We tested 3 online fax services so you don't have to

How to Send a Fax Online for Free

We reviewed Dropbox Fax, eFax, and HumbleFax side by side. Our verdict? Dropbox Fax is the easiest way to send a fax — 5 free pages, no fax machine, done in under 2 minutes.

Quick Answer

To send a fax online for free, follow these 4 steps:

  1. Go to fax.dropbox.com and click "Send a Fax".
  2. Upload the document you want to fax (PDF, Word, or image).
  3. Enter the recipient's fax number.
  4. Click "Send document" — your fax is delivered.

Dropbox Fax includes 5 free pages, requires no fax machine, and takes under 2 minutes from start to finish.

How to Send a Fax in 2026: We Tested the Top Online Fax Services

Whether you're filing tax documents with the IRS, sending paperwork to a doctor's office, or dealing with a government agency that still requires faxes, knowing how to send a fax still matters in 2026. The good news? You no longer need a physical fax machine, a landline, or a trip to an office supply store — learning how to send a fax online takes less than two minutes.

We signed up for and tested three of the most popular online fax services — Dropbox Fax, eFax, and HumbleFax — to find the simplest, most affordable way to send a fax online. We compared each service on ease of use, free page allowance, pricing, and overall experience.

Our pick: Dropbox Fax. It was the easiest to use by a clear margin — the interface is clean, the send flow takes four clicks, and you get 5 free pages the moment you sign up with the option to earn up to 20 more. For most people who just need to send a fax quickly, it's the best option available.

Online Fax Service Comparison

How the three services we reviewed stack up against each other.

Service Free Pages Ease of Use Our Verdict Action
OUR #1 PICK
Dropbox Fax
fax.dropbox.com
5 free
+ earn up to 20 more
Easiest we tested
Best Overall Visit Site
eFax
efax.com
None
Paid plans only
More complex
Best for Enterprise Read Review
HumbleFax
humblefax.com
Limited
Pay-per-fax
Simple and clean
Budget-Friendly Read Review

Ratings reflect our hands-on testing as of April 2026. Individual reviews available on their respective pages.

Using Our #1 Pick: Dropbox Fax

How to Send a Fax Online — 4 Simple Steps

Here's exactly how to send a fax using Dropbox Fax, the service we rated the easiest. The whole process takes under two minutes.

Go to Dropbox Fax and Click "Send a Fax"

Head to fax.dropbox.com and sign in with your Dropbox account (or create a free one). From the dashboard, click the "Send faxes" button in the top-left corner, or click the "Send a Fax" card in the center of the page.

Dropbox Fax dashboard showing the home screen with a 'Send faxes' button in the top-left sidebar and a 'Send a Fax' card with a document icon in the center of the page

Upload the Document You Want to Fax

On the "What needs to be faxed?" screen, choose how you'd like to add your document. You can drag and drop a file directly into the upload area, click "Upload" to browse your computer, or import a file from Dropbox or Google Drive. PDFs, Word documents, and image files are all supported. Once your document is selected, click "Next" to continue.

Dropbox Fax document upload screen showing a drag-and-drop area with tabs for Upload, Dropbox, and Google Drive, a 'Selected documents' section below, and a Next button in the bottom-right corner

Enter the Recipient's Fax Number

On the "Who should receive a copy?" screen, type the recipient's fax number or email address into the input field. Dropbox Fax supports international numbers — just include the country code. Need to send to multiple people? Click "Add another recipient" to include additional fax numbers.

Dropbox Fax recipient screen showing an 'Add recipients' form with a text field labeled 'Fax number or email address' containing the placeholder '+44 1234 567890 or email@example.com', and an 'Add another recipient' link below

Review and Hit "Send Document"

Review your fax details one last time. You'll see the recipient's number and have the option to send a high-resolution colour version of your fax or add a cover page. When everything looks good, click the "Send document" button. That's it — your fax is on its way!

Dropbox Fax review screen showing a fax number entered in the recipient field with the country set to Canada, checkboxes for 'Send high-resolution colour version of fax' and 'Add cover page', and a prominent black 'Send document' button
Try Dropbox Fax Free

5 free pages. No credit card required.

