By David Thompson · Published April 29, 2026 · Updated August 13, 2026 · 11 min read
If you're searching for the best fax software for Windows 10 or Windows 11, you now have three fundamentally different categories to choose from: native desktop apps you install from the Microsoft Store, cloud-based services that run in any browser, and modem-dependent programs like the built-in Windows Fax and Scan. The right choice depends on your hardware, volume, and compliance needs — and the differences between them are significant.
We tested and evaluated five options across pricing, ease of use, Windows integration, and HIPAA compliance. Here's what we found.
Quick Verdict
mFax is the best overall fax software for Windows in 2026. Since August 10, 2026 it ships as mFax for Windows, a native app on the Microsoft Store that's free to install — drag your document in, type the fax number, send. No modem, no phone line, and it runs on Windows 10 and 11 including ARM64 machines. Prefer not to install anything? The same account works in any Windows browser. RingCentral Fax is the top pick if you need deep Microsoft Teams and Outlook integration. Windows Fax and Scan remains a zero-cost option if you already own a modem and landline.
At a Glance: Top 5 Fax Software for Windows Compared
| Service | Starting Price | Windows App | HIPAA | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mFax | Free app · plans from $9/mo | Native Microsoft Store app + browser | All Business plans | Best overall |
| eFax | $18.99/mo | Desktop app + browser | Protect plan only ($50) | Established enterprises |
| Fax.Plus | Free / $6.99/mo | Browser only | Enterprise only ($80+) | Lowest entry price |
| RingCentral Fax | $17.99/mo (annual) | Full native desktop app | All plans | Microsoft ecosystem |
| Windows Fax & Scan | Free | Built-in app | None | Modem + landline users |
How We Evaluated
Every service was assessed on five criteria:
- Windows compatibility — native app, browser-based, or modem-dependent; behavior on both Windows 10 and 11, including ARM devices
- Ease of use — time from sign-up to first sent fax
- Pricing and value — cost per page relative to features included
- HIPAA compliance — encryption, BAA availability, and which plan tier requires it
- Reliability — delivery confirmation, busy signal handling, and customer support quality
#1 — mFax for Windows
mFax for Windows
mFax is the best fax software for Windows for most users — and it's not particularly close. Since August 10, 2026 it is a real desktop program rather than a browser tab: mFax for Windows is published on the Microsoft Store by Octagon Lab, listed as mFax - Send and Receive FAX, free to install, and about 46 MB to download.
Getting a fax out takes about a minute:
- Install mFax for Windows from the Microsoft Store listing — Windows 10 (version 17763.0 or higher) and Windows 11, x64 and ARM64.
- Sign in with your email address — there's no password to create — or start as a guest.
- Drag your document onto the app window, paste an image from the clipboard, or pick a file from disk.
- Type the recipient's fax number; the country picker and live formatting handle international numbers.
- Add a cover page if you need one (name, contact details, message, and flags like Urgent or Confidential), then send and watch live progress with a time estimate.
The app accepts PDF, Word (.doc/.docx), Excel (.xls/.xlsx), PowerPoint (.ppt/.pptx), OpenDocument, RTF, TXT, CSV, HTML and images (PNG, JPG, BMP, GIF, WebP), converting them into fax-ready pages for you. Before sending you can reorder, rotate, duplicate, delete or extract pages, draw in seven ink colors, add text captions, and sign with a mouse, trackpad or pen — with full undo/redo. Incoming faxes land in the app and open in a proper desktop PDF viewer with zoom, rotate and thumbnails, and every transmission is tracked with a downloadable delivery receipt. Limits are 60 pages per fax and 20 MB per file.
Two details matter on newer hardware. The app ships x64 and ARM64 builds, so it installs on Copilot+ and Snapdragon laptops — precisely the machines where Windows Fax and Scan doesn't exist. And if you'd rather not install anything at all, the same account still works in any Windows browser, with fax history synced between the two.
HIPAA compliance is included on all paid mFax Business plans with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) at no extra cost — a significant advantage over eFax and Fax.Plus, which gate compliance behind expensive top-tier plans. Teams can create an organization in the Windows app itself, invite colleagues by email, and share one number and one fax history.
Plans: Fully customizable, usage-based pricing from about $9/mo — build your own plan with a live calculator by choosing the exact seats (1–35) and pages (200–5,000) you need ($3/seat + $4 per 100 pages), no rigid fixed tiers
Away from your desk, the same account runs on the mFax app for iPhone and Android — a natural complement when a document arrives while you're out.
