Your actual options for sending a fax
You can fax a document from your computer, phone, or by visiting a physical location that offers fax services. The easiest route depends on what you're sending, who you're sending it to, and whether you need it done once or regularly. Most people have at least two workable options available right now without buying anything.
A fax is still just a scanned image sent over a phone line or internet connection to a fax machine on the other end. That means any method that converts your document to a digital file and routes it to a fax number will work. The difference between methods is mainly cost, speed, and how much setup you need to do first.
Key Takeaways
- Online fax services like FaxZero, HelloFax, and Fax.plus let you send faxes from your computer for free or a small fee per page.
- UPS Store, FedEx Office, and local print shops can fax documents for you in person, usually charging per page or a flat fee.
- Your phone's built-in fax feature (on iPhone or Android) can send faxes directly if your phone plan supports it, though this varies by carrier.
- Email-to-fax services let you attach a document to an email and send it to a special fax number, useful if you fax regularly.
- Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive have fax integrations through third-party apps that work if you already store documents there.
Online fax services that work from your computer
FaxZero is free for up to five pages per day and requires no account creation. You upload your document (PDF, Word, image), enter the recipient's fax number, and send it. The free version includes a cover page with FaxZero branding. Paid plans remove the branding and increase your daily limit.
HelloFax and Fax.plus both charge per fax sent rather than per page — usually around $1 to $3 per transmission. Both let you upload documents, sign them electronically if needed, and track whether the fax went through. HelloFax integrates with Dropbox and Google Drive, so if your document is already in the cloud, you don't need to download it first.
These services work from any device with a web browser. You don't need to install software or own a fax machine. The tradeoff is that free or cheap services may take a few minutes to send, and some add a cover page you can't remove on the free tier.
Faxing in person at retail locations
UPS Store and FedEx Office locations both offer fax services. You bring your document (printed or on a USB drive), hand it to the staff member, and they send it for you. Cost is typically $1 to $2 per page, though some locations charge a flat fee of $5 to $10 per transmission regardless of page count.
Local print shops, shipping centers, and some pharmacies also fax documents. Call ahead to confirm they offer the service and ask about their pricing. This method is useful if you're already in the area or if you need to fax something that's hard to scan — like a signed original document or a photograph.
The main advantage is that you can watch the fax send and get a receipt immediately. The disadvantage is that you have to go somewhere in person and pay more per page than online services. Hours also matter — if you need to fax something at 9 p.m. on a Sunday, a retail location won't help.
Using your phone to send a fax
iPhones running iOS 16 or later have a built-in fax feature in the Notes app. You can take a photo of a document, open it in Notes, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Fax." This sends the image directly to a fax machine without needing a separate app or service. The catch is that your carrier must support this feature — AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile support it, but some regional carriers and MVNOs do not.
Android phones do not have a native fax feature, but you can use apps like eFax, Fax Burner, or Google's own Fax integration through Google Drive. These apps work similarly to online services: you upload or photograph the document, enter the fax number, and send. Most charge per fax or offer a monthly subscription.
Phone-based faxing is convenient if you're already holding the document and need to send it immediately. The downside is that quality depends on your camera and lighting, and you'll need a data connection or cellular service to send.
Email-to-fax services for regular sending
If you fax the same number repeatedly, an email-to-fax service saves time. You get a dedicated fax number that works like an email address. You attach your document to an email and send it to that number, and it arrives as a fax on the recipient's machine. Services like eFax, Metrofax, and Fax.plus all offer this.
These services usually charge a monthly subscription ($10 to $30 depending on how many faxes you send per month) rather than per-fax fees. They're worth it if you fax more than a few times per month. They also let you receive faxes — incoming faxes arrive in your email inbox as PDF attachments.
The setup takes a few minutes: you create an account, get assigned a fax number, and then you can start sending. No hardware needed, and you can send from any email client on any device.
Faxing through cloud storage and productivity apps
Google Drive has a fax integration through the Google Docs app. You open your document in Google Docs, click File, then "Email as attachment" or use a third-party add-on like HelloSign or Fax.plus that integrates directly. Microsoft OneDrive works similarly with apps like Microsoft Print to PDF combined with an online fax service.
This method is useful if your document is already in the cloud and you want to avoid downloading it to your computer. The process is a few extra clicks compared to uploading directly to a fax service, but it keeps everything in one place if you use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for work.
The downside is that you need to already be using these platforms and have the right add-ons installed. For a one-time fax, this is overkill. For someone who faxes regularly and stores everything in Google Drive or OneDrive, it's seamless.
Comparing cost and speed across methods
| Method | Cost per fax | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FaxZero (free tier) | Free (up to 5 per day) | A few minutes | One-time faxes, short documents |
| HelloFax or Fax.plus | $1–$3 per fax | Seconds to minutes | Occasional faxing, need tracking |
| UPS Store or FedEx Office | $1–$2 per page | Immediate | In-person, need receipt, hard-to-scan originals |
| iPhone fax (iOS 16+) | Included with phone plan | Seconds | Quick faxes from phone, supported carriers only |
| Monthly email-to-fax service | $10–$30 per month | Seconds | Regular faxing, need to receive faxes too |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fax a document that's already a PDF on my computer?
Yes. Online fax services accept PDFs directly. You upload the file, enter the fax number, and send. No conversion needed. If you're using a retail location, bring the PDF on a USB drive or email it to yourself and show it on your phone.
What if the fax number I'm sending to doesn't work?
Double-check the number for typos — fax numbers are easy to misread. If the number is correct, the recipient's fax machine may be offline, out of paper, or not accepting incoming faxes. Ask the recipient to confirm the number and that their machine is on. Most online services will tell you if the fax failed to send.
Do I need to print the document first to fax it?
No. If the document is already digital (PDF, Word file, image), you can fax it directly from your computer or phone. If it's a physical document, you need to either scan it first or take a clear photo of it with your phone camera.
Is faxing secure, or can someone intercept it?
Faxes sent over the internet are only as secure as the service you use. Online fax services encrypt the transmission, but the fax arrives as a physical printout on the other end, where anyone near the machine can see it. If you're sending sensitive information, ask the recipient to be standing by to grab it immediately, or use a service that requires a PIN to release the fax.
Can I fax from my email without signing up for a service?
Not without signing up for something. Even email-to-fax services require an account. However, FaxZero requires no account for the free tier — you just upload and send. That's the closest to "no signup" available.