Best online fax services 2022

Best online fax services 2022
(Image credit: Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash)

The best online fax services are more than holding their own amid rapid technological advances, remaining an essential method of communication for individuals and businesses in the US and around the world. Key to the enduring popularity of online fax services is the reliability that they provide in the safe dissemination of information and documents. 

With the unprecedented challenges to how people work that surfaced set to continue into 2022, the best online fax services have proven integral in ensuring business has continued as usual. In more normal times, online fax services are widely used by legal firms and medical practices who depend most heavily on a secure and confidential path of communication; in the past year, however, there’s little doubt that online fax services will have proven hugely invaluable to many other types of business, who might normally share documents by courier, for instance. 

When a business is assessing the usefulness of an online fax service, ease of use is normally key. The price and the speed and standard of support are usually vital considerations too, and most firms are usually willing to spend a little more if they’re getting a trusted fax service recognized for its reliability and security.

If you’re searching for the best online fax services, then be reassured that all these factors and others have been taken into account with our choice of services below. As well as highlighting the top rated online fax service, we’ve also selected a service that excels in dealing with large businesses, and a different service that’s best suited to small companies. If simplicity of the service, faxing internationally, or mobile faxing are your priorities, we’ve also made specific selections in these areas too. Whatever you’re looking for, also remember that online fax services have various plans aimed at meeting the needs of various businesses. And given you’re evaluating your communications, you should take the time to see how the best small business phone systems could help you too. 


1. Fax.plus: Best online fax service overall

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Fax.plus - our best online fax service in 2021

(Image credit: Fax.plus)
The best online fax service you can choose in 2021

Specifications

Deployment: Cloud, Web
Support: Online forms
Mobile app: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Superb, modern design
+
Loads of app integrations
+
Good security, and Two-Factor authentication

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the cheapest service
-
No live support

Fax.plus is our pick for best online fax service because it offers an excellent range of features, all within a fantastically well-designed site. Navigating through the various options within Fax.plus is simple, and it has a large range of supported applications, such as Slack and Zapier. As a user-experience, it's second-to-none.

The problem is that - while it isn't the most expensive - Fax.plus does cost a little more than many other providers. Subscriptions run from $4.99-$49.99 per month, and these include various quotas for sending and receiving faxes online, along with different prices for sending additional documents and using additional tools. Picking out the right level of service really does depend on how much you'll use it, and the size of your business, but what we like is that there are enough tiers to suit almost all users and still offer good value for money.

You'll also get things like image optimization, support for online signatures in most common file types, and the ability to integrate multiple numbers to the same account. Sign-up and set-up is easy too, which is quite an achievement considering how fully-featured Fax.plus is. Overall, then, an excellent choice.


2. SRFax: Best for larger companies

SRFax

(Image credit: SRFax)
Best for larger companies

Specifications

Deployment: Cloud, web
Support: 24/7 online
Mobile apps: No

Reasons to buy

+
Ability to schedule and store faxes
+
Send faxes from any device

Reasons to avoid

-
Nine email address limit per phone number
-
Fixed plans with additional faxes charged per page

SRFax is a flexible solution for companies who send bulk faxes: the service offers scheduling options, unlimited storage, and cross-platform integration. SRFax is a secure solution for companies who need to send and receive faxes. The web-based system enables companies to receive faxes to a personalized fax number, and send them from your standard email inbox, or their website. Email integration means that users are able to send and receive fax correspondence from any device that is able to display emails.

The service is geared more towards companies who rely quite heavily on faxing; there is no free plan for occasional users. The most affordable plan starts at $3.29 per month, and allows for up to 25 pages to be sent or received and can be connected to up to nine email addresses. Their highest volume packages come out at $45.95 per month, and allows users to send up to 2,500 pages per month, with multiple fax numbers, and offers the option of a 60-day free trial too.


3. RingCentral Fax: Best for cloud

RingCentral

(Image credit: RingCentral)
Best for cloud

Specifications

Deployment: Cloud, Windows Office
Support: 24/7 Phone, live chat
Mobile apps: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Easy to use
+
Can integrate with Windows
+
Good options for corporates on price

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive if you’re just an occasional user
-
Saves only the last 200 faxes

RingCentral Fax enables you to send and receive faxes without the use of a fax machine and integrates easily with your cloud storage systems. 

