How to Know If a Client Opened Your Quote or Estimate

To know if a client opened your quote or estimate, send it as a link instead of a PDF attachment. Upload the quote at squish.to/upload, send the short link, and the stats page shows when it was opened, from which country and via which source. You do not need an account to upload, and your client does not need to sign up to read it.

This is written for contractors, tradespeople and small service businesses, but it works for any quote, estimate, invoice or statement of work you send as a PDF.

Why the quote often shows as "not viewed"

Most invoicing and quoting apps can tell you when a customer opens the online version of a quote. The gap appears when the customer opens the PDF attached to the email instead. Users of several accounting and estimating tools report that a PDF opened from the attachment does not register as a view, and some tools only confirm that the email was delivered, not that anyone read the quote.

That is not a flaw in your process. A PDF file has no way to report back to you once it leaves your outbox. A link does, because every visit to it can be counted.

How to send a quote and see when it's opened

  1. Export the quote as a PDF from your invoicing app, Word, Google Docs or wherever you build it.
  2. Open squish.to/upload and choose the file. Optionally add a link name like smith-kitchen-quote. Custom names use letters, numbers and hyphens, from 3 to 30 characters.
  3. Upload and copy the short link. You also get a QR code, handy if you hand the quote over on a tablet or print it on a job sheet.
  4. Send the link in your email, text or WhatsApp message: "Here's the quote for the kitchen: squish.to/smith-kitchen-quote".
  5. Check the stats. Click View stats, or go to squish.to/stats and enter your link name.

What the stats show

  • Total opens
  • Opens in the last 7 days and your busiest day
  • A 14-day chart of daily opens
  • Recent opens, each with the time, the country and the source (for example Direct, WhatsApp or a search engine)

Using the stats to time your follow-up

You do not need to guess when to call. A simple rhythm works well:

  • Opened within a day: the quote has been seen. A friendly "any questions on the quote?" message is welcome.
  • Opened several times over a few days: they are likely comparing options or showing someone else. This is a good moment to offer a call or site visit.
  • Not opened after two or three days: the message may simply have been missed. Resend the link or try a different channel, such as a quick text.

None of this replaces a good conversation. It just tells you when a nudge will land well.

Honest limits

  • Stats are per link, not per person. If you send one link to a couple and their accountant, you will see opens but not who made them. Upload one copy per recipient (smith-kitchen-quote, jones-bathroom-quote) so each stats page belongs to one person. See one link per recipient.
  • Not every open is a human. Link previews in chat apps and email security scanners can load the link automatically, so an open within seconds of sending may not be a person. A later open, hours after you sent it, is far more likely to be a real reader.
  • An open is a visit, not a read. squish.to does not track which pages were viewed or for how long.
  • 10MB file cap, which is plenty for most quotes. Compress photo-heavy PDFs if needed.
  • Files stay live for 30 days. Quotes often have a validity window anyway, but if the decision takes longer, upload again and send the new link.
  • No online acceptance. squish.to shows opens. It does not collect signatures or payments, so keep using your normal way to accept the job.

Already using a quoting app?

If your quoting or invoicing software has its own client portal with view tracking, that is a great option, and you should use it. The link method is useful when you send quotes as plain PDFs, when the client tends to open the attachment, or when you want one simple way to check across every quote regardless of which tool produced it. For the wider picture, see how to know if someone opened your PDF attachment.

Try it

Upload your next quote at squish.to/upload and watch for the first open.

FAQ

How do I know if a client opened my quote? Send it as a link rather than an attachment. Upload the PDF to squish.to and the link's stats show each open with time, country and source.

Can I see if a client opened an estimate I emailed as a PDF? Not from the attachment itself, and you cannot check after the fact. Reply with the link version and you will see opens from then on.

Does an email read receipt show the quote was opened? No. A read receipt only reports that the email was opened, and recipients can often decline to send one.

Does the client need an account? No. They tap the link and the quote opens in their browser. You do not need an account either.

Can I tell which person opened it? Not directly. Stats are per link, so upload one copy per recipient.

How big can the quote be and how long does it stay online? Up to 10MB, and uploaded files stay live for 30 days.