How to Send a Fax Online

You don't need a fax machine, a phone line, or any special software. This guide walks you through sending a fax online in under 5 minutes.

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First step: enter the fax sender (this is you)

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Quick Answer

To send a fax online with Best Fax: (1) go to bestfax.com, (2) enter your name and email, (3) enter the recipient's fax number (validated in real time), (4) choose the free dedicated fax number that comes with a subscription — one-time senders may not see this step, (5) upload your document — PDF, Word, Excel, images, and more, (6) optionally add a free cover page with a subject and message, (7) preview the complete fax, (8) pay $4.95 one-time or $10/month, and (9) receive delivery confirmation by email. The whole process takes 2-5 minutes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Go to bestfax.com

Open your web browser on any device — computer, phone, or tablet — and navigate to bestfax.com. No app download or software installation is needed. The site works in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and all modern browsers.

Enter your name and email

Enter your first name, last name, and email address. No password is needed — Best Fax creates a seamless account for you automatically. Company name is optional. This takes about 30 seconds.

Enter the recipient's fax number

Type the fax number with area code (e.g., 212-555-1234 for US/Canada). Best Fax validates the number in real time — if it detects a mobile or invalid number, you'll see a warning before proceeding.

Choose your fax number

If you're signing up for the $10/month subscription, this step is where you pick the free dedicated fax number that comes with it — continue with the recommended number in one click, or search all area codes to choose your own. Sending a one-time fax? You may not see this step: a dedicated number is included only with a subscription, and you don't need one to send a fax.

Upload your document

Drag and drop or browse to upload PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX, ODT, RTF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or TIFF files. Each fax can contain up to 10 files totaling 50 MB and up to 100 pages. Password-protected PDFs are detected and rejected early.

Add a cover page (optional)

Best Fax asks whether you'd like to add a cover page — it's free, and one click skips it if you don't need one. If you add one, fill out the cover sheet right on the page: an optional subject and message, status flags for Urgent, Please Reply, or For Review, and your choice of 4 styles (standard, professional, modern, classic).

Review, pay, and send

Preview your complete fax — including cover page — to verify everything looks right. Pay $4.95 for a one-time fax or subscribe at $10/month for unlimited. Payments accepted via credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Best Fax transmits your document and confirms delivery by email.

What You'll Need

You need a device with a web browser, an internet connection, the document you want to fax, and the recipient's fax number. If your document is on paper, photograph it with your phone and upload the image. Supported formats are PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX, ODT, RTF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, and TIFF. Each fax can contain up to 10 files totaling 50 MB and up to 100 pages.

Fax from your iPhone Fax from your Android Fax from your computer

How Long Does It Take?

The entire process takes just a few minutes from opening your browser to receiving delivery confirmation. Entering your details takes about 30 seconds. Document upload is instant for most file sizes. The actual fax delivery typically completes within 2-5 minutes after payment. You'll receive an email notification when delivery is confirmed — or an explanation if the fax couldn't be delivered.

Tips for Successful Faxing

Make sure the fax number is correct, including the area code — a wrong digit means your fax goes to the wrong person or fails entirely. Best Fax validates numbers in real time, so pay attention to any warnings about mobile or invalid numbers. Use PDF format when possible for the clearest results. If photographing a paper document with your phone, ensure good lighting, a flat surface, and shoot straight-on rather than at an angle. You can upload up to 10 files per fax, and they'll be merged into a single transmission.

Fax number format guide

What If Your Fax Fails?

If a fax can't be delivered on the first attempt (busy signal, no answer, temporary connection issue), Best Fax automatically retries up to 6 times with increasing delays and intelligent protocol fallback (T.38 to G.711). Most temporary failures resolve within the retry window. If the fax ultimately can't be delivered — for example, the number is disconnected, is a mobile phone, or is not a fax machine — you'll receive an email explaining the reason. Permanent failures like disconnected or mobile numbers are detected early to avoid unnecessary retries.

Faxing from Different Devices

The process is the same whether you're on a computer, phone, or tablet. On a computer, you can drag and drop documents directly into the browser. On a phone, you can upload files from cloud storage (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox) or use the file picker to take a photo of a paper document. The interface adapts to your screen size — desktop users get a full stepper with labels, while mobile users get an icon-based stepper and fullscreen views. Subscribers can access the same fax history from any device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free way to send a fax online?

Best Fax offers a single-fax option at $4.95 with no subscription. For regular faxing, the $10/month plan includes unlimited sending with a dedicated fax number. There is no completely free option, but $4.95 for a one-time fax is less than most alternatives.

Can I fax a PDF?

Yes. PDF is the most commonly faxed format and produces the clearest results. You can also fax Word documents, Excel files, PowerPoint presentations, images, and many other formats. Best Fax converts everything to fax format automatically.

How do I know my fax was delivered?

Best Fax sends you an email confirmation when the recipient's fax machine acknowledges receipt. The confirmation includes a timestamp. If the fax can't be delivered after retries, you'll receive an email explaining the reason.

Do I need a fax number to send a fax?

No. You only need a fax number to receive faxes. To send, you just need the recipient's fax number. The $10/month subscription includes a dedicated number if you also need to receive faxes.

Can I send a fax from my phone?

Yes. Best Fax works in any mobile browser — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and others. You can upload files from cloud storage or use the file picker to capture a photo of a paper document.

What if I enter the wrong fax number?

Best Fax validates fax numbers in real time and warns you if the number appears to be a mobile phone or invalid. If you send to a wrong but valid fax number, the fax goes to whoever has that number. Always double-check before sending.

Can I send multiple pages in one fax?

Yes. Upload up to 10 files totaling 50 MB and up to 100 pages per fax, and they'll all be merged into one transmission. You can add a cover page on top of your document pages.