What is the best file sharing tool for designers?
There is no single best one, because the jobs differ. For feedback on work in progress, share Figma links. For video, use a review tool such as Frame.io, where comments sit on the exact frame. For sign-off and final handoff, use a link page like Droply that opens on a phone and stays up. For raw footage and huge source files, use a transfer service or a shared folder. Most designers end up using two or three of these.
The right tool for each job
| Job | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Feedback on designs in progress | Figma view and prototype links | The client always sees the latest version and can comment in place |
| Feedback on video | A video review tool such as Frame.io | Comments are tied to an exact moment in the video |
| Sign-off and presentations | A link page such as Droply | Opens on a phone with no account, a fixed version, a readable link |
| Final files and brand kits | A link page or a shared folder | Everything on one page that stays up |
| Raw footage, RAW photos, huge source files | A transfer service or a shared folder | Built for many gigabytes |
Figma, for feedback while you work
A view link or prototype link means nobody waits for exports, and the client never looks at an old version. Set link access to Anyone with the link so clients without a Figma account can open it. The catch: they see the whole file, drafts included, so keep explorations elsewhere. More in How to share a Figma design with a client.
Frame.io, for video review
Frame.io is Adobe's review tool for video. Clients press play, pause where something is off and leave a comment on that exact frame. That beats a list of timestamps in an email. It is a review tool, though, not a place to keep final deliverables.
Droply, for sign-off and handoff
Droply turns a PDF, a set of images or a whole website into a link with a name you choose, like northwind-homepage-v3.droply.page. PDFs open in a viewer with page thumbnails, several files share one page with Download all, and nobody needs an account.
What it is good at: sending a fixed version for approval, presenting work on a link that looks like yours, and handing over final files on one page that stays up. On Starter you can turn on comments next to the files, and on Plus you can add a password, see views per day and use your own domain. On Pro you can turn downloads off for review-only previews.
What it is not for: very large raw files. The free plan holds 10 MB, Starter 100 MB and Plus 1 GB. Every ZIP is treated as a website, so upload loose files rather than zipped bundles.
Google Drive and Dropbox, for ongoing work
For a retainer where both sides add files every week, a shared folder is the simplest setup. Create it in the client's account if you can, so the files stay with them when the work ends. Expect a few "Request access" emails: drive links are private by default.
Transfer services, for huge one-off files
WeTransfer, Smash and similar services are built to move many gigabytes at once. Free links expire after a few days, which is fine for raw footage the client downloads immediately, and wrong for anything they need to find again later.
A simple setup for a client project
- During design: share Figma links for feedback.
- For approval: export a PDF and send it as a link, so the client signs off on a fixed version.
- At the end: put the final files, with a README, on one link that stays up. The checklist is in How to hand off final files to a client.
- Huge source files: a shared folder or a transfer service, linked from the README.