How to send a fax without a fax machine
Almost nobody owns a fax machine anymore, but plenty of offices still ask for a fax. The good news: you don't need a machine or a phone line. Here are the four practical ways to send one, and when each makes sense.
1. From your phone, with an app
A fax app scans your pages with the camera and sends them over the phone network through an online fax service. The other side receives a normal fax.
- Best for: one-off faxes, forms you have on paper, anything urgent.
- What it takes: about two minutes. See how to send a fax from your iPhone.
- Watch for: apps that start a weekly subscription after a trial. Check how you pay before you scan. In HonestFax, the price of the fax is on screen before the first page, and you can pay per fax. Looking for a free way? See how to fax from iPhone for free.
2. From a computer, with an online fax service
Online fax websites let you upload a PDF and type a fax number. Some are free for a page or two and add an ad to the cover page. Others need an account or a subscription. Every computer option, including the fax programs in Windows and macOS, is compared in how to fax from a computer.
- Best for: documents that already live on your computer. Many of these services can also send a fax from your email - see can you send a fax by email.
- Watch for: page limits, ads on your cover page, and services that keep copies of your documents. Read their privacy terms if the pages are sensitive.
3. At a print or shipping store
Many office supply, print and shipping stores have a fax counter. You hand over the pages, they send them and give you a confirmation sheet.
- Best for: people who prefer someone else to handle it.
- Watch for: per-page prices that add up on long documents, and opening hours. Call ahead to confirm the store offers faxing.
4. At a public library
Some libraries offer fax service, sometimes for a small fee per page. Availability varies by branch.
- Best for: occasional faxes when you're already there.
- Watch for: limited hours and the need to bring printed pages. Call your branch first.
Which one should you use?
| Your situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Paper form in hand, need it sent now | Phone app |
| PDF on your computer | Phone app (save to Files) or online fax website |
| Long document, 20+ pages | Phone app with a page pack, or a print store |
| You expect a fax back | A service that gives you a fax number to receive |
What about receiving a fax?
Sending needs nothing but the other side's number. Receiving needs a fax number of your own, which is the harder part. Options include asking the office to reply by email or patient portal, using someone else's fax number with permission, or getting a number from a fax app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fax from my phone without an app? Not directly. A phone can't produce fax tones on its own, so an app or online service does the dialing.
Is a fax from a phone a "real" fax? Yes. The recipient's fax machine or fax service receives it exactly like any other fax.
How do I know it arrived? A good service shows a delivery confirmation once the receiving machine has accepted every page. Step 6 of how to send a fax from your iPhone shows how that works.