Frequently asked questions

Question 1

What is Spike?

Accepted Answer

Spike is a secure file library where each folder can become a share link, a protected preview, or a paid download, without stitching together separate storage, transfer, and checkout tools.

Upload photos, video, audio, PDFs, archives, and more into private folders. Invite teammates by email to edit or view. When you are ready, turn on a link so clients or buyers can preview your work, pay for the whole folder or individual files, or download what you allow.

Question 2

Who is Spike for?

Accepted Answer

Creators and professionals who need to store large files, share them safely, and sometimes charge for access: photographers delivering galleries, producers selling beat packs, designers sharing client proofs, educators selling course files, and anyone tired of expiring transfer links plus a separate payment step.

People who help you build the folder (editors, assistants, a second shooter) join through People invites, not the public URL.

Question 3

How is Spike different from WeTransfer or Dropbox links?

Accepted Answer

Transfer tools are built to move files once. Links often expire, there is no built-in preview protection, and you cannot take payment on the same page.

Spike keeps a permanent library, lets you blur or watermark previews before release, invite editors into a folder, and turn the same link into checkout for the whole set or for files the buyer picks. Your files stay organised instead of scattered across one-off uploads.

Question 4

Do I need an account?

Accepted Answer

You can drag files onto the homepage and try Spike without signing in. To keep folders in your dashboard, sell files, connect Stripe, or sync across devices, you need a free account.

Guest uploads are not saved permanently until you sign in. After you create an account, folders from that session are merged into your library.

Question 5

What file types does Spike support?

Accepted Answer

Images, video, audio, PDFs, text and code files, archives (ZIP and similar), and other common formats. Heavy photo sets and long video files upload in the background while you keep working.

In-browser preview works for images, video, audio, and PDFs. Office documents can open in an embedded viewer. Other types can still be stored and downloaded.

Question 6

Is Spike a website or an app?

Accepted Answer

Spike is a web app at spike.zip. It works in a modern browser on phones, tablets, and desktops: there is no separate install required.

On mobile, you can send a folder link through your device share sheet. The public page at spike.zip/f/… is built to preview and check out on small screens.

Question 7

Are files private by default?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every folder starts private. Nothing is visible on the public web until you enable a share link or turn on selling for that folder.

Invite teammates separately with People on the share panel. That is signed-in access in Shared with me, not the public URL.

Question 8

Why use blur instead of sending originals?

Accepted Answer

Blur lets someone evaluate your work (composition, colour, scope, pacing) without receiving full-resolution files. It is especially useful before payment or client approval.

Choose a folder-wide censor level (minimal, balanced, or strict), then fine-tune individual images in the preview modal. Originals stay locked until you allow download or the buyer pays.

Question 9

What is the difference between blur and a watermark?

Accepted Answer

Blur obscures the image so the layout is visible but the file is not usable as a delivery. A watermark overlays your text or logo on top of the image.

You can use either or both. Watermark labels support up to 48 characters, and you can apply changes to one file or the whole folder.

Question 10

Can I protect video, audio, and PDFs too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When selling is enabled, Spike limits how much of non-image files visitors can access before purchase.

Video previews default to a 20-second clip, audio to 15 seconds (each configurable from 1–30 seconds per file). Unpaid visitors never receive the original video or audio file, only that clip. For PDFs you control what percentage of the document is visible before unlock.

Question 11

If a link is public, what can visitors do?

Accepted Answer

They can only do what your folder settings allow: browse previews, download files you have unlocked, or purchase to get access. On Individual files they tick what they want and pay that cart; they can come back for more later.

Public does not mean unrestricted. Combine blur, passwords (on unpaid shares), optional link expiry, and pricing per folder.

Question 12

Can I password-protect a link?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on an unpaid share. In folder settings, set privacy to Password and choose a passphrase. Visitors must enter it before they can open the page. Useful for client galleries you do not want passed around casually.

