Guide · Updated July 2026
The 5 best online fax services & apps in 2026
Fax machines are gone, but faxing isn't — doctors' offices, courts, banks and government agencies still ask for it. The right service depends on one question: how often do you fax? Here's an honest breakdown by use case, including where each service falls short.
TL;DR
- • Fax once in a while → Faxio (pay per fax, no subscription)
- • Fax daily for business → eFax (flat subscription)
- • Need one tiny free send → Fax.Plus free tier
- • iPhone-first workflow → iFax
- • Free temporary inbound number → FaxBurner
1. Faxio Best for occasional faxing (pay-per-fax)
From $2.99 per fax — no subscription
Pros
- • Send from the browser in under a minute, no signup
- • Credits never expire; failed faxes don't consume credits
- • Android app adds camera scanning + receiving with your own number
- • Delivers to 100+ countries with live status tracking
Cons
- • No iOS app yet (iPhone users fax via the website)
- • Per-fax pricing isn't ideal for daily high volume
Try it now: send a fax from your browser — no account needed.
2. eFax Best for high-volume business subscriptions
≈ $19/month
Pros
- • Long-established brand with desktop dashboard
- • Permanent fax number on every plan
- • Email-to-fax workflows, multi-user options
Cons
- • Expensive if you only fax occasionally
- • Subscription must be cancelled to stop billing
3. Fax.Plus Best free tier for tiny volumes
Free (10 pages total), paid from ≈ $7/month
Pros
- • Small free allowance to try the service
- • Clean apps and Google Workspace integration
- • HIPAA-compliant options on business tiers
Cons
- • Free tier is one-time, not monthly
- • Inbound numbers require paid plans
4. iFax Best iOS-centric option
≈ $9–25/month depending on tier
Pros
- • Polished iPhone/iPad experience
- • Templates and e-signature features
Cons
- • Pushes subscriptions aggressively
- • Costs add up for casual use
5. FaxBurner Best free temporary inbound number
Free (25 received pages/mo), paid from ≈ $13/month
Pros
- • Free temporary fax number for receiving
- • Decent for one-off inbound faxes
Cons
- • Temporary numbers expire on the free tier
- • Sending allowance on free tier is very limited
Competitor pricing reflects publicly listed plans as of July 2026 and may change; always check the provider's site.
How we compared them
We evaluated each service on the total cost for realistic usage patterns (1, 4, and 40 faxes per month), time from landing on the site to a delivered fax, whether inbound faxing is available, platform coverage, and how easy it is to stop paying. Subscription services were penalized for occasional-use scenarios because unused months still bill; pay-per-fax services were penalized for high-volume scenarios where flat plans win.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to send a single fax online?+
Pay-per-fax services are cheapest for one-off faxes. With Faxio you pay $2.99 for a single fax from your browser with no signup or subscription. Free tiers (like Fax.Plus's 10 total pages) can work once, but they're one-time allowances with page limits.
Can I really send a fax without a fax machine or phone line?+
Yes. Online fax services convert your PDF into a fax transmission delivered over telecom carrier networks to the recipient's fax machine. You upload the document, enter the fax number, and get delivery confirmation — no hardware needed.
Do I need a subscription to fax online?+
No. Subscriptions only make sense if you fax regularly or need a permanent inbound number. For occasional sending, pay-per-fax pricing (credits) is much cheaper across a year.
How do I receive faxes without a fax machine?+
You need a service that gives you a virtual fax number. The Faxio Android app, eFax, and Fax.Plus paid plans all offer inbound numbers; incoming faxes arrive as PDFs with a notification.
Is online faxing secure?+
Reputable services transmit documents over encrypted connections and deliver via carrier-grade fax infrastructure. For regulated industries, look for providers offering HIPAA-compliant plans and audit trails.
Deciding between the two biggest models? Read the full Faxio vs eFax comparison.