Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: May 17, 2026
What is Quickupload?
Quickupload is a secure, privacy-first file sharing platform built for individuals and teams who need to send large files quickly without compromising on security or privacy. Founded in 2025 by Kelvin Kwong, a full-stack developer based in Hong Kong, Quickupload offers end-to-end encrypted file transfers, password-protected sharing links, customisable expiry dates, download analytics, and a REST API for developers -- all through an intuitive web interface that requires no software installation for recipients.
Is Quickupload really free? What's the catch?
Yes, our Free plan is genuinely free forever -- no credit card required, no trial period that expires, no hidden fees. Free users can upload files up to 100MB each, get 5GB total storage, share links that last up to 7 days, and use password protection at no cost. We sustain the free tier through our paid Pro and Team subscriptions (which unlock larger file sizes, longer expiry, advanced analytics, and API access). The only limitation is storage and file size -- we don't show intrusive ads, sell your data, or restrict core features behind paywalls on the free tier.
Who built Quickupload and why should I trust it?
Quickupload was built by Kelvin Kwong, a Hong Kong-based full-stack developer and founder of multiple digital products including LinkAsia.me, Sinkto.Link, and RocksDev.Tools. The platform is built on modern, audited infrastructure: Next.js for the frontend, Vercel for hosting, Cloudflare CDN for global delivery, Stripe for payments, and AES-256-GCM encryption for all file content. Our codebase follows security best practices including regular dependency audits, penetration testing, and end-to-end encryption that means even we cannot access your uploaded files. Full transparency: read our About page and Terms of Service.
What file types can I upload and share?
Quickupload supports virtually all common file formats across every major category. Documents: PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX, ODT, RTF, TXT. Images: JPG, PNG, GIF, WEBP, SVG, BMP, TIFF, ICO. Audio: MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, AAC, M4A. Video: MP4, WEBM, MOV, AVI, MKV. Archives: ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZ. Code & Data: JSON, XML, CSV, MD, YAML, SQL, HTML, CSS, JS. The only blocked formats on the free tier are executable files (.exe, .msi, .deb) due to abuse prevention policies -- Pro users can upload these after agreeing to additional terms. If your format isn't listed, try uploading it anyway -- we accept most file types as long as they don't exceed the size limit.
Is there a file size limit? What happens if my file is too large?
Yes, size limits depend on your plan tier. Non-registered visitors can upload files up to 100MB. Free account holders can upload up to 100MB per file. Pro subscribers ($9/month or $90/year) can upload files up to 2GB each. Team plan members get 5GB per file. If your file exceeds your limit, you have several options: compress it using ZIP/7Z (often reduces size by 50-80% for text-based files), split large archives into smaller chunks, upgrade your plan, or use our pay-as-you-go overage option ($0.99 per extra GB for occasional needs). The upload interface will clearly display the error message "File exceeds maximum size" with your current limit and the file's actual size so you know exactly how much over you are.
How do I create an account? Do I need one?
You do not need an account to receive or download shared files -- anyone with a link can download. However, creating a free account unlocks important features: upload files larger than the anonymous limit, manage all your shares from a dashboard, set custom expiry dates beyond 24 hours, view download statistics, and re-activate expired files within the grace period. To sign up, click "Sign Up" in the navigation bar, enter your email address and a password (or use Google/GitHub OAuth for instant registration), verify your email via the link we send, and you're ready to go. The entire process takes under 60 seconds.
What subscription plans are available and which one is right for me?
We offer three tiers designed for different use cases. Free ($0): 100MB per file, 5GB storage, 7-day link expiry, basic download counts, community support. Best for casual personal use -- sending occasional photos, documents, or small projects to friends and family. Pro ($9/month or $90/year): 2GB per file, 100GB storage, up to 1-year expiry, download limits per link, full analytics (geography, referrals), API access (60 req/min), email support. Best for freelancers, creators, and professionals who share files regularly for work. Team ($29/month for up to 5 members): Everything in Pro plus 5GB per file, 500GB team storage, admin console, shared folders, SSO/SAML, audit logs. Best for companies and organizations that need centralized file sharing management. Annual billing saves 17% on Pro plans.
How do I upgrade, downgrade, or cancel my subscription?
Navigate to Settings → Subscription from your dashboard. Click "Upgrade Plan" to view available options and complete payment securely via Stripe (we never see your credit card number). Plans activate immediately upon successful payment. To downgrade or cancel, click "Cancel Plan" -- your account reverts to Free tier at the end of your current billing period (you keep full benefits until then). No partial-month refunds are provided, but annual subscribers cancelling after day 14 receive a prorated refund for unused months minus a 15% administrative fee. You can also switch between monthly and annual billing at any time from the same settings page.
