The best online fax service for you depends on how often you fax. For an occasional fax, a free service that sends from your browser is enough. For regular faxing, a service with its own fax number, email-to-fax and an app is easier. If you handle medical or legal documents, look for one built for secure, compliant faxing.
Faxing sounds old-fashioned until a doctor's surgery, a government office or a law firm asks you to send something by fax. Then you'll need a way to do it today, and you probably don't own a fax machine any more.
Here are ten online fax services, in no particular order and sorted alphabetically. Some let you send a quick free fax from your browser, others give you a fax number and an inbox for faxes, and a few are built for healthcare and compliance.
Most work through email, a web app or a phone app, so you can fax a PDF from your laptop or a photo of a signed form from your phone. You won't need a phone line, and you won't hear a single beep.
If you're hoping to fax for free, read the next section first. Free faxing exists, but it's got limits that are easy to miss, and they're rarely on the button you click.
Online fax services compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the provider's own site describes a free version or free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial, and No means neither is stated there. Read what each plan includes before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documo | Secure fax platform | Healthcare and compliant faxing | Trial only |
| Dropbox Fax | Online fax service | A few free pages to start | Yes |
| eFax | Online fax service | Fax by email with a fax number | No |
| Fax.Plus | Online fax service | Faxing from apps and email | No |
| FaxZero | Free fax website | Sending a quick free fax | Yes |
| iFax | Online fax service | Secure faxing for business | Trial only |
| MyFax | Online fax service | Simple fax numbers and email faxing | No |
| RingCentral | Business phone and fax | Faxing inside a phone system | No |
| Sfax | Secure fax service | Sending sensitive documents securely | No |
| WiseFax | Online fax service | Sending a one-off fax online | No |
Ten online fax services
Documo
Best for: Clinics and teams that fax medical records and need secure, compliant document handling.
Dropbox Fax
Best for: People who fax now and then and want to start with some free pages and no trial.
eFax
Best for: Small businesses that want faxes in their email inbox with a local or toll-free fax number.
Fax.Plus
Best for: Teams that want to fax from email, the web and a mobile app with one account.
FaxZero
Best for: Anyone who needs to send a short fax once in a while straight from a web browser.
iFax
Best for: Businesses that want secure online faxing with an option to start for free.
MyFax
Best for: Small offices that want a simple fax number and faxes sent to email.
RingCentral
Best for: Companies that already use, or want, a business phone system that includes faxing.
Sfax
Best for: Practices and offices that send sensitive documents by fax every day.
WiseFax
Best for: People who need to send a fax from the web or their phone without a fax machine.
The limits behind free online faxing
Free faxing is real, but it's small. FaxZero's own page says its free fax allows a maximum of 3 pages plus a cover page, up to 5 free faxes per day, and adds its own branding to the cover page. Dropbox Fax says you can send 5 pages for free, with no trial and no card.
That's plenty for a single signed form, but it isn't enough for a contract or a set of medical records. If your document is long, or you don't want a branded cover page going to your accountant, a plan with a fax number is the better fit.
What to check before you choose a fax service
- Sending only or receiving too: receiving faxes needs a fax number.
- How you fax: email, web app, phone app or all three.
- Security: look for encryption and compliance if documents are sensitive.
- Page limits: check how many pages a plan or free option allows.
- Cover page: see whether the service adds its own branding.
Sending your first online fax
- Save your document as a PDF or take a clear photo of it.
- Open the fax service in your browser, app or email.
- Enter the recipient's fax number with the right country code.
- Attach the document and add a cover note if you need one.
- Send it and keep the confirmation until the recipient replies.
Getting documents ready to fax
Most faxing starts with a PDF. If you need to make changes first, here's how to convert a PDF to a Google Doc and save it back again.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
And if paperwork is eating your week, my guide to how to simplify business admin has ideas for cutting the jobs that keep you away from clients.
Do you make fax services or document tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on online faxing
If you fax once a year, use a free option and don't overthink it. Keep the document short and make sure you've got the confirmation before you close the tab.
If you fax every week, or you need to receive faxes, get a service with a fax number. And if the documents are medical or legal, choose one built for secure, compliant faxing from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a fax online for free?
Yes. Some services let you send short faxes free, with limits on pages and branding on the cover page.
How do I send a fax from my computer?
Use an online fax service and attach a PDF through its website, app or email.
Can I receive faxes online?
Yes, with a service that gives you your own fax number.
Can I fax from my phone?
Yes. Several services have phone apps that fax a photo or PDF.
Is online faxing secure?
Many services use encryption, and some are built for healthcare and legal documents.
Do I need a fax machine to fax?
No. An online fax service sends the fax over the internet to a fax number.
What is email to fax?
It's a way to send a fax by emailing the document to a special address.
Can I keep my existing fax number?
Some services let you move an existing number to them. Check before you switch.
How many pages can I fax for free?
It depends on the service. Free options usually allow only a few pages.
Do online fax services add a cover page?
Some free options add a branded cover page. Plans usually let you remove it.
How do I know my fax was delivered?
Most services send a confirmation when the fax goes through.
Can I fax internationally online?
Many services fax internationally. Check which countries a plan includes.
