The things people ask before signing up.
How is this different from Netlify Drop, Vercel, or Surge?
Those are full hosting platforms for building and deploying sites. htmldrop is for the moment when you just need a link — no build step, no project, no framework. Drop a file, get a URL in seconds. The free tier doesn't require an account at all.
What about HTML with JavaScript? React apps, p5.js, Three.js?
All supported. We serve the file you uploaded, byte for byte. Single-file demos, exported design previews, p5.js sketches, Three.js scenes — all just work. The only thing we inject (and only on free-tier drops) is a small "Made with htmldrop" badge.
Is my content private when I add a password?
Yes. Password is Argon2id-hashed before it touches storage — we never see the plaintext. The unlock cookie is signed and per-drop, so submitting the password on one drop doesn't open another. Password-protected drops aren't indexed or edge-cached until a viewer unlocks them.
How do you prevent the service from becoming free phishing infrastructure?
Anonymous uploads pass through an invisible bot challenge + a phishing heuristic (off-domain form actions, credential-style inputs, top brand keywords) + a per-IP lifetime cap. Drops that trip the heuristic are quarantined behind a 410 Gone page and surfaced to our trust & safety review. Reports go to [email protected].
What happens if I stop using htmldrop?
Free-tier drops carry a rolling 30-day TTL that resets every time you log in. If you stop logging in for 30 days we deactivate the drop (it serves a "drop expired, log in to recover" page) for another 30 days before deleting. Paid drops have no TTL while the subscription is active. Cancel your plan and you get a 30-day grace window to claim or export.
Where is my data hosted, and is it GDPR-aligned?
Hosting is on Hetzner in Germany, served through a global edge network. We're a UK Ltd (Middle East Software Solutions, Companies House 15913819), so UK GDPR applies and EU users get the same rights via the UK→EU adequacy decision. Full details on /privacy; data-subject requests to [email protected].
Can I export everything? What if you go out of business?
Yes — the original HTML/Markdown source you uploaded is always downloadable from the dashboard. If we ever shut down we'll email account holders 60 days in advance with bulk-export instructions and keep the service running until the window closes.
Do you cache anything I upload? Track viewers?
Public drops are cached at the edge for fast loads. We don't inject analytics scripts, don't sell or share viewer data, and don't use third-party tracking on the served pages. Server-side request logs (IP + user-agent) are kept ~30 days for security & abuse investigation, then deleted.
How do I host a single HTML file online for free?
Drop the file into htmldrop.app — no account, no build step. You get a live slug.htmldrop.app URL in seconds. Anonymous drops are free up to 2 MB and live for 7 days; a free account raises that to 10 MB and keeps the drop as long as you log in.
How do I publish or deploy HTML from an AI assistant like ChatGPT, Claude, or Cursor?
htmldrop ships an MCP server (@htmldrop.app/mcp). Create an API token at htmldrop.app/dashboard/settings, add the server to your assistant's MCP config (npx -y @htmldrop.app/mcp with HTMLDROP_API_TOKEN), then ask the assistant to publish — it calls the htmldrop_publish tool and returns a live URL. Works in Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Cline, and any MCP-aware client.
What is the fastest way to turn an HTML file into a shareable URL?
Drag the file onto htmldrop.app and copy the URL it returns — a few seconds, no signup, no framework. Markdown works too and is rendered. For automation, the MCP server and REST API do the same thing programmatically.
Is htmldrop free? Can I use it without signing up?
Yes. Anonymous drops need no account — drag an HTML file to htmldrop.app and get a live URL for free (up to 2 MB, live for 7 days). A free account adds 3 drops at 10 MB each that stay live as long as you sign in now and then — each visit resets a 30-day clock, and we email you before anything expires. The Plus plan ($12/mo, or $99/yr) makes every drop permanent and adds password protection and your own custom domain.
Can I host a whole website, a folder, or a .zip with multiple pages?
Yes, with a free account. From the dashboard you can drop a folder or a .zip — a built SPA, static site, or multi-page bundle — and it's served at one URL, up to 100 MB per upload on Plus (500 MB on Business). The no-signup homepage dropzone handles single HTML files.
How do I add a custom domain, and which plan do I need?
Bring-your-own custom domains are included with the Plus plan ($12/mo, or $99/yr): 1 domain on Plus, 10 on Business. Add the domain in the dashboard and point a CNAME at htmldrop — we issue and renew SSL automatically.
Does htmldrop support Markdown?
Yes. htmldrop renders Markdown (.md) to a clean, styled page at a real URL — it's a first-class input alongside HTML, so you can share notes, docs, or a README as a live link.
How large a file can I upload?
Anonymous drops are capped at 2 MB. A free account raises that to 10 MB per drop. Paid plans go higher: 100 MB per drop on Plus, and 500 MB per upload on Business.