What payment methods do you accept?
All payments are processed securely through Stripe, supporting credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, UnionPay, JCB), Google Pay, Apple Pay, and bank transfers (for annual Team plans in select currencies). We do not accept PayPal, cryptocurrency, or cash payments at this time. All transactions appear on your statement as "QUICKUPLOAD*". Your card information is tokenized by Stripe and never stored on our servers. For enterprise customers requiring invoicing or purchase orders, contact sales@quickupload.io to discuss arrangements.
Can I get a refund if I'm not satisfied?
Absolutely. We offer a no-questions-asked 14-day full refund window for any new subscription. Email support@quickupload.io with your account email and "Refund Request" in the subject line, and we'll process the refund back to your original payment method within 5-10 business days. For annual plans cancelled after 14 days, prorated refunds are available (calculated as remaining months ÷ 12 × annual price, minus 15% admin fee). Refunds are not available for accounts terminated due to Terms of Service violations or purchases older than 12 months. See Section 15 of our Terms of Service for complete details.
How secure are my files? Is the encryption real?
Your files are protected by genuine end-to-end encryption (E2EE) using AES-256-GCM -- the same standard used by governments, militaries, and financial institutions worldwide. Here's what that means technically: when you upload a file, your browser generates a unique random 256-bit encryption key using the Web Crypto API, encrypts the entire file locally on your device before any data leaves your computer, and only then transmits the encrypted ciphertext to our servers. The decryption key is either embedded in the share link (for convenience) or derived from your password using PBKDF2 with 600,000 iterations (for password-protected files). Even if someone compromised our entire infrastructure -- databases, servers, backups -- they would find only encrypted gibberish mathematically indistinguishable from random noise. We cannot decrypt your files even if compelled to do so because we never possess the keys alongside the encrypted data.
Can I password protect my files? How strong should passwords be?
Yes, password protection is available on all plans (including Free). When enabled, recipients must enter the correct password before they can see any file details or initiate a download. After three failed attempts, the link locks for 15 minutes to prevent brute-force attacks. For strong security, use passwords that are at least 12 characters long with mixed case, numbers, and symbols -- or better yet, a passphrase of 3-4 unrelated words like "Coffee-Mountain7$Bicycle!" which yields roughly 50 bits of entropy. Avoid dictionary words, names, birthdays, or patterns like "Password123!". Our PBKDF2 key derivation with 600,000 iterations means even weak passwords require substantial computational effort to crack, but stronger passwords provide exponentially better protection.
Where are my files stored physically? Which country?
Encrypted files are stored on cloud infrastructure provided by Vercel, with primary data centers in the United States and distributed edge caching via Cloudflare's global network of 200+ locations in cities worldwide. Your files remain encrypted regardless of which physical server they reside on. For users concerned about data sovereignty, note that: (1) E2EE means the storage location has minimal practical impact since files are unreadable without keys, (2) we comply with GDPR via Standard Contractual Clauses for EU-US data transfers, (3) our legal entity is registered in Hong Kong SAR which has its own Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486). Read our comprehensive Privacy Policy for full details on international data transfers and your rights.
What data does Quickupload collect about me?
We practice data minimization -- collecting only what's necessary to operate the service. For all users: email address (account creation), hashed password (bcrypt, never stored in plaintext), IP address (approximate geolocation for analytics), user-agent string (browser/device info for compatibility), and upload metadata (filename, size, type, timestamp -- but NOT file contents due to E2EE). For Pro/Team users: payment information handled exclusively by Stripe (we only see transaction confirmations), API usage metrics, and detailed analytics preferences. We never sell your data to advertisers, data brokers, or third parties. See our Privacy Policy for the complete data inventory with retention schedules and legal bases for processing.
Does Quickupload comply with GDPR and other privacy laws?
Yes. Quickupload is designed for compliance with GDPR (EU General Data Protection Regulation), CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), PDPO (Hong Kong Personal Data Privacy Ordinance), and other applicable privacy frameworks. Key compliance measures: EU users can exercise their GDPR rights (access, rectification, erasure/"right to be forgotten", portability, objection, restriction) by emailing privacy@quickupload.io -- we respond within 30 days as required by law. California residents can request data disclosure or deletion under CCPA via the same channel. Our Privacy Policy includes detailed procedures for exercising each right, our Data Protection Officer contact information, and our international transfer mechanisms (Standard Contractual Clauses for EU-US data flows).
How do I upload files? What methods are available?
