By David Thompson · Published April 21, 2026 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 11 min read
The best fax machine for most offices in 2026 is the Brother IntelliFAX-2840 — a dedicated laser fax machine that transmits a page in under 3 seconds and stores up to 400 pages in memory. But whether you actually need a physical fax machine depends on your situation, and most people are better served by skipping the hardware entirely.
This guide covers the five best fax machines on the market right now, what features to prioritize, and when an online fax service saves you money and headaches. We evaluated speed, reliability, running costs, and value across standalone and all-in-one models from Brother, HP, Canon, and Epson.
Skip the Hardware?
If you send fewer than 50 faxes per month, mFax.to costs far less than buying a machine plus a dedicated phone line. Fax from your phone or computer — no hardware required.
Quick Picks: Best Fax Machines at a Glance
| Model | Best For | Type | Price | Wireless |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother IntelliFAX-2840 | Dedicated faxing | Laser standalone | ~$250 | No |
| Brother MFC-L2750DW | Small business | Laser AIO | ~$230 | Yes |
| HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e | Color all-in-one | Inkjet AIO | ~$225 | Yes |
| Epson WorkForce WF-2930 | Budget / home use | Inkjet AIO | ~$110 | Yes |
| Canon PIXMA TR8620a | Home office | Inkjet AIO | ~$179 | Yes |
Do You Still Need a Physical Fax Machine?
An estimated 43 million fax machines are still connected worldwide, and industries like healthcare, legal, and government continue to rely on fax for document transmission. But that doesn't mean everyone needs a dedicated machine.
A physical fax machine makes sense if:
- You already have a dedicated analog phone line (POTS)
- You fax 50+ documents per day and need the fastest hardware throughput
- Your organization has strict network-separation requirements (no internet-connected devices)
- You need a physical printed confirmation receipt
An online fax service is better if:
- You're starting from scratch (a phone line alone costs ~$35–$40/month)
- Your team is remote or hybrid
- You want faxes delivered to email — not printed on a shared output tray
- Security and HIPAA compliance matter (online services use 256-bit AES encryption; analog lines are unencrypted)
The math tells the story: a $250 machine plus a $40/month phone line runs ~$730 in year one, not counting ink/toner, paper, and maintenance. An online fax service like mFax.to starts at a fraction of that with no hardware to maintain.
For more detail, see our guide to faxing without a landline.
Best Fax Machines Reviewed
1. Brother IntelliFAX-2840 — Best Dedicated Fax Machine
The Brother IntelliFAX-2840 is the gold standard for offices that primarily fax. It's a standalone laser machine — no printing for everyday documents, no ink cartridges — just fast, reliable fax transmission.
Key specs:
- Fax speed: 33.6 Kbps (Super G3) — transmits a page in ~2.5 seconds
- Memory: 16 MB (stores up to 400 pages)
- ADF: 20-sheet auto document feeder
- Paper tray: 250 sheets
- Speed dials: 200 numbers
- Broadcast: Send to up to 272 locations simultaneously
The IntelliFAX-2840 is purpose-built for faxing and it shows. Transmission speed and memory are the best in class for standalone machines. If your primary use case is sending and receiving faxes — not printing weekly reports or scanning contracts — this is the machine to get.
Pros
- Fastest transmission at 33.6 Kbps — 2.5 seconds per page
- 16 MB memory stores 400 pages offline
- 200 speed dials + 272-location broadcast
- Plain paper laser — no thermal rolls, no ribbon to replace
- 250-sheet paper tray reduces constant reloading
Cons
- No wireless — USB and phone line only
- No scan or copy: fax and print only
- Bulky footprint for what it does
- No duplex printing
Best for: Law offices, insurance agencies, and medical practices that send 20+ faxes daily and want a machine that handles nothing but fax.
2. Brother MFC-L2750DW — Best for Small Business
The Brother MFC-L2750DW is a monochrome laser all-in-one that prints, copies, scans, and faxes — and it does all four faster than most competitors at twice the price. At 36 pages per minute, it's the fastest machine on this list.
Key specs:
- Print/fax speed: 36 ppm (monochrome laser)
- ADF: 50-page single-pass duplex (scans both sides simultaneously)
- Paper tray: 250 sheets
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, NFC, USB
- Touchscreen: 2.7" color display
The MFC-L2750DW is the machine Brother built for small offices that need volume. The single-pass duplex ADF is a standout feature — scanning both sides of a document in one pass halves the time it takes to fax a double-sided contract. Wireless and NFC make it easy to share across a team without adding a print server.
Pros
- 36 ppm — fastest on this list by a significant margin
- 50-page ADF with single-pass duplex scanning
- NFC tap-to-print from mobile devices
- Wi-Fi + Ethernet for network sharing across office
- Low cost per page with laser toner
- Handles letter and legal paper sizes
Cons
- Monochrome only — no color printing or faxing
- Higher upfront cost than inkjet AIOs
Best for: Small offices with 3–10 users who print and fax high volumes of text documents and don't need color.
3. HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e — Best Color All-in-One
The HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e is the best color all-in-one option at this price point. It prints at 20 ppm in black and 10 ppm in color, supports faxing, scanning, and copying, and connects via Wi-Fi 5 and Ethernet.
Key specs:
- Print speed: 20 ppm black / 10 ppm color
- ADF: 35-sheet auto document feeder
- Paper tray: 225 sheets
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Ethernet, USB
- Touchscreen: 2.7" color display
The 8135e is a competent color all-in-one with solid connectivity. For offices that occasionally print color marketing materials, forms, or presentations alongside everyday black-and-white documents and faxes, it covers all the bases. The HP+ program can add value or friction depending on your workflow — read the fine print before committing.
Pros
- Color printing and faxing — useful for graphics and marketing materials
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) — faster and more stable than older Wi-Fi 4 models
- Ethernet port for wired network sharing
- 225-sheet input tray with a 35-sheet ADF
- 3 months free Instant Ink trial included
Cons
- HP+ subscription required to unlock all features
- Inkjet running costs higher than laser over time
- Some users report Wi-Fi setup complexity
- HP ink cartridge lock-in
Best for: Offices that need color printing alongside fax, with a moderate monthly print/fax volume.
4. Epson WorkForce WF-2930 — Best Budget Fax Machine
At around $110, the Epson WorkForce WF-2930 is the most affordable wireless all-in-one with fax capability on the market. It prints, copies, scans, and faxes — and includes Wi-Fi and a document feeder out of the box.
Key specs:
- Print speed: 10 ppm black / 5 ppm color
- ADF: Included (feeds multi-page documents)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
- Display: 1.44" color LCD
- Voice assistant: Alexa compatible
The WF-2930 is the right machine for home users and very-light-volume offices that need fax capability but won't be faxing daily. The speed is genuinely slow — a 10-page fax takes a full minute to scan and transmit — but for occasional use it delivers fax, copy, print, and scan at under $110.
Pros
- Lowest price of any wireless fax-capable AIO — ~$110
- Color printing and faxing included
- Wi-Fi built in for wireless access
- ADF included for multi-page documents
- Compact footprint — fits on a corner desk
Cons
- Slow — 10 ppm black, 5 ppm color
- High ink cost per page (~$0.08 vs. ~$0.02 for laser)
- Small 1.44" display is harder to navigate
- Not suited for high-volume faxing
Best for: Home users, freelancers, and small offices that fax once a week or less and want an affordable all-in-one.
5. Canon PIXMA TR8620a — Best for Home Office
The Canon PIXMA TR8620a stands out with a large 4.3" touchscreen, dual paper input trays, and borderless photo printing — making it the best option for home offices that want a polished, versatile machine.
Key specs:
- Print speed: Moderate inkjet (color and black)
- Paper capacity: 200 sheets (100-sheet front cassette + 100-sheet rear tray)
- Touchscreen: 4.3" color LCD
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, AirPrint, Wi-Fi Direct, SD card slot
- Duplex printing: Auto duplex
The TR8620a is the most user-friendly machine on this list. The large touchscreen makes setup and daily operation genuinely intuitive — no hunting through button menus. The dual-tray design means you can keep plain paper in the cassette and photo paper in the rear tray, switching automatically. A strong choice for home offices that want a capable, versatile machine at a reasonable price.
Pros
- 4.3" touchscreen — easiest to operate of any machine here
- Dual input trays (200 sheets total) — less frequent paper loading
- Ethernet + Wi-Fi + AirPrint + Wi-Fi Direct — most connectivity options
- SD card slot for direct photo printing
- Borderless printing for photos and flyers
- Compact and lightweight — easy to move
Cons
- Inkjet running costs add up at higher volumes
- Older Wi-Fi 4 standard (802.11n) — slower than Wi-Fi 5 machines
- Moderate fax speed compared to laser machines
Best for: Home offices that print photos, documents, and flyers as well as fax occasionally — and want a machine that's easy to operate.
What to Look for in a Fax Machine
Fax Modem Speed
Fax modem speed determines how fast each page transmits. Look for 33.6 Kbps (Super G3), which transmits a page in ~2.5 seconds. Older 9,600 bps modems take ~15 seconds per page — that's 6× slower on a 10-page document.
Memory Capacity
When the recipient's fax line is busy, the machine needs to store pages until retransmission. 16 MB (400 pages) is excellent; 512 KB (25 pages) is the bare minimum. More memory also protects against power-outage data loss.