Why We Picked Dropbox Fax as #1

After testing all three services, Dropbox Fax stood out for several reasons. Here's what made the difference:

Most Generous Free Tier

5 free fax pages right away, with the option to earn up to 20 more — no credit card required. eFax has no free tier at all, and HumbleFax charges per page from the start. For most people who just need to send a quick fax, Dropbox Fax costs nothing.

Simplest Interface We Tested

The send flow is four steps: click send, upload a file, enter a number, hit send. No cluttered dashboards, no confusing pricing modals in the middle of your workflow. It just works. eFax, by comparison, has a steeper learning curve geared toward business users.

Perfect for Tax Season & Sensitive Documents

Need to fax tax documents to the IRS or your accountant? Dropbox Fax uses encrypted transmission to keep sensitive financial information safe. It's backed by Dropbox — a name trusted by hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

Upload From Anywhere

Drag and drop files, browse your computer, or import directly from Dropbox or Google Drive. Supports PDFs, Word docs, images, and more. HumbleFax supports uploads but lacks the cloud integrations. eFax supports email-to-fax but requires more setup.

Quick Takes: All 3 Services

Here's a brief summary of each service we reviewed. Click through to read our full, in-depth reviews.

OUR #1 PICK

Dropbox Fax

Visit Site

The best overall option for most people. Dropbox Fax has the cleanest interface, the most generous free tier (5 pages free, up to 20 more earnable), and is backed by a name you already trust. It's the fastest path from "I need to send a fax" to "Done." Ideal for one-off faxes, tax documents, and anyone who doesn't want to deal with subscriptions or complicated software.

eFax is one of the longest-running online fax services and is built primarily for business users. It offers features like dedicated fax numbers, email-to-fax, and team management — but there's no free tier, and the interface feels dated compared to newer competitors. If you send a high volume of faxes or need to receive faxes regularly, eFax is worth considering. For occasional use, it's overkill.

HumbleFax takes a simple, no-frills approach to online faxing. The interface is clean and straightforward, and the pay-per-fax pricing means you only pay for what you use — no monthly subscriptions. It's a solid budget-friendly option if you don't mind paying a small fee per fax. However, it lacks cloud integrations (Dropbox, Google Drive) and the free pages that make Dropbox Fax our top pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about how to send a fax online.

Can I send a fax online for free?
Yes. Dropbox Fax gives you 5 free pages when you sign up, with the option to earn up to 20 additional free pages. No credit card is required to get started.
Do I need a fax machine to send a fax?
No. With online fax services like Dropbox Fax, eFax, and HumbleFax, you can send a fax directly from your computer or phone — no fax machine, phone line, or special hardware required. Just open your browser, upload a document, and send.
Is it safe to fax sensitive documents like tax forms online?
Yes. Reputable online fax services use encryption to protect your documents during transmission. Dropbox Fax, our top pick, is backed by Dropbox's security infrastructure. Faxing is often considered more secure than email for transmitting tax documents, legal paperwork, and medical records.
What is the best online fax service?
After testing Dropbox Fax, eFax, and HumbleFax, we rated Dropbox Fax the best overall for most users. It has the easiest interface, a generous free tier, and requires no setup. eFax is better for enterprise users with high-volume needs, and HumbleFax is a solid budget option with pay-per-fax pricing.
How many free fax pages do I get with Dropbox Fax?
Dropbox Fax gives every new user 5 free fax pages immediately. You can then earn up to 20 additional free pages, for a total of up to 25 pages at no cost. If you need to send faxes regularly, paid plans are available with higher limits.
Can I send a fax to an international number?
Yes. All three services we reviewed — Dropbox Fax, eFax, and HumbleFax — support international fax numbers. When entering the recipient's number, include the country code (e.g., +44 for the UK, +1 for the US and Canada).

Now You Know How to Send a Fax — Ready to Try It?

We tested the top online fax services so you don't have to. Our pick is Dropbox Fax — 5 free pages, the easiest interface, done in under 2 minutes.

Send a Fax Now — It's Free