Quickupload supports five upload methods to fit different workflows. Drag and Drop: Open quickupload.io/upload and drag files directly from your file explorer onto the upload zone -- fastest method for most users. Click to Browse: Click inside the upload zone to open your system file picker, navigate to your file(s), and select them. Paste from Clipboard: Copy any image or text to your clipboard (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C), then press Ctrl+V / Cmd+V on the upload page -- ideal for instant screenshot sharing. URL Import (Pro): Paste a remote URL and our server will download and host the file for you. API Upload (Pro): Send a POST request to our REST API endpoint with multipart form data -- perfect for automated workflows and CI/CD pipelines. All methods support single-file and batch uploads.
Can I share files with multiple people? Is there a limit?
There is no limit on how many people can receive your share link -- you can paste it into emails, Slack channels, Discord servers, social media posts, or anywhere else. Every person who clicks the link can download the file (subject to any password protection you've enabled). Pro users have two additional controls: Download Limits -- cap the number of times a file can be downloaded (e.g., allow exactly 3 downloads for a confidential document sent to 3 specific people); once the limit is reached, the link automatically deactivates. Branded Download Pages (Team) -- customize the download experience with your company logo, colors, and messaging so recipients recognize the source immediately.
How long are share links valid? Can I change the expiry date later?
Expiry periods depend on your plan. Anonymous uploads (no account): 24 hours maximum. Free accounts: up to 7 days default (configurable per file). Pro accounts: choose from 1 hour, 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days, 1 year, or never expire. Team accounts: same options as Pro plus custom calendar-date expiry. Yes, you can extend or shorten the expiry date at any time before the file expires -- go to your dashboard, click the file, select "Extend Expiry" or "Change Expiry", and pick a new duration. Extensions are free on all plans. Once a file expires, it enters a 7-day grace period during which you can still reactivate it; after that, permanent deletion occurs.
Can I customize my share link URL?
By default, share links look like quickupload.io/f/a3k9m2px7vzq -- a cryptographically random 12-character ID that provides 72 bits of entropy (making it impractical to guess). Pro users can replace this with a memorable custom slug, such as quickupload.io/f/q2-report-2026 or quickupload.io/f/portfolio-may. Custom slugs must be 3-50 characters, alphanumeric with hyphens only, and unique across all of Quickupload (first-come, first-served). This is great for professional sharing where you want the URL itself to be descriptive and trustworthy-looking. Team plan users can additionally enable branded domains (e.g., files.yourcompany.com) for fully white-labeled sharing.
Can I upload multiple files at once? What about folders?
Yes! When using drag-and-drop or the file browser picker, select multiple files simultaneously (hold Ctrl/Cmd while clicking, or Shift+click for ranges). Each file gets its own individual share link with independent settings (password, expiry, etc.). For organizing related files, we recommend creating a ZIP archive first -- this keeps everything together in one download, preserves folder structure, and often significantly reduces total upload time due to compression. Direct folder upload (uploading an entire directory tree) is not currently supported in the web interface, but our CLI tool (available to Pro users) supports recursive directory uploads that automatically zip and share folder contents.
Do recipients need an account to download files?
No -- this is a core design principle of Quickupload. Recipients need only the share link and, if applicable, the password chosen by the uploader. No account creation, no app installation, no plugin downloads. Just open the link in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave -- we recommend Chrome 120+ or Firefox 121+ for best performance), enter the password if required, and click Download. The file saves to the recipient's default downloads folder. This frictionless recipient experience is why thousands of users prefer Quickupload over alternatives that require recipients to register or install software.
Can I track who downloads my files? What data do I see?
Tracking depth depends on your plan. Free users see: total download count per file, timestamps of the last 50 downloads, and file status (active/expired/deleted). Pro users see everything in Free plus: unique visitor count (deduplicates repeat downloads from the same browser), approximate geographic distribution (top 5 countries), referral source (direct link, email client, social media platform, API call), average download speed, and exportable CSV/JSON records of all download history. Team users add: per-member breakdowns, folder-level aggregation, week-over-week comparison charts, and scheduled weekly reports emailed to admins. Note: we log anonymized/hashed identifiers where possible -- we do not expose recipient identities (names, emails) to uploaders unless the recipient voluntarily provides that information.
What happens if a download fails or is interrupted?
Our CDN (Cloudflare) provides automatic retry logic for transient network failures -- if a download pauses due to a brief connectivity issue, it typically resumes automatically within seconds. For larger files (50MB+), browsers support progressive downloading, meaning you can resume an interrupted download by clicking the download button again (the browser picks up where it left off rather than starting over). If downloads consistently fail for a specific recipient, common causes include: corporate firewall blocking large downloads (suggest using a different network or VPN), browser extensions interfering (ad blockers sometimes block download initiators), insufficient disk space, or the file having expired between when the link was received and when download was attempted. Check the link status first -- if it shows "Expired," ask the uploader for a fresh link.
