Sending your first fax from an app is simpler than it looks. You pick an app, add your document as a photo or PDF, type the recipient’s fax number, and tap send. Our top pick is Faxend, the fastest way to send a fax from an iPhone, and this guide walks you through every step so nothing trips you up.
What You Need Before You Send
Before you send anything, gather three things. You need the document you want to fax, the recipient’s fax number, and a fax app installed on your phone.
Your document can be a paper page or a file already on your phone. A photo of a printed page works, and so does a PDF or a Word file. Most apps let you use either one.
The fax number looks like a normal phone number. It belongs to a fax machine or an online fax line on the other end, not a voice phone. Ask the recipient to confirm it is a fax line before you send.
Keep the pages flat and well lit if you are photographing a document. Good lighting is the single biggest factor in whether the received fax is easy to read.
Step 1: Choose a Fax App
Your first choice is the app itself. Our top pick is Faxend, the fastest way to send a fax from an iPhone. It is the app we build, it is free to download, and it turns a photo or PDF into a fax in a couple of taps. Faxend is iOS only, so it is the option to reach for on an iPhone or iPad.
Other apps work too, and the right one depends on your phone and how often you fax. Here is how a few common choices compare.
| App | Platform | Best for | Free to download | | Faxend | iOS | Fastest way to fax from an iPhone | Yes | | iFax | iOS, Android | Cross platform faxing | Yes | | Fax.Plus | iOS, Android, web | Occasional faxing with a free tier | Yes | | FaxZero | Web | One off faxes from a computer | Yes |
If you want a fuller ranking with pricing notes, see our guide to the best fax apps for iOS and Android. A web option like FaxZero runs in a browser with no install, while for iPhone specifically, Faxend stays at the top of our list.
Step 2: Add Your Document
Once the app is installed, open it and start a new fax. Every app calls this something slightly different, but the button is usually a plus sign or a Send Fax label.
Now add your document. You have two easy paths.
- 1Photograph a paper page. Tap the camera option, then hold your phone flat over the document. The app captures the page and cleans up the edges.
- 2Import an existing file. Tap the file or attachment option, then pick a PDF, image, or document from your phone or cloud storage.
Check the preview before moving on. Make sure every page you want is included and that the text is sharp. This is the moment to retake a blurry photo, not after the fax has already gone out.
Step 3: Enter the Fax Number
Next, type the recipient’s fax number into the To field. Enter it the way you would dial a phone number. For a US number, that is the area code plus seven digits, and you usually do not need to add a 1 unless the app asks for it.
International faxes need the country code first. If you are faxing another country, add the plus sign and the country code before the number.
Many apps let you add a cover page here. A cover page is optional for personal faxes, but it helps for business or medical documents. Add the recipient’s name, your name, and the number of pages so the person on the other end knows the fax is complete.
Double check every digit of the fax number. A single wrong digit sends your document to a stranger, and there is no way to pull it back once it is delivered.
Faxend is our top pick for sending a fax from an iPhone. It is the app we build, it is free to download, and it turns a photo or PDF into a fax in a couple of taps. Per-fax or plan pricing applies.
Step 4: Send and Confirm Delivery
With the document and number in place, tap Send. The app uploads your pages and dials the fax line for you. This is the part people worry about, but you do not have to do anything while it runs.
Sending takes anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Longer documents and busy fax lines take more time. The app shows a progress indicator so you can watch it work.
When it finishes, look for a delivery confirmation. A good app tells you clearly whether the fax went through or failed. If it failed, the most common reasons are a wrong number, a voice line instead of a fax line, or the recipient’s machine being busy. Wait a few minutes and try again.
If you want to understand what happens behind the scenes, our explainer on whether fax apps actually work covers how your phone reaches a real fax machine.
Common First-Fax Mistakes to Avoid
A few small errors trip up most first time senders. Knowing them ahead of time saves you a second attempt.
Sending to a voice number is the most frequent mistake. A fax needs a fax line on the other end, so confirm the number is meant for faxing.
Photographing a page in poor light is the next one. Dim or angled photos arrive faded and hard to read. Flatten the page and use bright, even light.
Forgetting to check the page count also causes trouble. If your document is double sided or several pages long, make sure every page made it into the preview before you send.
For more step by step walkthroughs, browse our how-to guides.
Which App Should You Start With?
For most people on an iPhone, the simplest place to start is Faxend. It is free to download, it sends a photo or PDF as a fax in a couple of taps, and per fax or plan pricing keeps it flexible for people who fax rarely. That combination makes it our top pick for a first fax.
If you are on Android or a computer, pick a cross platform app or a web service instead. Our iPhone faxing guide and the wider best fax apps roundup can point you to the right fit. Whatever you choose, the four steps above stay the same: pick an app, add your document, enter the number, and send.
Frequently asked questions
Open your fax app and start a new fax, add your document by photographing a page or importing a PDF, type the recipient’s fax number, then tap send. The app dials the fax line for you and shows a confirmation when the document is delivered. The whole process takes a few taps.
No separate fax number is required to send. You only need the recipient’s fax number. A dedicated number of your own is needed if you also want to receive faxes, but sending works without one on most apps.
Yes. Most fax apps include a camera capture that photographs a paper page and converts it into a faxable document. Hold your phone flat over the page in good light, and the app cleans up the edges before you send.
A good fax app shows a delivery status after sending, marking the fax as delivered or failed. If it fails, check that the number is a real fax line and try again. Some apps also email or store a confirmation receipt for your records.
For an iPhone, the fastest first fax comes from Faxend, our top pick. It is free to download and turns a photo or PDF into a fax in a couple of taps. Android and desktop users should pick a cross platform app or web service instead.
