How to Send a Fax From Your iPhone for Free

Sending a fax from an iPhone requires no hardware, no phone line, and no fax machine. A free app or online service handles the transmission entirely over the internet. Most free options include a limited number of pages per month or a one-time allowance, which is enough for occasional use.

Here are the two most reliable free methods.

Method 1: Fax.Plus (Best Overall Free Option)

Fax.Plus is one of the most established online fax services and includes a free plan that allows up to ten outgoing fax pages per month. No credit card is required to sign up.

Step 1: Download and Create an Account

Search for Fax.Plus in the App Store and install it. Open the app and tap Sign Up. Create an account using your email address or sign in with Google or Apple. The free plan activates immediately after account creation.

Step 2: Prepare Your Document

Tap the compose or send button inside the app. Add the document you want to fax. Fax.Plus accepts PDFs, JPGs, and common document formats. You can attach files from your iPhone's Files app, iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. If the document only exists on paper, use your iPhone camera to scan it directly within the app. The built-in scanner applies edge detection and image correction automatically.

Step 3: Enter the Fax Number

Type the recipient's fax number in the To field. For US and Canada numbers, enter the ten-digit number including the area code. For international faxes, include the country code with a plus sign at the start, for example +44 for the UK.

Step 4: Add a Cover Page (Optional)

If the recipient requires a cover page, tap the cover page option and fill in the sender name, recipient name, and a brief note. Cover pages are common for medical offices, legal firms, and government agencies.

Step 5: Send the Fax

Review the document and fax number, then tap Send. Fax.Plus transmits the fax and sends you a delivery confirmation notification when it is received. The status updates are visible inside the app under Sent.

Method 2: FaxBurner (No Account Required for One-Off Faxes)

FaxBurner allows you to send up to five pages total on its free plan without providing payment details. It is a good option for a single one-off fax when you do not want to create an ongoing account.

Step 1: Download FaxBurner

Search for FaxBurner in the App Store and install it. Open the app and sign up with your email address. The free plan is available immediately with no payment information required.

Step 2: Compose the Fax

Tap the compose button. Attach your document from your iPhone's photo library, Files app, or scan a physical document using the camera. Enter the recipient's fax number in the number field.

Step 3: Send

Tap Send Fax. FaxBurner delivers the fax and sends a confirmation to your email address when the transmission completes.

The five-page limit on the free plan is a lifetime total, not a monthly reset. Once used, sending more requires upgrading to a paid plan.

Which Method Should You Use

Fax.Plus is the better option for most people. Ten free pages per month resets every month, making it genuinely useful for occasional faxing rather than a one-time allowance. The app is well designed, reliable, and widely used in healthcare and legal contexts.

FaxBurner suits a single urgent fax when you have not used the service before. Its five-page total lifetime limit makes it impractical as a regular solution.

When Free Plans Are Not Enough

If you regularly send more than ten pages per month, the free tiers of both services become limiting quickly. Fax.Plus, iFax, and eFax all offer affordable paid plans starting around five dollars per month that remove page limits and provide a dedicated fax number for receiving faxes as well.

For one-off large documents, sending the fax from a desktop browser using a free online service like Smallpdf or iLovePDF is often more practical than upgrading a mobile app subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to send a fax from an iPhone?

Yes. Faxes sent through internet fax services carry the same legal weight as those sent from a physical fax machine in most jurisdictions. The transmission creates a record showing the sender, recipient, date, and time. Healthcare, legal, and financial organisations routinely accept faxes sent via online fax services.

What file formats can I fax from my iPhone?

Most online fax apps accept PDF, JPG, PNG, and common Microsoft Office formats including Word and Excel documents. PDF produces the cleanest and most reliable transmission quality. If your document is in another format, convert it to PDF before faxing using the Files app or a free converter.

Can I receive faxes for free on my iPhone?

Yes, with limitations. FaxBurner allows you to receive up to 25 pages per month for free on a temporary fax number that refreshes every 24 hours. Fax.Plus includes a small receiving allowance on the free plan. If you need a permanent dedicated fax number for receiving, a paid plan is required on most services.