Here, sending a fax from any of your integrated applications is seamless, whether via email, Dropbox or Google Drive.

Essentially, it’s for the business that wants the security of fax but with the ease of email. It starts from $17.99 a month for 1,500 faxes per month and goes right the way up to $34.99 for an unlimited use (which also includes phone and video).

For those that prefer to send a fax as email or manage their faxing by an app, there are these options too. And the monthly costs for small and medium businesses seem reasonable. For an extra fee, there is the possibility to use the fax number to send voice calls and even take voicemails.

Once it has been integrated into your day-to-day workspace (for example in Windows Mail or in Dropbox), you will start using it as second nature – exactly like you use emails.


4. MetroFax: Best for international use

MetroFax

(Image credit: Metro Fax)
Best for international use

Specifications

Deployment: Web, mobile
Support: Phone, fax, email
Mobile apps: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
No dedicated fax lines
+
No long-distance charges within Canada and the US

Reasons to avoid

-
Rates outside of the US and Canada apply
-
Automatic billing is required

The MetroFax internet-based service enables users to send and receive local or international fax messages at affordable prices to over 170 countries. Three plan options are designed to meet the needs of businesses and individuals with varying budgets.

MetroFax makes sending and receiving fax messages fast, affordable and easy whether you’re at home, in the office or traveling. The program is compatible with any internet-connected device, including Android and Apple cellphones. Ideal users are individuals and businesses who want to cut the cord from expensive fax machines and dedicated phone lines. 

MetroFax offers three service plans, starting at less than $10 per month for up to 500 fax pages. Plans support up to 2,500 fax pages per account, and each account can integrate up to five email addresses free of charge. Low monthly subscriptions make the service affordable for businesses of all sizes, but keep in mind that international charges will increase the cost for some users. There are no long-distance charges for phone numbers within the US and Canada.


5. Fax.com: Best for ease of use

Fax.com

(Image credit: Fax.com)
Best for ease of use

Specifications

Deployment: Web, email
Support: Online
Mobile apps: No

Reasons to buy

+
Send fax messages from email or the web
+
30 days of free fax storage

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited to 300 fax pages per month
-
Additional fax pages are $0.12 each

Fax.com enables you to send and receive fax messages from a secure website or through email. Once your account is set up, you can start faxing immediately which is great if you like to keep things simple. If you prefer to customize your fax messages, you can create custom cover pages and headers to distinguish your messages.

Fax.com boasts one of the largest faxing networks in the United States, it’s pretty simple to use too. Essentially it allows you to send fax messages from any computer or email account at any time.

There are no busy tones, so you can receive multiple fax pages simultaneously. You don’t even need to keep your computer turned on to receive incoming faxes. The program is easy to understand, and you can start faxing with a new account in just minutes. There is a one-time setup fee of $9.99 for all new accounts. The monthly charge thereafter is $9.99 and covers faxes sent within the United States and Canada. Additional charges are assessed for international faxes but it is worth noting that international rates aren’t always the most competitive.


6. MyFax: Best for faxing on the go

MyFax

(Image credit: MyFax)
Best for faxing on the go

Specifications

Deployment: Online, email and mobile devices, iOS and Android
Support: Phone and email
Mobile apps: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Searchable faxing
+
Multiple emails can be attached to one fax number

Reasons to avoid

-
Could be expensive if not used to its full potential
-
Prices for faxes vary between email, desktop, and the mobile app

MyFax is an award-winning faxing service that allows you to send faxes anywhere in the world. The service lets you send faxes via email, a website account or a mobile app that is available for both iOS and Android users. It has an app that is free to download and you can archive faxes online. This is a quick and easy service to use on the move meaning you will never miss another fax. 

The cost of sending a fax with MyFax is calculated on the recipient’s location, how long the document is and how long it takes to send. You can send faxes from the UK to the USA, Canada, and Europe. Internationally it can cost you more. Prices also vary depending on if you are using a local rate or the mobile rate. 

