By David Thompson · Published July 24, 2025 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 9 min read
Quick Answer: The best eFax alternatives are mFax (best for mobile), Fax.Plus (best free tier), and RingCentral (best for enterprise). All three are cheaper or more flexible than eFax's $18.95/mo base plan — and none require a phone call to cancel.
eFax has been around since 1996. That longevity isn't a compliment. In 2026, it's the fax service people use until they realize there's a better option — then spend 30 minutes on hold trying to cancel.
If you're reading this, you're probably already there. You're paying $18.95 to $25.95 a month, you've been hit with overage fees, or you want something that actually works from your phone without logging into a dated web portal.
We tested the top eFax alternatives so you don't have to. Here's what actually holds up in 2026.
How We Evaluated These Services
We assessed each service on: monthly pricing, ease of setup, mobile experience, HIPAA availability, page limits, cancellation policy, and delivery reliability. Our full comparison of online fax services covers an even broader set of providers.
Why People Are Leaving eFax
eFax isn't bad — it's just expensive and outdated for most use cases. The most common complaints:
- Price: The cheapest plan is $18.95/mo for 150 outbound pages — you pay overage fees above that
- Cancellation: eFax requires you to call to cancel — you cannot cancel online
- Mobile experience: The app works, but it's not built for mobile-first use
- Contract lock-in: Annual plans lock you in; monthly plans cost more
- Hidden fees: Number porting, extra storage, and overage pages add up
For someone faxing 10 documents a year, paying $227+ annually for eFax makes no sense. These alternatives cost a fraction of that — or nothing at all.
Quick Comparison: eFax vs. Top Alternatives
| Service | Starting Price | Free Tier | Mobile App | HIPAA | Cancel Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eFax | $18.95/mo | No | Yes | Add-on | No (phone only) |
| mFax | Pay-per-fax | No | Yes ⭐ | Business plan | Yes |
| Fax.Plus | Free / $6.99/mo | 10 pages/mo | Yes | Paid plans | Yes |
| RingCentral | $24.99/user/mo | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HelloFax | $9.99/mo | 5 faxes | Limited | No | Yes |
| iFax | $8.33/mo | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FaxZero | Free | 5 faxes/day | No | No | N/A |
The 6 Best eFax Alternatives in 2026
1. mFax — Best Overall for Mobile and Personal Use
mFax is built for how people actually fax in 2026: from their phone. Open the app, upload a PDF or snap a photo with your camera, enter the fax number, and send. Delivery confirmation arrives automatically — no refreshing a portal, no guessing.
Unlike eFax, mFax doesn't lock you into a monthly subscription if you only fax occasionally. The pay-per-fax model means you pay when you send, not every month whether you use it or not.
For businesses needing a dedicated fax number, HIPAA compliance, and team features, mFax Business plans start at about $9/mo — still cheaper than eFax's base plan. And unlike eFax's rigid tiers, mFax Business is fully customizable: you build your own plan, dialing in the exact seats and pages you need with a live calculator and paying only for what you use.
Pros
- Fax from iPhone or Android in under 2 minutes
- Transparent pay-per-fax pricing — no monthly trap
- 4.8 App Store rating, 5M+ users
- HIPAA-ready Business plan (from about $9/mo, billed annually)
- Automatic delivery receipts
- No phone call required to cancel
Cons
- No free tier for consumer plan
- Business plan needed for virtual fax number
- Newer brand vs. eFax's 30-year history
2. Fax.Plus — Best Free Tier
Fax.Plus earns its place on this list with the best free tier of any serious fax service — 10 pages outbound per month, no credit card required. If you fax rarely (a tax document once or twice a year), this might be all you ever need.
For regular use, paid plans start at $6.99/mo for 200 pages — a significant saving over eFax. The interface is modern and the HIPAA compliance on paid plans makes it suitable for healthcare users.
Pros
- Genuine free tier — 10 pages/month, no credit card
- Clean, modern web and mobile interface
- HIPAA compliant on paid plans
- Good Google Drive and Dropbox integration
- Affordable entry-level paid plans
Cons
- Free tier is very limited (10 pages total, then gone)
- No dedicated fax number on free plan
- Mobile app less polished than mFax
- Customer support slower than paid competitors
3. RingCentral — Best for Enterprise and Unified Communications
RingCentral is the right choice if you're replacing a full office phone system and want fax included. It's not a standalone fax app — it's a unified communications platform where fax is one feature among many (phone, video, messaging, file sharing).
If your organization already uses RingCentral for calls, adding fax costs nothing extra. If you only need faxing, you'll be paying for features you don't use. In that case, mFax Business or Fax.Plus are better fits.
Pros
- Fax included as part of full UCaaS platform
- HIPAA compliant across all plans
- Advanced admin controls and audit logging
- Integrates with Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
- Dedicated fax numbers for each team member
Cons
- Expensive — overkill if you only need fax
- Complex setup compared to standalone fax apps
- Annual contract encouraged for best pricing
- Mobile fax experience not as simple as mFax
4. HelloFax — Best for Google Workspace Users
HelloFax (now part of Dropbox Sign) is the smoothest option for anyone deep in Google's ecosystem. You can send a fax directly from Google Docs without downloading anything — highlight a document, click Share, select HelloFax.
The lack of HIPAA compliance is a hard stop for healthcare users. For everyone else who lives in Google Workspace and faxes the occasional contract or form, it's a solid, reasonably priced option.