Pros
- Native Microsoft Store app, free to install — Windows 10 and 11, x64 and ARM64
- Drag and drop PDFs, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OpenDocument files and images — converted to fax pages automatically
- Edit before sending: reorder, rotate, duplicate or delete pages, add captions, sign with a mouse, trackpad or pen
- Sends over the internet — no fax modem, no analog landline, no printer to configure
- Delivery receipt you can download as a shareable PDF; failures explained in plain language, not error codes
- HIPAA compliant with BAA on every mFax Business plan — no upgrade required
- 98% delivery success rate; 5 million+ users, 4.8-star App Store rating
Cons
- Free to install, but sending faxes and getting your own fax number need a paid plan
- Requires an internet connection and an account — no offline or modem-based mode
- Needs Windows 10 version 17763.0 or higher; no build for Windows 7 or 8
- Caps of 60 pages per fax and 20 MB per file
Windows 11 Note
mFax works identically on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Store app requires Windows 10 version 17763.0 or higher and ships both x64 and ARM64 builds, so it installs on ARM-based devices (Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 11) — exactly where Windows Fax and Scan isn't available at all.
#2 — eFax
eFax
eFax is the service to choose if you want the longest-running brand in online fax with a Windows client of its own. The eFax Messenger desktop app installs on Windows 10 and 11 and gives you a dedicated inbox, send queue, and Outlook plug-in — similar to how an email client works.
That said, eFax's pricing model is less competitive than alternatives. The entry Plus plan at $18.99/month includes only 170 send + receive pages combined, and HIPAA compliance is locked behind the $50/month Protect plan — a meaningful cost jump if you're in healthcare or legal.
For established enterprises that value brand recognition and a true Windows app, eFax is a reasonable choice. For everyone else, the value proposition is weaker.
Plans: Plus ($18.99/mo, 170 pages) · Pro ($24.99/mo, 275 pages) · Protect ($50/mo, 1,000 pages, HIPAA)
See our detailed mFax vs. eFax comparison if you're deciding between these two.
Pros
- eFax Messenger — a true native Windows desktop application
- Deep Microsoft Outlook integration built into the app
- One of the longest-running online fax services — established and reliable
- Bulk faxing to multiple recipients simultaneously
- HITRUST certified at enterprise tier
Cons
- HIPAA compliance requires the $50/mo Protect plan — not included on entry plans
- Most expensive entry price of the cloud options reviewed
- 90-day fax archive limit on lower plans
- Frequent cancellation complaints in user reviews
#3 — Fax.Plus
Fax.Plus
Fax.Plus has the lowest barrier to entry: a free tier for occasional users, and a Basic plan at $6.99/month (annual billing) for light senders. It works entirely in the browser on Windows — no installation required.
The catch is HIPAA compliance: unlike mFax Business and RingCentral Fax, Fax.Plus only offers HIPAA compliance with BAA on the Enterprise plan at $79.99/month (annual). If your organization handles healthcare data, Fax.Plus becomes one of the more expensive options once compliance is factored in.
For a small business or freelancer without compliance requirements who sends fewer than 200 faxes per month, the Basic plan is hard to beat on price.
Plans: Free (10 pages, lifetime) · Basic ($6.99/mo annual, 200 pages) · Premium ($13.99/mo annual, 500 pages) · Business ($27.99/mo annual, 1,000 pages, 5 users)
Pros
- Free tier available — 10 lifetime pages, no credit card required
- Basic plan at $6.99/mo (annual) — lowest paid entry point
- SOC 2 Type II certified
- Clean, intuitive web interface
- Good international fax number coverage
Cons
- HIPAA compliance only on Enterprise plan ($79.99+/mo) — expensive gating
- No native Windows desktop app
- Free tier is effectively a trial — 10 total pages with no receiving number
- Billing auto-renewal complaints in user reviews
- Limited customer support accessibility on lower plans
#4 — RingCentral Fax
RingCentral Fax
RingCentral Fax is the top choice for organizations already using Microsoft 365. The integration goes beyond email — a fax icon appears natively inside Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Teams, letting users send faxes directly from the apps they already work in. The full Windows desktop app provides a dedicated fax inbox alongside RingCentral's other communication tools.
At $17.99/month (annual) with 1,500 pages included, it also offers the most generous page allowance at the entry level. HIPAA compliance with BAA is included on all plans — no gating to a higher tier. For a healthcare practice or legal firm already on Microsoft 365, this is the strongest all-around package.
For a detailed breakdown, see our RingCentral Fax review.
Plans: Fax 1500 ($17.99/mo annual, 1,500 pages) · Higher-volume plans available
Pros
- Full native Windows desktop app with fax inbox and send queue
- Deep Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and Word integration — fax icon appears directly in Office apps
- Batch faxing and scheduled faxing ('Send Later')
- HIPAA compliant with BAA on all plans
- 1,500 pages/month on the entry plan — highest page allowance at this price tier
Cons
- Most expensive option for standalone fax use
- No built-in electronic signature
- Overkill for individual or very small teams with basic needs
Free Trial
RingCentral Fax offers a 15-day free trial — enough time to test the Teams and Outlook integration before committing.
#5 — Windows Fax and Scan (Built-In)
Windows Fax and Scan
Windows Fax and Scan is the built-in option — free, no subscription, and it works without an internet connection. On Windows 10, it comes pre-installed. On Windows 11, you must add it manually via Settings > Apps > Optional Features, and it is unavailable entirely on ARM-based Windows 11 devices.
