eFax review

eFax is a browser-based fax solution that offers affordable faxing around the world

eFax review
(Image: © eFax)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

A good option for companies who have clients around the world. You can send and receive via email, desktop or the smart device app. The service may be a more affordable alternative for sending faxes abroad depending on the countries you will be sending them to.

Pros

  • +

    Easy to set up and use

  • +

    Large file sharing

  • +

    Searchable faxing

Cons

  • -

    Could be expensive if not used to its full potential

  • -

    Limited to four attachments per fax

  • -

    Prices for faxes vary between email, desktop and the mobile app

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eFax is the UK’s leading faxing service that enables you to send faxes anywhere in the world. Anyone will be able to send you a fax, even if they don’t have an eFax account because it works like a normal fax number. The service lets you send faxes via email, desktop or a mobile app and is available for both iOS and Android users.

All this, along with some of the other features mention below, makes eFax one of the best online fax services you can use right now.

The cost of sending a fax with eFax is calculated based 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 from as little as $0.07 a page. 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 $16.95 per month. eFax says its most popular plan is the pro plan which costs $19.95 per month and allows users to send and receive 300 pages with attachments. There is also an option to send additional pages at a low rate.

eFax review: Features

  • No fax machine required to send faxes
  • Online cloud storage
eFax: Key Features

Deployment: Online, email and mobile devices – iOS and Android

Training: Demonstration videos on the website, downloadable user guides

Support: On the phone, via email or social media

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 are sent a notification email that contains a unique URL. This then takes you to the eFax account login where a secure sockets layer (SSL) connection is made.

There are also choices in how you choose to send your faxes, from an app you can download to seamless integration with your web browser. You can even choose to send a fax directly from your email account.

eFax review: Design and usability

  • No software to download
  • Web or email based and also has an app service

There are a number of ways to send a fax – via email, your eFax account and the app. To send a fax via email, users need to create an email and in the address field send it to the fax number followed by the eFax link. For sending eFaxes internationally you do not need to include the international dialing prefix, only the city and county codes are needed. You then attach the document that you want to fax.

If you do not have access to your email, but want to send documents from your computer you can send a fax via your eFax account online. You will fill out a web form and then attach any documents you want to send, via a browser button on the form. Once the files are attached you click send. 

If you want to send, receive and or sign a fax using the mobile app you open up the app on your device and choose what you want to do, fill in the boxes, attach documents if you have them saved on your device and send. Once the fax is sent the recipient will receive their fax on their machine and will not know if it has been composed using the online account, email and or mobile app.

eFax review: Performance

  • Wide range of file compatibility
  • Option to have a single fax number or multiple ones

With eFax, you can attach up to four documents and they will be faxed in chronological order. eFax supports most document types from Microsoft DOC and DOCX to PDF or image files such as TIF and JPG. Excel documents (XLS) and HTML are also supported. 

Something to bear in mind is that eFax does not support password protected files. Once you are happy that you have attached all the documents then you hit send. This can also include a cover page and what’s more, all templates will be provided by eFax. 

Once a fax is sent, it will take a few minutes for a transmission receipt to be received via email. The receipt will give details of the page count and total transmission time. If the fax does fail to send, you will be given a reason as to why it failed.  

Should you use eFax?

eFax is a great paid option for any business that sends faxes worldwide. The pricing options are competitive both for larger quantities and sending abroad. There is also a wide range of solutions for business requirements on offer.

The service is practical and often pricing can be tailored to customer needs. It is an easy to set up and use service. To send a fax is quick and simple and users have the choice to send faxes and attachments via their own email account, the online eFax account or via an app which works on both iOS and Android.

When users sign up they have the option to keep an existing fax number for a low monthly fee or they can get a new one. There is private and secure lifetime storage of faxes, sent and received – this is part of the service and is free of charge.

What other online fax services are worth looking at?

eFax is one of the best online fax services in 2020, but of course there are other services available. And these might suit your business better. These are the others we think are worth considering. Click the links to read the review:

MyFax offers users a search and tagging function on all plans; send free faxes with FaxZero to anywhere in the US and Canada; the flexible pricing model of Nextiva might appeal if your faxing needs change over time; RingCentral Fax integrates with Windows OS; SRFax has fax-scheduling and fax-archiving for keeping records; OpenText is good for integration with your existing IT software; you get 30 days free storage with Fax.com; MetroFax is flexible – it scales with your business and your faxing requirements; and you can keep your old fax number with HelloFax.

But which online fax service is best for you and your business? We've compared them all in our buying guide: Best online fax services 2020.

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.