Faxes are considered outdated, reminiscent of the 1980s. However, there are still many individuals and organizations that rely on faxing for various reasons. This includes business offices, both small and large companies. The reason behind this is quite simple. For instance, if you need your doctor to send you a copy of your latest lab results or if your financial analyst requires a document authorizing a specific transaction, snail mail can be too slow and email may not provide the necessary security. Hence, the fax, despite its age, remains a dependable option.
Now, you might be thinking that you don't have a fax machine and wonder how you can send or receive faxes. Fortunately, there are numerous web-based services available that make faxing a hassle-free process.
Send an Online Fax
Numerous online services provide the option to send a fax to any chosen number at no cost, with the condition of sending a limited number of pages or accepting an advertisement or logo on the cover page. If you require sending more pages or prefer not to have an ad on your fax, you will likely need to pay a fee. This fee can be per-fax or through a monthly subscription, with some services offering a trial period of 30 or 60 days.
To fax a hard copy document, you will first need to scan it. This can be accomplished using a scanner, all-in-one printer, or a scanning application. The scanned document can be saved in PDF or TIFF format, with PDF being the preferred choice for easy sharing of an electronic copy. Many fax services ensure the security and privacy of the transmission by encrypting the information.
FaxZero
FaxZero offers a user-friendly experience. Simply input your name, contact details, the recipient's name, and their fax number on the website. Upload the document you want to fax, whether it's a Microsoft Word file or a PDF. If necessary, include a cover page, enter the confirmation code, and then proceed to send your fax.
Upon completion, FaxZero will send you a confirmation email containing a URL link to the fax. The fax will be successfully transmitted to your recipient, and you will be notified via email once the fax has been received. FaxZero is free for sending up to three pages per fax, with a limit of five faxes per day, and includes the FaxZero logo on the cover page. Alternatively, for $2.09 per page, you can send up to 25 pages per fax without any advertisements on the cover page.
The company ensures that all user data transmitted to FaxZero is encrypted and securely transferred via the HTTPS protocol to its server. Additionally, all outbound communication from the FaxZero server is protected using either SSL or TLS encryption.
Fax Plus
Fax.Plus is worth considering for its convenience and availability. You can send a fax from the Fax.Plus website, the iOS or Android app, Google Docs, or email services such as Gmail and Outlook. Your first 10 faxes are free; after that, it's 20 cents per page, or you’ll have to sign up for a paid plan. With any paid plan, you also get a phone number through which you can receive faxes.
Basic plan: 100 pages a month for $8.99 per month or $83.99 per year.
Premium plan: 300 pages a month for $17.99 per month or $167.99 per year.
Business plan: 800 pages a month for $34.99 per month or $335.99 per year.
Enterprise plan: 3,000 pages a month for $99.99 per month or $959.99 per year.
To send a fax via the web, head to the Fax.Plus home page and click the Get Started button. Sign in and click the Send Fax button. Enter the receiving fax number and attach the document you want to send. Fax.Plus supports a wide array of document types, including Word, Excel, HTML, PDF, JPG, PNG, and TIF. Click the Add Page button to include a cover sheet.
Select the Settings icon to access options to schedule the fax, retry if it fails, email recipients a PDF of the fax, and optimize the document for faxing. When ready, click the Send button. The company notes that all faxes sent and received through the service are encrypted with AES-256-bit encryption.
Receive an Online Fax
If you require to receive a fax, numerous websites offer the option to assign you a virtual phone number that can be shared with the sender. The faxed document will be delivered to you through email, usually in the form of a PDF or TIF image. Certain services utilize their own format for the document and also provide complimentary software for viewing it.
FaxBetter
With FaxBetter's complimentary version, you will be provided with a personalized fax number exclusively for your use, enabling you to receive up to 50 pages of faxes each month. Nevertheless, there are a couple of conditions to consider. In order to avail the free service, you will be required to install a browser extension that will display advertisements on specific web pages during your browsing sessions. Additionally, you must access your received faxes through the FaxBetter website. Lastly, it is essential to utilize your fax number at least once within a seven-day period; otherwise, it will be forfeited.
With the FaxBetter Premium plan, you can get up to 500 faxed pages per month, view them in your email software, search for text within your faxes, and send faxes. The cost starts at $9.95 per month, $95.40 for 1 year ($7.95 per month), or $142.80 for 2 years ($5.95 per month), all with automatic renewals.
FaxSalad
1. FaxSalad provides the option of monthly subscriptions or pay-as-you-go plans for sending and receiving faxes. The Standard plan costs $10 per month and allows for up to 150 faxed pages, while the Pro plan costs $20 per month and permits up to 450 pages. Alternatively, pay-as-you-go users will be charged $0.03 per page received. Additionally, a temporary fax number incurs a one-time fee of $4.50 and expires after 30 days, while a permanent fax number costs $4.50 per month. To sign up for FaxSalad, you must input your credit card or PayPal details for billing purposes. Incoming faxes are converted to PDF files and sent to your email address and FaxSalad inbox for viewing and printing on the website.