Auto Document Feeder (ADF)
An ADF feeds pages automatically so you're not standing at the machine feeding them by hand. Size matters:
- 10-page ADF = personal/home use
- 20–30 page ADF = small office
- 50-page ADF = busy team environment
Print Technology: Laser vs. Inkjet
| Laser | Inkjet | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Higher (~$200–$300) | Lower (~$110–$200) |
| Cost per page | ~$0.02–$0.04 | ~$0.06–$0.12 |
| Print speed | 20–36 ppm | 5–20 ppm |
| Color | Usually mono | Color available |
| Best for | High-volume text | Low-volume + color |
For offices printing and faxing more than 500 pages/month, laser wins on total cost of ownership within 6–12 months.
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi: Essential for sharing one machine across a team without cables
- Ethernet: More reliable than Wi-Fi for office networks; required in some environments
- NFC: Convenient for mobile tap-to-print (Brother MFC-L2750DW)
- USB: Fallback connection — present on all models
For context on why fax uses a phone line at all, see our guide to how a fax machine works.
Does It Need a Phone Line?
Traditional fax machines require an analog phone line (POTS). If your office uses VoIP phone service, check whether the machine supports the T.38 protocol — without it, faxing over VoIP produces corrupted transmissions. Read more in our does fax need a phone line guide.
Physical Fax Machine vs. Online Fax Service
The True Cost of a Physical Machine
A $250 machine + $40/month phone line = $730 in year one (before consumables). Online fax services start at ~$10–$20/month with no hardware.
| Factor | Physical Fax Machine | Online Fax Service |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware cost | $110–$300 | None |
| Phone line | ~$35–$40/month | Not required |
| Security | Unencrypted analog signal | 256-bit AES encryption |
| Accessibility | Requires physical presence | Any device, anywhere |
| HIPAA compliance | Manual procedures required | Built-in (with right provider) |
| Delivery receipt | Printed confirmation | Digital confirmation + audit log |
| Setup time | 30–60 minutes | Under 5 minutes |
For most individuals and businesses faxing fewer than 50 pages/month, the math strongly favors an online service. Our guide to fax cost per page breaks down the full economics.
Online fax services deliver faxes directly to your email inbox — private, searchable, and accessible from any device. No one walks past the output tray and picks up your patient records or contract drafts. For healthcare and legal teams, that alone is a compelling reason to switch.
mFax.to is the mobile-first choice: upload a PDF or snap a document with your phone, enter the fax number, and send. Over 5 million users have sent more than 2 million faxes through the platform, with a 98% delivery rate and a 4.8-star App Store rating. For businesses with compliance requirements, mFax Business adds HIPAA compliance and team accounts starting at about $9/mo (billed annually) — and rather than locking you into fixed tiers, it lets you build your own plan with a live calculator, choosing the exact seats and pages you need and paying only for what you use, with no BAA hunting or extra fees.
For a full comparison of online options, see our best business fax services guide.
How to Set Up a Fax Machine
Once you've chosen a machine, setup takes under an hour:
- Connect the phone line — plug the analog line into the port labeled LINE (not EXT). If you have a phone on the same line, connect it to the EXT port.
- Load paper — most machines use standard 8.5" × 11" plain paper.
- Configure fax settings — set the date/time, your fax header (sender name and number), and reception mode (auto-answer vs. manual).
- Test transmission — send a test fax to a confirmed number. Check the activity log for confirmation.
For a detailed walkthrough, see our fax machine setup guide.
FAQ
What is the best fax machine to buy in 2026?
For pure faxing, the Brother IntelliFAX-2840 is the top choice — 33.6 Kbps, 400-page memory, 250-sheet tray. For an all-in-one that also prints and scans, the Brother MFC-L2750DW offers the best speed and value.
Do fax machines still need a phone line?
Yes — traditional machines require an analog phone line. Some models support VoIP faxing via the T.38 protocol. Online fax services require only an internet connection.
Is it better to get a fax machine or an online fax service?
For most users, an online fax service saves money and works from any device. A physical machine makes sense only if you already have a landline and fax very high daily volumes.
What features should I look for in a fax machine?
Prioritize 33.6 Kbps transmission speed, at least 200-page memory capacity, a 30+ page ADF, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Laser over inkjet for volumes above 500 pages/month.
Are fax machines still being made in 2026?
Yes — Brother, Canon, HP, and Epson all produce current-generation fax machines. Brother has the most comprehensive lineup.
The Bottom Line
The Brother IntelliFAX-2840 is the best dedicated fax machine you can buy in 2026 — fast, reliable, and built for nothing but faxing. The Brother MFC-L2750DW is the best all-in-one for offices that need print, copy, scan, and fax at high volume.
That said: for most individuals and small businesses, the hardware route is the harder one. A dedicated phone line adds $40/month to your costs, setup takes time, and the machine itself needs maintenance. mFax.to removes all of that — fax from your phone or computer in under two minutes, with a 98% delivery rate and no equipment to maintain.
Download the mFax app or visit mFax.to to send your first fax free.