Sell This Folder locks privacy to Public. You cannot put a passphrase on a paid storefront. Invite teammates with People if they should see the folder without a public URL.

Question 13

Can I set a link to expire?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pro and Business links default to Never. You can still pick 1, 3, 7, 14, or 30 days. Free-plan links expire after three days unless you upgrade.

If a dated link has less than a day left, Spike emails you once. Expired links show an error page and an Expired mark on All Folders until you extend the window.

Question 14

Can visitors comment on files?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you turn comments on in folder settings. They are off by default.

When enabled, people viewing the public page can leave comments on individual files in the preview. Use this for client proofing; leave it off for paid drops where you only want checkout.

Question 15

Can I invite someone by email to work on a folder?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Open the folder, then People on the QR / share panel. Type their email, choose Can edit or Can view, and send. You can paste several addresses (up to 10) and add a short note. They get mail with an accept link, the same idea as inviting someone in Figma.

Free includes up to 3 collaborators. Pro includes up to 15 collaborators. Business is unlimited collaborators. The same person on several of your folders still counts as one seat.

Question 16

What is the difference between Can edit and Can view?

Accepted Answer

Can edit: upload, rename, nest folders, and organise files in your library. Storage still counts against the owner's plan. Can view: open the folder under Shared with me and download; they cannot add or rearrange files.

Neither role is a public link. They sign in with the email you invited.

Question 17

Can a collaborator change selling, privacy, or the share link?

Accepted Answer

No. Only the owner sees the folder gear. Privacy, Sell This Folder, link expiry, Appearance, and deleting the folder stay with the owner. A collaborator's dashboard cannot change those settings.

Editors help you build the folder. Clients who only need to preview or pay still use the public spike.zip/f/… URL.

Question 18

Do collaborator uploads count against my storage?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Files an editor adds belong to the owner and use the owner's storage and file cap. The editor's own meter does not move.

If the owner's plan is full, the upload is refused the same way it would be for you.

Question 19

How do I leave a folder I was invited to?

Accepted Answer

Open the folder, People, then Leave on your row. It disappears from Shared with me. Files you uploaded stay with the owner.

You cannot delete someone else's folder. The owner removes people from the same list.

Question 20

Is there a free plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Free plan includes 1 GB storage, up to 2,000 files, up to 3 collaborators, sharing with 3-day link expiry, and the ability to sell folders with a 5% platform fee.

It is enough to try Spike, share a small project, or run your first sale. Upgrade when you need more space, more people, permanent links, branding, or lower selling fees.

Question 21

What do Pro and Business include?

Accepted Answer

Pro (£8/month) adds 250 GB storage, up to 50,000 files, up to 15 collaborators, share links that default to Never, branding and appearance controls, analytics, and a 1% platform fee on sales.

Business (£20/month) includes everything in Pro with 1 TB storage, unlimited files, unlimited collaborators, and 0% platform fee on sales.

Question 22

How long are files kept on the Free plan?

Accepted Answer

Files on the Free plan are kept for 30 days, then scheduled for deletion. You receive a warning email 7 days before anything is removed.

Pro and Business plans do not apply this per-file timer. Your library stays as long as your account is active. Upgrading clears the deletion schedule on files within your new plan limits.

Question 23

Can I upgrade or downgrade anytime?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Upgrades take effect immediately and unlock the higher limits. Downgrades are scheduled for the end of your current billing period so you keep paid features until then.

If you downgrade to Free, files above the free storage cap get a fresh 30-day retention timer. Re-upgrade any time to keep them.

Question 24

Where can I see current plan details?

Accepted Answer

Open Spike and go to the Pricing panel from the header menu. You can compare Free, Pro, and Business side by side, see storage and file usage, and manage billing through the Stripe customer portal.

Plan limits and fees shown there always reflect what is active on your account.

Question 25

How do I start selling?

Accepted Answer

Sign in, complete Stripe Connect onboarding from the Pricing panel, then open a folder, enable Sell This Folder, and choose Entire folder or Individual files. Set prices in GBP. The share link becomes checkout.