The core limitation is hardware: you need a physical USB fax modem and an active analog telephone landline. Cable, fiber, and VoIP lines do not work with a standard fax modem. In 2026, most homes and offices no longer have analog landlines — which makes this option impractical for the majority of users. It remains the only fax program that is built into Windows; it is no longer the only fax program that lives on your desktop, since mFax for Windows installs from the Microsoft Store and sends over your internet connection instead of a phone line.
For the full setup walkthrough, see our guide to Windows Fax and Scan, or our notes on running it on Windows 11.
Cost: Free (modem ~$25–$50 extra; analog landline ~$15–$40/mo)
Pros
- Completely free — included with Windows
- No subscription or internet connection required
- Works as a genuine fax machine replacement if hardware is available
- Supports auto-receive with ring count settings
Cons
- Requires a USB fax modem (~$25–$50) — most modern PCs don't have one
- Requires an active analog landline — VoIP and fiber lines do NOT work
- Not available by default on Windows 11 (must install as optional feature)
- Not available at all on ARM Windows 11 devices
- No HIPAA compliance — no encryption, no audit trail, no BAA possible
- PC must remain powered on 24/7 to receive faxes
- Modem driver compatibility increasingly problematic on Windows 11
Windows 10 vs. Windows 11: What Changes for Faxing?
For internet-based fax software — the mFax Windows app included — there is no meaningful difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11. mFax, eFax, Fax.Plus, and RingCentral Fax all behave the same on either OS, whether you install an app or work in a browser.
The difference only matters for Windows Fax and Scan:
| Factor | Windows 10 | Windows 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-installed | Yes | No — must install manually |
| ARM device support | Generally supported | Not available at all |
| Modem driver compatibility | Broader legacy support | Increasing issues; some drivers removed |
| mFax for Windows (Store app) | Works on build 17763.0+ | Works, including ARM64 |
| Cloud fax services | Works fine | Works fine |
If you're on a newer Windows 11 machine — especially a recent Surface device — skip Windows Fax and Scan entirely: install mFax for Windows from the Microsoft Store, or use a cloud service in the browser. On an ARM Surface it isn't a preference but a hard limit, which our ARM Windows faxing guide covers in detail.
For step-by-step instructions specific to each OS, see our guides to faxing from Windows 10 and faxing from Windows 11. This page ranks named services on price, compliance and support; if you have not yet decided whether you want an installed app, a browser tab or a modem at all, start with how to pick a fax app for Windows, and if you are specifically replacing the built-in tool, Windows Fax and Scan alternatives.
What to Look for in Windows Fax Software
Before choosing a service, answer these four questions:
1. Do you have a modem and landline? If yes, Windows Fax and Scan is a viable free option. If no — which describes most users in 2026 — pick something that faxes over the internet: install mFax for Windows from the Microsoft Store if you want an app on your PC, or use a browser-based service if you'd rather install nothing. Our walkthrough for sending a fax from Windows 11 covers both routes step by step.
2. Do you need HIPAA compliance? Healthcare providers, insurers, and legal firms handling protected health information must use a HIPAA-compliant service with a BAA. mFax Business and RingCentral Fax include this on all paid plans. eFax requires its $50/month Protect plan. Fax.Plus requires the Enterprise tier at $79.99+/month. See our full HIPAA fax compliance guide.
3. Do you need Microsoft 365 integration? If your team lives in Teams and Outlook, RingCentral Fax is the only service with truly native integration — fax icons appear inside Office apps without any workarounds.
4. How many pages do you send per month? Occasional (under 50 pages): Fax.Plus Basic or mFax Business Starter. Regular business use (50–500 pages): mFax Business or RingCentral Fax. High volume (1,000+ pages): compare overage rates carefully — mFax Business is often cheaper per page than alternatives at scale, because you set the exact page volume you need instead of buying the next tier up.
For a broader comparison of online fax services for business, see our best business fax services guide.
Our Recommendation
For most Windows users: mFax for Windows is the clear winner. A free native Microsoft Store app that runs on Windows 10 and 11 (x64 and ARM64) with no modem or phone line, HIPAA compliance and a signed BAA on every mFax Business plan, usage-based pricing from about $9/mo, and a 98% delivery success rate make it the strongest overall package.
For Microsoft 365 teams: RingCentral Fax wins on ecosystem integration — native Teams and Outlook faxing is genuinely useful if your organization is already standardized on Microsoft.
For budget-first users without compliance needs: Fax.Plus Basic at $6.99/month (annual) or the free 10-page tier is the lowest-cost entry point.
For modem + landline users: Windows Fax and Scan is free, reliable, and requires no subscription — if you have the hardware.
Ready to send your first fax from Windows? Install mFax for Windows from the Microsoft Store — free to install, no modem and no phone line. Drag your document onto the app, type the fax number, and send in under two minutes. Prefer not to install anything? Open mFax in your browser instead. Trusted by 5 million users with a 4.8-star rating.