Why Password Protection Matters for Designers
You've just finished a branding proposal for a new client. You need to share it for feedback, but the work is confidential — the client is in a competitive market and the designs must not be seen by anyone outside the review team.
How do you share securely without complicated file transfers or requiring people to create accounts?
CollabDraw's free password protection feature solves this problem elegantly. Share a link, set a password — only people with that password can view your design.
How to Add a Password to a Shared Design
- Open the Share modal from the top navigation bar
- Enable the "Public link" toggle to generate a shareable URL
- Scroll to the Password Protection section and toggle it on
- Type your chosen password
- Copy the link and send it to your recipients alongside the password
Recipients who visit the link will see a password entry screen before they can access the design. They don't need a CollabDraw account — just the link and the password.
When to Use Password-Protected Design Links
- Client proposals — share early-stage concepts without the risk of them being forwarded to competitors
- NDA-covered work — maintain confidentiality while enabling remote review without file attachments
- Contest and pitch submissions — ensure only judges or designated reviewers can access your work
- Internal reviews — limit access to designs that aren't ready for public or company-wide viewing
- Premium content — content creators can share exclusive designs with paying subscribers using a password
Additional Sharing Controls Available
Password protection is one layer of a broader set of sharing controls on every CollabDraw project:
Permission levels
Control whether recipients can only view, leave comments, or actively edit. Each permission level is set per-collaborator, giving you granular control over who can do what.
Expiry dates
Set a date after which the shared link automatically deactivates. Ideal for time-sensitive pitches or designs under NDA with a defined review window.
Revoke access instantly
Disable any shared link at any time with a single click. No waiting, no emails — the link stops working immediately.
This Feature Is Completely Free
Password protection is included in CollabDraw's free tier. You don't need a paid account to protect your work — it's available to every user.
Pro accounts get additional sharing features including unlimited collaborators, higher file storage, and advanced permission controls. But for most protection needs, free is entirely sufficient.
Security You Can Trust
CollabDraw is built on Supabase with row-level security enforced at the database layer. Shared projects are protected not just by the password you set, but by robust backend access controls that ensure your data is only accessible to the people you authorise.