Buyers pay by card and return to the same page with the files they bought: the whole folder, or the ones they ticked. No manual hand-off or invoice chasing.

Question 26

When do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

Card payments run through Stripe Connect. Funds land in your connected Stripe account and follow Stripe's standard payout schedule to your bank (typically a few business days, depending on your country and account status).

You can track payouts and balance in your Stripe dashboard.

Question 27

Does Spike take a commission on sales?

Accepted Answer

Spike charges a platform fee on sales based on your plan: 5% on Free, 1% on Pro, and 0% on Business. Buyers pay your listed price. The fee is deducted from your payout, not added at checkout.

Stripe's card processing fees also apply, as with any card payment. There is no separate marketplace listing you; you share your own link directly.

Question 28

Can one link sell to unlimited buyers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each buyer checks out independently and receives their own download access. Entire folder: you set one price; every sale uses the same link. Individual files: each checkout is the selection they ticked; they can come back and buy more later.

Sold content is preserved for buyers even if you later reorganise or remove the folder from your workspace. Purchased folders also appear in the buyer's Purchased tab.

Question 29

What can I sell?

Accepted Answer

Any digital files in a folder: photo galleries, design assets, beat packs and stems, video packs, ebooks, presets, templates, course materials, and similar downloadable products.

You are responsible for having the rights to sell what you upload. Spike does not host physical goods or shipped products.

Question 30

Which currency and minimum price?

Accepted Answer

Prices are set in GBP (£). Checkout is card-based through Stripe. The minimum paid sale is £1.00 per folder or per file.

£0 is allowed only on Entire folder: a free unlock that still requires the visitor to sign in so access persists. Individual files has no free mix; every file uses the default or its override. Multi-currency buyer checkout is not supported today: buyers see and pay in pounds.

Question 31

Can I sell a single file or only whole folders?

Accepted Answer

Both, but not at the same time. In folder settings choose Entire folder (one price unlocks every file) or Individual files (buyers tick what they want). Individual files: set a default price, then optional prices on specific files, including files sitting in subfolders.

The public page shows From £… · Files. ZIP after checkout is the files they own, not the rest of the folder. The minimum paid price is £1.00. Switching later does not take away a previous whole-folder purchase.

Question 32

Can I attach a license to what I sell?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In folder settings you can attach a license type (personal, commercial, exclusive, or editorial) or add custom terms. You can require the buyer to accept the license before they download.

The license is recorded with the purchase so both of you have a copy of what was agreed.

Question 33

Can I refund a buyer?

Accepted Answer

You are the seller of record. Issue refunds from your Stripe dashboard for that payment; Spike marks the matching purchase as refunded when Stripe reports it.

Spike subscription fees (Pro and Business) are not refunded for unused time. Chargebacks are handled by Stripe on your connected account. Buyers with a problem should contact you first.

Question 34

Can I put my brand on the share page?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on Pro and Business. Open folder settings → Appearance to set a brand name, short bio, social links, background, and logo on that folder's public page.

Free plan users see a locked Appearance tab with an upgrade prompt. After saving, tap Preview to see the page exactly as clients and buyers will.

Question 35

What is a Spike storefront?

Accepted Answer

A storefront is your public catalogue at spike.zip/store/your-handle. It lists the folders you choose to publish, optionally grouped into collections, with your name, bio, and social links.

Turn it on from Your storefront in the dashboard. Individual folder links still work on their own: the storefront is a shopfront, not a replacement for sharing a single project.

Question 36

Who can see analytics data?

Accepted Answer

Only you, on your signed-in dashboard. Analytics show aggregate views, downloads, unique visitors, purchases, and revenue: not a per-person tracker or individual browsing profiles.

Switch between 7-, 30-, and 90-day windows. Metrics respect cookie consent. Use the top-folders list to see which projects get traction.