One of its best features is that MyFax offers users a search and tagging function on all plans. This is great if you need to go back and find information contained in a fax quickly. It can also increase productivity.


7. eFax: Best for desktop

eFax

(Image credit: eFax)
Best for desktop

Specifications

Deployment: Online, email, mobile, iOS and Android
Support: Phone, email, social media
Mobile apps: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Large file sharing
+
Searchable faxing

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited to four attachments per fax
-
Prices for faxes vary between email, desktop and the mobile app

An online web browser that enables you to send faxes at an affordable rate anywhere in the world. eFax offers its users a secure, online alternative to traditional fax machines. For industries that are reliant on faxing for secure or legal documents, with eFax all faxes are sent via encryption. When you receive a fax from eFax, you will be sent a notification email that contains a unique URL. This then takes you to eFax account login where a secure sockets layer (SSL) connection is made.

The cost of sending a fax with eFax is calculated on the recipient’s location and how long the document is. As it's a worldwide service prices do vary but you can send faxes from the UK to the USA, Canada and Europe. Prices will vary depending on if you are using email, desktop or the mobile app.

Essentially there are three different plans available, a plus one basic package where you can send and receive 200 pages with up to four attachments for a basic cost. eFax say that their most popular plan is the pro plan and allows users to send and receive 300 pages with attachments. There is also an option to send additional pages at a low rate.


8. HelloFax: Best for smaller businesses

HelloFax

(Image credit: HelloFax)
Best for smaller businesses

Specifications

Deployment: Cloud, web
Support: Cancel at any time online, responsive support team online
Mobile apps: No

Reasons to buy

+
No need to inform your customers of a change, you keep the same number
+
Forget hardware, fax from your computer instead

Reasons to avoid

-
Packages only go up to 1000 faxes a month before you need to customize
-
Once your plan runs out faxes can be as much as 99 cents per 10 pages

Send faxes online from your computer directly to your customers' email, no fax machine needed. if you’re looking for an easy and cost-saving solution to your fax problems then HelloFax can certainly offer a credible solution for the average-sized business.

You don’t need to change your fax number either, which means clients used to sending faxes continue to do so, instead, they simply pop into your inbox.

An easy solution that aims to get rid of the fax machine altogether, HelloFax has certainly been talked about in the press for its ease of use. It easily integrates into your Dropbox and Google Drive, and any incoming fax simply gets sent to your email as a PDF – a piece of cake.

You can send five absolutely free faxes a month (but this is to send only, not to receive), or start with 300 a month for $9.99 in their Home Office plan. This goes up to $39.99 for the Small Business plan of 1000 pages per month to suit a team of up to 20. HelloFax says it takes just 30 seconds to set this up.


9. OpenText Fax2Mail: Best for integration

OpenText Fax2Mail

(Image credit: OpenText)
Best for integration

Specifications

Deployment: Cloud via SAP, web
Support: Phone and email
Mobile apps: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Integrates with your own IT software
+
Low-cost Cloud messaging solution

Reasons to avoid

-
Confusion over costs
-
Reliant on global offices for phone numbers

OpenText Fax2Mail is a digital, cloud-based fax service that simplifies faxing from email, desktop and other applications. It’s a service that lets you offload your IT team from the entire fax function while helping align fax services with the business goals and strategic direction of your enterprise.

OpenText Fax2Mail focuses on larger corporate companies who like to compare open rates and pore over analytics. In terms of price, you can apply for a demo and a customer service operative will talk you through their pricing needs. An example they used was that if a company used 1500 faxes a month these would have a per rate cost of seven cents. This amount would be adjusted based on actual usage. There is also a monthly charge of around $15 to factor in.

They do promise help regardless of your time-zone though, with a number of offices around the world and contact via email. Plus, their fax analytics is truly one of a kind. What’s more, you can personally control your Fax2Mail account through a secure web interface that provides centralized administration, reporting, user management, cover sheet management, billing attributes as well as delivery report options.