Pros
- Deep Google Drive and Gmail integration
- Send faxes directly from Google Docs
- 5 free faxes included on signup
- Simple, clean web interface
- Easy document importing from cloud storage
Cons
- No native mobile app (browser only on mobile)
- No HIPAA compliance — not suitable for PHI
- Page limits lower than competitors at the same price
- Owned by Dropbox (HelloSign) — roadmap uncertain
5. iFax — Best for Healthcare and HIPAA Compliance
iFax targets healthcare, legal, and insurance users who need HIPAA compliance without RingCentral's enterprise price tag. At $8.33/mo (annual billing), it's one of the most affordable HIPAA-compliant fax options on the market.
It works, but the user experience doesn't match the polish of mFax or Fax.Plus. If HIPAA compliance is your primary requirement and budget is tight, iFax is worth evaluating. If you want both compliance and a great mobile experience, mFax Business is the stronger choice.
For a broader look at secure options, see our guide to HIPAA-compliant fax services.
Pros
- HIPAA compliant on all paid plans
- Competitive pricing for healthcare users
- Bulk faxing supported
- iOS and Android apps available
- Electronic signature integration
Cons
- Interface less polished than mFax or Fax.Plus
- BAA requires manual request (not automatic)
- Customer support response times vary
- Annual billing required for lowest prices
6. FaxZero — Best for One-Time Faxing (Free)
FaxZero fills a specific niche: sending a fax once without creating an account or entering a credit card. It's genuinely free, it works, and you can send up to 5 faxes per day.
The catch: free faxes include a FaxZero-branded cover sheet, you're limited to 3 pages, and you can't receive faxes. For a one-off personal fax — a rental application, an insurance form, a school document — it's perfectly adequate. For anything recurring or professional, use a real service.
For more no-cost options, see our full list of free fax services.
Pros
- Completely free for 5 faxes per day
- No account required for basic use
- Works in any browser — no download
- Fast and reliable for short documents
Cons
- Free faxes include FaxZero branding on cover sheet
- Max 3 pages per free fax
- US and Canada numbers only
- No received faxes, delivery receipts, or fax number
- Not suitable for HIPAA or sensitive documents
How Much Does eFax Really Cost?
eFax advertises $18.95/mo, but that's rarely what you pay:
| eFax Plan | Monthly Price | Pages Included | Overage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| eFax Plus | $18.95/mo | 150 in + 150 out | $0.10/page |
| eFax Pro | $25.95/mo | 200 in + 200 out | $0.10/page |
| eFax Corporate | Custom | Custom | Custom |
At $0.10/page overage, sending a 20-page legal contract beyond your limit adds $2 to that month's bill — before taxes. On an annual plan, eFax Plus runs $227.40/year minimum.
Compare that to mFax's pay-per-fax model, where you only pay when you actually send. For someone who faxes 10–20 times a year, that's a fraction of the annual eFax cost.
eFax Cancellation Requires a Phone Call
eFax does not offer online cancellation. You must call 1-800-378-6458 during business hours and request cancellation. Users report wait times and retention pitches before the cancellation goes through. Download your fax history before calling.
How to Switch from eFax in 5 Steps
Switching fax services takes less time than the hold music on eFax's cancellation line.
Step 1: Download your fax history Log into your eFax account and export or save any received faxes you want to keep. Most services store received faxes as PDFs.
Step 2: Note your eFax fax number Write down your current eFax number. If you want to keep it, check whether your new provider offers number porting. Most do, though the process takes a few days.
Step 3: Sign up with your new provider For immediate use, mFax.to takes under 2 minutes to get started. No forms, no waiting.
Step 4: Test your new service Send a test fax to confirm delivery. Our free test fax guide walks through exactly how to do this.
Step 5: Cancel eFax Call eFax at 1-800-378-6458. Have your account number ready. Be direct: "I'd like to cancel my account." Confirm you receive a cancellation confirmation email before hanging up.
How to Choose the Right eFax Alternative
The best eFax alternative depends on how you fax:
| Your Situation | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Fax from your phone, occasionally | mFax (pay-per-fax, no monthly fee) |
| Fax 1–10 times per month, low budget | Fax.Plus (free tier or $6.99/mo) |
| Healthcare or PHI documents | mFax Business or iFax (HIPAA compliant) |
| Enterprise — replacing office fax system | RingCentral (UCaaS with fax) |
| Heavy Google Workspace user | HelloFax (native Google Docs integration) |
| One-time fax, no account wanted | FaxZero (free, no signup) |
Most People Need mFax
If you're an individual, freelancer, or small business owner who occasionally needs to fax a contract, tax form, or medical document — mFax is the right answer. It works from your phone in under 2 minutes, costs far less than eFax's monthly plan, and you're not locked into anything.
Final Verdict
eFax built its name on being there when fax was the only option. In 2026, it's living on that legacy while cheaper, better-designed alternatives have caught up.
The short version:
- Best overall: mFax — mobile-first, no monthly trap, 5M+ users
- Best free option: Fax.Plus — 10 free pages/month, no card required
- Best for enterprise: RingCentral — full UCaaS with fax included
- Best for HIPAA on a budget: iFax — HIPAA compliant from $8.33/mo
- Best one-time option: FaxZero — free, no account
If you're currently paying $18.95+/mo to eFax and faxing fewer than 20 times a month, you're overpaying. The switch takes 5 minutes.
Start with mFax → — upload a document, enter a fax number, done.
For a complete side-by-side look at the entire market, see our best online fax services comparison.