iFax and Faxio both let you send a fax from a phone or a browser without a fax machine. The difference is the business model. iFax is built around monthly page allowances and polished apps across every platform. Faxio is built around paying for one fax at a time, with no subscription unless you deliberately choose one.

Which one fits depends almost entirely on how many faxes you send. This comparison uses iFax's published pricing as of October 2026 and Faxio's own checkout prices.

  • Real monthly cost at different fax volumes
  • Where iFax is genuinely better — apps, receiving, volume
  • Where pay-per-fax wins — occasional and one-off sends

Table of Contents

The comparison

iFax figures below are from its public pricing page as of October 2026. Prices change, so check the checkout page before paying.

Faxio iFax
Pricing model Pay per fax; optional monthly plan Monthly or annual subscription
Entry price $2.99 per fax (up to 10 pages) Basic: $12.49/month for 200 pages
Bundles / higher tiers 5 faxes $9.99; 15 faxes $24.99 Plus: $24.99/month for 500 pages + 1 number
Unlimited option $14.99/month, cancel in one click Pro and Enterprise: quote-based
Annual discount Not applicable — credits never expire "Save 20%" on annual billing
Account required No Yes, for plans
Receive faxes Yes, via Android app plans Plus plan and above
Apps Web + Android iOS, Android, Windows, Mac (Plus)
HIPAA Not advertised Listed on Plus plan
Failed fax Credit not consumed Not stated on pricing page

We build Faxio, so read our column with that in mind. The table also shows plainly where iFax is ahead: native apps on every platform, a receiving number on its mid-tier plan, and HIPAA compliance listed on the plan page. Faxio does not advertise HIPAA compliance, so if you are a covered entity sending protected health information as a routine workflow, iFax's Plus plan is the more appropriate tool.

How the pricing models differ

iFax sells page allowances. Basic gives you 200 pages a month for $12.49 and is send-only. Plus raises the allowance to 500 pages, adds one fax number for receiving, and lists HIPAA compliance and native apps, for $24.99 a month. iFax states there are no overage fees, and its pricing page also recommends at least two fax lines to support the higher page allowances. Annual billing is advertised at 20% off.

Faxio sells individual faxes. A single fax is $2.99 and covers up to 10 pages. Five credits cost $9.99 ($2.00 each), and fifteen cost $24.99 ($1.67 each). Credits never expire, buying them does not create a subscription, and if a fax fails, the credit is not consumed. For people who fax every week, there is an optional Faxio Unlimited plan at $14.99 a month, which you only get by subscribing to it explicitly and can cancel in one click.

The practical difference: with iFax you pay for capacity whether or not you use it. With Faxio you pay for what you send.

What a year actually costs

Using iFax Basic at its monthly price, against Faxio single and bundle prices:

How often you fax Faxio iFax Basic (monthly billing, kept all year)
Twice a year ~$6 ~$150
Once a month ~$24–36 ~$150
Weekly ~$87 with 15-packs, or $180 on Unlimited ~$150
Several times a day $180 on Unlimited ~$150 (200 pages/month) or ~$300 on Plus

Two things stand out. Below roughly four faxes a month, pay-per-fax is cheaper by a wide margin — not a few dollars, but over a hundred a year. Above that, the gap closes, and a page-allowance plan like iFax's starts to make sense, especially if you also need to receive faxes on a number you keep.

Most people searching for an iFax alternative are in the top two rows. They needed to send a tax form or a medical record and found themselves on a monthly plan.

Where iFax is the better choice

Credit where it is due. iFax is a strong product if:

  • You want a native iPhone app. iFax lists apps for iOS, Android, Windows and Mac. Faxio has no iOS app; iPhone users fax through the browser.
  • You need to receive faxes on a permanent number. iFax Plus includes a number. Faxio offers receiving only through its Android app.
  • You fax at volume. 200 or 500 pages a month on a flat bill, with no overage fees, beats per-fax pricing once you send several faxes a week.
  • You handle regulated health data. iFax lists HIPAA compliance on Plus. Faxio does not make that claim.
  • You need more than sending — iFax promotes fax broadcast and a developer API on its higher tiers.

Where Faxio is the better choice

  • One fax, today. No account, no trial, no card kept on file. Upload a PDF at faxio.app/send, enter the number, pay $2.99, done.
  • Occasional faxing over a year. A handful of faxes costs a handful of dollars, and unused credits never expire.
  • Nothing to cancel. Credit purchases are one-time payments. The only recurring option is a plan you have to choose on purpose.
  • Failed faxes cost nothing. If the receiving line never answers, the credit is not used. Faxio also retries automatically when a line is busy — useful for the government and medical offices people fax most. Our guide to faxes not going through explains why busy lines are so common.
  • International sends. Faxio delivers to 100+ countries, with a live delivery status for each send.

Which should you pick

  • You fax a few times a year: Faxio. Paying $12.49 a month for 200 pages you will not use is the most common way people overpay for faxing.
  • You need to send one document from an iPhone: Faxio in Safari works without installing anything — see how to fax from an iPhone. If you fax from your phone every day, iFax's native app is the more comfortable long-term choice.
  • You need a number to receive faxes: iFax Plus, or the Faxio Android app if you are on Android.
  • You fax several times a week, mostly sending: compare iFax Basic against Faxio Unlimited at $14.99/month. Faxio Unlimited is cheaper if your volume is unpredictable; iFax is cheaper if you are confident you will stay under 200 pages.
  • You are a medical practice: iFax Plus, because it lists HIPAA compliance.

If you landed here because you need to send a single fax and do not want another subscription, the answer is simple. Send one fax for $2.99 →

For a wider view of pay-per-fax options, see our comparison of services that fax without a subscription, or the Faxio vs eFax breakdown if you are weighing the biggest subscription brand.

Frequently asked questions

Is Faxio cheaper than iFax?

For occasional faxing, yes. As of October 2026, iFax's Basic plan is $12.49 a month for 200 pages, while Faxio charges $2.99 per fax (up to 10 pages) with no monthly fee. If you send fewer than about four faxes a month, paying per fax costs less. If you send dozens of faxes a month, iFax's page allowance becomes better value.

Does iFax have a free plan?

iFax offers a free trial, but its pricing page does not publish ongoing free-tier limits, and its own pages describe the trial length inconsistently. Check the terms at sign-up, and note whether a card is required and when billing starts.

Can I receive faxes with iFax or Faxio?

Both can, with conditions. On iFax, receiving and a fax number come with the Plus plan ($24.99/month as of October 2026); Basic is send-only. Faxio offers a dedicated number for receiving through its Android app plans; the Faxio website is for sending.

Does iFax have an iPhone app?

Yes. iFax lists iOS, Android, Windows and Mac apps on its Plus plan. Faxio has no iOS app; iPhone users send from faxio.app in Safari, which works without installing anything.

Do I need an account to send a fax with Faxio?

No. On faxio.app you upload a PDF, enter the fax number, and pay $2.99 for a single fax. There is no account to create and no subscription to cancel afterwards.