What happens to my files when they expire? Can I recover them?
When a file reaches its expiry date, it enters a three-phase lifecycle. Phase 1 -- Expired (Days 0-7): The file is no longer downloadable -- anyone clicking the link sees an "Expired" message. However, as the uploader, you can still see it in your "Expired Files" archive and reactivate it with one click (extending to a new expiry date). Phase 2 -- Grace Period (after Day 7): Reactivation is no longer possible. The file is queued for secure deletion. Phase 3 -- Purged (within 24-48 hours after grace period ends): The file undergoes multi-pass cryptographic erasure (overwriting data blocks with random patterns before deletion). This process is irreversible -- we physically cannot recover purged files even if requested or legally compelled. Always maintain copies of irreplaceable files in your own primary storage.
What browsers and devices are supported?
Quickupload works on any modern browser that supports the File API, Web Crypto API, and ES2020+ JavaScript. Officially supported: Chrome 120+, Firefox 121+, Safari 17+, Edge 120+, Brave 1.60+. Mobile browsers (Chrome iOS, Safari iOS, Samsung Internet) are fully supported -- the responsive design adapts to phone screens. Not supported: Internet Explorer (deprecated by Microsoft), Opera Mini (limited JS support), very old browser versions (more than 2 years old). For the best experience, enable JavaScript and cookies. If you encounter display issues, try clearing your cache (Ctrl+Shift+R / Cmd+Shift+R) or opening the site in an incognito/private window to rule out extension conflicts.
Is there a desktop app or mobile app?
Currently, Quickupload is a web-first application accessible from any browser on any device -- no installation required. This deliberate choice means zero friction for recipients (no "please download our app to open this file") and instant access to new features (web updates deploy instantly without app store review delays). That said, we are evaluating a lightweight desktop app for power users who want drag-and-drop from their OS file manager directly to Quickupload without opening a browser, and system tray notifications for download alerts. Join our Discord or check the roadmap on our GitHub (github.com/kelvin6365) for progress updates. Pro users can already achieve similar functionality using our official CLI tool (npm install -g @quickupload/cli) which enables terminal-based uploads.
What are the API rate limits? How do I get API access?
API access is included with Pro and Team plans. Rate limits are designed to prevent abuse while accommodating legitimate high-volume usage. Free tier: 5 requests per minute, 1,000 requests per day. Pro tier: 60 requests per minute, 50,000 requests per day. Team tier: 300 requests per minute, unlimited daily. Every API response includes rate limit headers (X-RateLimit-Remaining shows how many requests you have left, X-RateLimit-Reset shows when the counter resets) so you can implement graceful client-side throttling. To get started: go to Settings → Developer → Generate API Key, copy it (shown only once for security), and authenticate requests with the header: Authorization: Bearer qu_live_yourkeyhere. Full API documentation is available at quickupload.io/docs/api with interactive examples in cURL, Python, JavaScript, and Ruby.
How can I contact support if I need help?
We offer multiple support channels depending on your plan and urgency. Email: support@quickupload.io -- available to all users. Pro users get responses within 4 business hours; Free users within 48 hours. Discord Community: join our Discord server for real-time help from our team and fellow users -- great for quick questions, feature discussions, and tips. Help Center: visit quickupload.io/help for searchable guides covering getting started, uploading, downloading, security, account management, troubleshooting, and more -- updated regularly. Bug Reports: for technical issues, email bugs@quickupload.io with your browser version, operating system, steps to reproduce, and screenshots if possible. For legal, DMCA, or privacy inquiries, use legal@quickupload.io or privacy@quickupload.io respectively.
Why was my file or account flagged or removed?
Files or accounts may be flagged for several reasons, all outlined in our Terms of Service (Sections 3 and 10). Common causes: Copyright infringement -- sharing movies, music, software, books, or other copyrighted content you don't own or have license to distribute. We respond to DMCA takedown notices promptly. Malware/phishing -- uploading executables containing viruses, ransomware, keyloggers, phishing pages, or exploit code. Our automated scanners detect known malware signatures. Spam/abuse -- using Quickupload to distribute spam, conduct DDoS attacks, harvest email addresses, or engage in harassment. ToS violation -- repeated violations of any term including creating multiple free accounts to circumvent limits. If you believe your content or account was flagged in error, email appeal@quickupload.io with your account details and we will review within 72 hours.