Frequently asked questions

Question 1

What is Spike?

Accepted Answer

Spike is a secure place to store, share, and sell files. You upload your files into private folders, share a protected preview link when you are ready, and, if you want, set a price so people pay to unlock the full download. It works for everything from sending a folder to a colleague to selling a product to thousands of people.

Question 2

How is Spike different from a normal file-transfer tool?

Accepted Answer

Most transfer tools just move files from A to B. Spike adds three things on top: previews you control (including blur), so people can see what they are getting without taking it; built-in selling, so a link can take payment and unlock the download automatically; and a private library, so your files do not vanish after a few days.

Question 3

Do I need an account to use Spike?

Accepted Answer

You can upload and share without an account to get started. Signing in saves your folders to a dashboard, lets you sell files and get paid, and keeps everything in one library you can come back to.

Question 4

Is Spike free?

Accepted Answer

You can start for free. Paid plans raise your storage and limits and unlock more selling and branding features. You only need a paid plan as your usage grows.

Question 5

What does the blurred preview actually do?

Accepted Answer

Blur lets you show what is inside a folder without giving it away. Viewers see a protected, blurred version of your images while the full-quality files stay locked. It is how you let someone judge your work, or a fan see what is on offer, before they pay or before you grant access.

Question 6

Can I password-protect or expire a link?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You control each share: keep it private, put it behind a password, or set it to expire. You decide who can open a link and for how long, rather than sending the whole drive to everyone.

Question 7

Are my files private by default?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Files live in encrypted folders and stay private until you choose to share them. Sharing is something you switch on per folder, on your terms.

Question 8

What happens if I share something publicly?

Accepted Answer

A public link can be opened by anyone who has it, and recipients may copy or save what they can access. Blur, passwords, and pricing exist precisely so you can control how much is visible before that point. You manage all of this from the folder's sharing settings.

Question 9

How do I sell a file or folder?

Accepted Answer

Open a folder, set a price, and share the link. Buyers see your preview, pay through a secure checkout, and the full files unlock and download for them automatically. There is no separate invoice or hand-off.

Question 10

When and how do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

Payments are processed securely and settle to you. There is no marketplace standing between you and your buyer, and no per-sale commission stacked on top of your own price. You set the price; the buyer pays it.

Question 11

Can I sell the same thing to many people?

Accepted Answer

Yes. One link can sell to as many buyers as you like. Each buyer previews, pays, and downloads independently, so a single product link can serve one client or a whole audience.

Question 12

What can I sell on Spike?

Accepted Answer

Anything that lives in a file: photo galleries, design templates, beats and sample packs, video footage and presets, ebooks and course material, and premium or exclusive content. If you can put it in a folder, you can price it and share it.

Question 13

Which currency are prices in?

Accepted Answer

Prices are set in GBP (£). Buyers pay through a secure card checkout.

Question 14

How large can my files be?

Accepted Answer

Spike is built to handle large files, including heavy video and high-resolution photo sets, without forcing them into compressed, lossy copies. Your available storage depends on your plan.

Question 15

Can I brand the page buyers and clients see?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can add your name and appearance so a shared or for-sale link feels like part of your brand rather than a generic transfer page.

Question 16

Can I see how my links are performing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Built-in analytics show you views and downloads so you can tell what is landing, using privacy-respecting, aggregate metrics rather than tracking individuals.

Question 17

Do my files expire after a few days?

Accepted Answer

No. Unlike disposable transfer links, your files stay in your library until you remove them. You decide what to keep, share, and sell over time.

The basics

Sharing & privacy

Selling & payments

Files & delivery

The fastest answer is to try it