10. Nextiva: Best for scalability

Nextiva

(Image credit: Nextiva)
Best for scalability

Specifications

Deployment: Cloud, web, email
Support: Phone, email and live chat
Mobile apps: No

Reasons to buy

+
Customer service available over the phone, email, and live chat
+
Flexible pricing solutions for all business sizes

Reasons to avoid

-
No API solutions
-
No international numbers

Nextiva vFax offers faxing solutions that are scalable depending on companies’ needs. They offer secure faxing solutions that are integrated with pre-existing email accounts.

They are a good solution for companies whose needs are set to evolve with time, and who need faxes to be sent using an encrypted service. Their great customer care, makes them ideal for companies who do not have an in-house IT support team. Scalable packages mean their service could be a good option for a growing company.

The system is integrated within the users’ normal email system and can be used both to send and receive faxes. Users can choose from setting up a new fax number, or they can transfer their existing number to the service with assistance from the company’s customer care team. Plans start at just $4.95 per month but can be scaled to suit businesses of all sizes.

All faxes are encrypted with 256-bit SSL encryption, making it a secure solution for all companies, including those operating in sensitive sectors such as healthcare and law. Faxes are stored online to ensure documents are not lost after they are transferred.


11. FaxZero: Best online fax service for occasional use

FaxZero

(Image credit: FazZero)
Best for occasional use

Specifications

Deployment: Web
Support: Email
Mobile apps: No

Reasons to buy

+
Free faxes to the US & Canada
+
Send up to 25 pages depending on destination

Reasons to avoid

-
Free plan limited to five faxes per day
-
Limit of 15 pages for some destinations

Online web browser that enables you to send faxes for free to anywhere in the US and Canada. A good option for companies whose client base is centered in the US/Canada and who do not send large volumes of faxes.

FaxZero lets you send a fax to any fax machine in the United States (including Puerto Rico) or Canada for free. Users don’t need a fax machine to do so, but you do need a valid e-mail address.

The service also lets you send faxes to many other countries and while international faxing isn’t free, it is comparatively inexpensive. The premium fax costs $1.99 to the US/Canada, while fees vary for other countries based on the dialing cost.

With the Premium option there is no FaxZero logo on the cover page, so companies may prefer that option for business communications. The number of pages increases from three to 25, and there's no five-fax-per-day limitation. Premium faxes are delivered with higher priority, this means that they go to the front of the line ahead of free faxes.


Why trust us about online fax services? 

We’ve researched and evaluated online fax services since 2006. We’ve identified the most relevant and unique features for each service and made our recommendations based on our experiences while using the mobile and online interfaces like a typical customer. We also contact customer support teams and ask important questions about the feature tiers, pricing information and various technical aspects to make sure we recommend services with comprehensive and timely support.

Important features of online fax services

Mobile app
You can use an internet-connected mobile device to send faxes with all the services we reviewed. If you plan to primarily use a phone or tablet to send and receive faxes, we recommend choosing a provider with an accompanying mobile app. Using a web browser to access an online portal is much more frustrating than navigating an application built for a mobile platform.

Security and encryption
If you plan to send and receive sensitive information, like healthcare records, bank statements or other confidential personal information, make sure the service you choose specifically mentions HIPPA compliance and enhanced security measures like PGP and SSL encryption. Wilfully sending personal medical information through unsecured channels could result in fines of up to $50,000.

Plan flexibility
Analog fax machines are becoming obsolete, because online fax services offer a more affordable and user-friendly platform. For fledgling small businesses, it’s hard to know how long and how frequently you need to use an online fax service, so plan flexibility is important. If you are unsure how frequently you need to use it, we recommend taking advantage of free trial periods, and once you find the service that fits your needs, starting with the lowest tier plan. Service providers are much more willing to upgrade than they are to downgrade a plan, and comprehensive tracking features make it easy to keep a close eye on usage.

For other small business solutions, take a look at our recommendations for the best cloud accounting software and the best POS systems.

Gina Clarke

Gina Clarke has worked in journalism for over a decade for titles such as The Daily Mail, The Sun and Forbes. She began her career in BBC radio and now specialises in subjects such as financial technology and women’s health. She has written for the Top Ten Reviews brand on a number of different and varied topics.