Tool profile
Hightail: cost, fit and limits
Hightail is a file sharing and review service for creative teams, copyrighted by Open Text Corporation on its pricing page, that sends large files with tracking, passwords, version control and approval routing on paid plans.
What to know first
Hightail has four plans: a free Lite plan with 100 MB uploads and 2 GB storage, Pro at $12 a month billed annually with uploads to 25 GB, Teams at $24 per user a month with 50 GB uploads and version control, and Business at $36 per user a month with 500 GB uploads. A FAQ on the same page shows $15, $30 and $45 per month, so the amounts depend on the billing cycle.
Hightail at a glance
| Maker | Open Text Corporation, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI File Transfer Services in 2026, rank 5 of 13 |
| Website | hightail.com |
Who Hightail is best for
Creative agencies reviewing work
Teams adds version control, version compare and approval routing, which helps a studio keep feedback on one file instead of scattered emails.
Solo professionals
Pro gives unlimited storage, tracking and password protection for $12 a month on annual billing, which suits a photographer or consultant.
Adobe and cloud storage users
Plugins for Photoshop and Illustrator and sync with Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive are listed from Lite upward. Hightail also lists OpenText Core, so teams on those platforms can connect storage.
Hightail plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | Free | Uploads up to 100 MB, 2 GB storage, 7-day send expiration, up to 30 recipients per file send. |
| Pro | $12 per month, billed annually | Uploads up to 25 GB, unlimited storage, configurable send expiration, send tracking and password protection. |
| Teams | $24 per user per month, billed annually | Uploads up to 50 GB, version control, approval routing, personal and team dashboards, 1 to 30 users. |
| Business | $36 per user per month, billed annually | Uploads up to 500 GB, enterprise-grade security, dedicated support, Outlook plugin, SSO and invoicing through sales. |
Checked November 2026.
What Hightail does
- Send tracking
- Pro and above show whether recipients opened and downloaded a file, which helps a sender decide when to follow up. A recipient who never opens the link can be spotted, and the sender can nudge them.
- Version control
- Teams keeps versions of a file and lets reviewers compare them, which suits designers who revise a deliverable several times. Version history stays with the file, which reduces confusion about which draft is current.
- Approval routing
- Teams adds approval routing and dashboards, so a manager sees what waits for sign-off in one place. Teams also lists personal and team dashboards for a project lead who manages many files.
- Creative app plugins
- Photoshop and Illustrator plugins send work from inside the design app, with sync to Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive. These plugins start on Lite, so even free users can send from inside the app.
- Recipient caps
- Online plans are limited to 200 file send recipients per day, a ceiling that matters for mass distribution. Lite allows up to 30 recipients per file send.
How Hightail handles your data
The pricing page read is the only source: it lists a 180-day file retention on one comparison row without mapping it to a plan, and it describes enterprise-grade security on Business without naming standards. Hosting region, certifications and any use of customer files for AI training are not stated on the pages we read, so the vendor's policy was not checked for those points.
Where Hightail falls short in practice
- Tiny free tier. Lite stops at 100 MB per upload, which blocks most video and design files and works as a trial of the interface rather than a service.
- Two sets of prices. The headline amounts and the FAQ differ, so a finance team should confirm the figure and billing cycle before purchase. Pro shows $12 and the FAQ shows $15 a month, and the note says annual billing saves roughly 20 percent.
- Daily recipient ceiling. Online plans allow 200 file send recipients per day, which blocks use as a newsletter-style distribution tool. The limit applies per day, so a campaign sent to thousands of contacts would need to be split over several days.
Works with
Alternatives to Hightail
Hightail: common questions
How much does Hightail cost?
Lite is free. The headline prices are Pro $12 per month, Teams $24 per user per month and Business $36 per user per month, billed annually. A FAQ on the same page shows $15, $30 and $45 per month on other terms, and annual billing saves roughly 20 percent, so confirm the figure.
What is the largest upload on Hightail?
Uploads reach 100 MB on Lite, 25 GB on Pro, 50 GB on Teams and 500 GB on Business. Pro includes unlimited storage and Lite 2 GB. If you routinely send multi-gigabyte files, Pro is the first useful tier, and Business suits very large media.
Who owns Hightail?
The pricing page carries a copyright line naming Open Text Corporation, and the pages we read do not state a headquarters country. The page lists an OpenText Core sync alongside Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive, which fits that connection. Check the current terms for the contracting entity.
Does Hightail include AI features?
No AI feature is named on the pricing page we read. The paid features are tracking, passwords, version control, approvals and plugins. Teams that want AI summaries or search should compare Box, Egnyte or ShareFile in this category, which describe named AI tools.
Can I send to many recipients on Hightail?
Lite allows up to 30 recipients per file send, and online plans are limited to 200 file send recipients per day. Pro offers configurable expiration and tracking. A large mailing needs a different channel, so check these ceilings before you plan a broad release.