---
title: "Inline vs. hosted images"
slug: "in-line-vs-hosted-images"
description: "Compare inline and hosted signature images. Inline images always display but can become attachments; hosted images can be blocked by Outlook."
updated: 2025-12-11T21:36:57.000Z
canonical: "https://help.opensense.com/docs/in-line-vs-hosted-images"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.opensense.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Inline vs. hosted images

## Overview

We recommend in-line images for all Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) customers.

Opensense now lets you decide whether the images in your email signature are hosted images (served by URL), or in-line images (embedded in the body of the email).


## Pros and cons

<div class="kb-deployment-compare kb-deployment-compare--plain">
  <div class="kb-deployment-compare__viewport" role="region" aria-label="Pros and cons of hosted and inline images" tabindex="0">
    <table>
      <colgroup><col class="kb-deployment-compare__feature-col"></colgroup>
      <thead>
        <tr>
          <th scope="col"></th>
          <th scope="col"><span class="kb-deployment-compare__method">Hosted images</span></th>
          <th scope="col"><span class="kb-deployment-compare__method">In-line images</span></th>
        </tr>
      </thead>
      <tbody>
        <tr>
          <th scope="row">Pros</th>
          <td><ul><li>Images display automatically on most web clients and mobile devices</li><li>Images can be updated after delivery</li><li>Images won't show up as attachments</li></ul></td>
          <td><ul><li>Images display automatically on every device</li></ul></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <th scope="row">Cons</th>
          <td><ul><li>Images may be blocked on some desktop clients (specifically Outlook)</li></ul></td>
          <td><ul><li>Images may end up as attachments after replies</li><li>Campaigns can't be updated after they're delivered</li><li>Takes up space on the mail server</li></ul></td>
        </tr>
      </tbody>
    </table>
  </div>
</div>


## Why the choice matters

By default, some email clients automatically block hosted images from being downloaded. In-line images prevent this issue.


## Campaign analytics

Opensense applies a proprietary approach that keeps campaign analytics unaffected, whichever method you use. So you get the benefit of in-line images **and** banner view analytics.


## The downsides of in-line images

- Because the images are embedded in the email, they may take up space on your recipient's email server.
- More of an issue: email clients often don't fully understand how to treat in-line images. After a few email exchanges, in-line images may end up as attachments.
- There isn't a lot that can be done about this. It's a known issue with this method of embedding images, and it would persist with or without Opensense.


## What's next

- [Setting up inline images (classic UI)](https://help.opensense.com/docs/how-to-set-up-inline-images)
- [Troubleshooting signature images](https://help.opensense.com/docs/images-help-guide)

For further help, contact Opensense Support at [help@opensense.com](mailto:help@opensense.com).