3: Copy or email the share link
Click Copy Link to copy the share URL to your clipboard and paste it anywhere. Alternatively, use the built-in Send via Email option to deliver the link directly from PDF Suite with a custom message.
- Share links use a short, clean URL format that is easy to share
- The email option lets you personalize the subject line and body
- Track how many times the link has been shared from the Share panel
Step 4: Recipients can view without downloading
When a recipient clicks the share link, the PDF opens in a clean, distraction-free viewer in their browser. No account, plugin, or software is needed. If a password was set, they will be prompted to enter it first.
- The viewer works on desktop and mobile browsers
- Navigation, zoom, and full-screen controls are available in the viewer
- If download is enabled, a Download button appears in the viewer toolbar
- The viewer branding can be customized on Pro and higher plans
Step 5: Track view analytics
Open the Analytics tab on your share link to see detailed view data. You can see each individual view session, the viewer's location, how long they spent on the document, and which pages they read.
- View count, unique visitors, and total time spent are shown in the summary
- If email gate is enabled, each viewer's email address is recorded
- Page-level analytics show time spent on each page
- Get email notifications when someone opens your PDF for the first time
💡 Tip: Use password protection for sensitive documents such as contracts, financial reports, or client proposals. Combine it with an expiry date so the document becomes inaccessible after a deadline — no need to manually revoke access.