Question 37

Do shared links expire like transfer sites?

Accepted Answer

Your library itself does not auto-expire the way many transfer services do. Folders stay until you delete them.

Individual share links can expire via folder settings. Free-plan links last three days. Pro and Business default to Never. An expired live link shows an error page and an Expired mark on the folder card until you extend it.

Question 38

Is there a file size limit?

Accepted Answer

Spike is built for large originals: high-resolution photo sets, long video, multi-gigabyte archives. Total storage depends on your plan (1 GB on Free, 250 GB on Pro, 1 TB on Business).

Very large files use resumable multipart upload in the background; you can keep browsing while they finish.

Question 39

What does On sale or Expired mean on a folder?

Accepted Answer

On sale means Sell This Folder is on: the public page is checkout. Expired means the share window ended; the URL shows an error until you extend Link expires in. Shared with you is a People invite, not a public link.

Those marks sit on All Folders cards so you can see the state without opening the gear.

Question 40

Can buyers download a whole folder as a ZIP?

Accepted Answer

Yes. From a folder you own, download the entire folder as a ZIP from the folder actions menu. On a public page, visitors can do the same when downloads are allowed: after a whole-folder purchase, or for the files they bought à la carte.

Individual files can still be downloaded one at a time from the preview.

Question 41

Do subfolders get their own share links?

Accepted Answer

No. The share link, password, expiry, blur, and selling settings apply to the root folder you enabled. Nested subfolders inherit those rules and appear inside the same public page.

If you move a folder that has selling enabled into another folder, Spike warns you and disables that nested share link: selling stays on the root you priced.

Question 42

What happens if I delete a folder or file?

Accepted Answer

Deleted items are removed from your library and from any active share links. Buyers who already purchased retain access to content they paid for.

Files inside a sold folder cannot be deleted individually; remove the whole folder instead if you need to take it down from your workspace. Deletion is permanent on your side: download anything you need first.

Question 43

Where are files stored?

Accepted Answer

Files are stored with trusted cloud infrastructure using encryption in transit and at rest. Spike is operated by ITALIK STUDIO LTD (UK).

See the Privacy Policy for how data is handled and your rights under UK GDPR.

Question 44

How do I get help with a specific feature?

Accepted Answer

The documentation walks through every workflow step by step: uploads, people invites, sharing, blur, selling a folder or individual files, branding, and analytics. Start there for how-to questions.

For policy, billing, or anything not covered in the guides, contact support and include your account email and a link to the folder if relevant.

Question 45

How do I change my display name or email?

Accepted Answer

Open the user menu → Account Settings to update your display name and profile photo (images up to 2 MB). Email is tied to your sign-in method and is not edited from that screen.

If you signed in with Google, the email comes from that account. Contact support if you need help recovering access.

Question 46

What happens if I stop using Spike?

Accepted Answer

Inactive accounts receive a warning after 60 days, a final warning at 90 days, and personal files may be removed after 120 days of inactivity.

Buyers keep access to purchases. Seller payout records are retained. Signing in again counts as activity and resets the dormant timer.

Question 47

Can I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Yes, from Account Settings when you are on the Free plan or after cancelling a paid subscription. You confirm by typing your email. Deletion is permanent and immediate: there is no grace period.

Your login and personal files are removed. Purchase and billing records stay on file, buyers keep access to purchases, and payout records are retained. Signing in again with the same email starts a new account; it does not reopen the closed one.

Question 48

What if a buyer has a problem with a purchase?

Accepted Answer

Buyers should contact you first as the seller. If there is a payment dispute, Stripe handles chargebacks through your connected account.

Spike can help locate purchase records when you contact support with the buyer email and approximate date.

Question 49

Is Spike available outside the UK?

Accepted Answer

You can sign up and use Spike from many countries. Selling requires Stripe Connect, which has its own supported countries and verification rules.

Pricing is in GBP. Check Stripe's documentation for payout availability in your region before enabling Sell.

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