PDFs have been a popular format for organizations for many years, and for good reason. Whether you’re filing your taxes, sending a resume and cover letter to apply for a job, or sending sensitive medical information, the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to send a PDF securely is with an online fax service.
Online fax services today make it easy to send a PDF to any fax number from your computer. Many providers also offer mobile apps that turn your smartphone into a portable fax machine, giving you more flexibility and functionality than a traditional fax machine. Faxing a PDF has never been easier.
Here’s how you can use your computer or mobile device to fax PDFs.
How to Fax a PDF Using a Mobile Phone
You can even avoid using fax machines and computers altogether, by using a faxing app to create and send PDFs from your phone.
- Download a faxing app on your mobile device
Look for a reliable mobile application in the app store. Read the user reviews to make sure you choose a reputable app or refer to our own top iPhone fax app review. - Get your fax ready to send
Go to the ‘New Fax’ section of the app, where you can enter the recipient’s fax number, add a cover page, and most importantly, add an image or document to your fax. - Add your PDF file to the fax
To add a PDF to your fax, make sure the document is saved on your device or in cloud storage. Simply select the option to upload documents from your phone, iCloud, Google Drive, or any other major cloud service. Most of the modern fax apps can connect to these cloud storage services to find any PDF file on your device. - Hit send when you’re ready
Review your fax and all of the details that go along with it—if you’ve uploaded multiple pages, you can reorder them as needed. Once everything looks good, press the send button. You’ll receive a confirmation and a push notification once your fax has been successfully sent.
Faxing apps are very easy to use and often come with flexible monthly subscription plans, as well as free trial options. These apps are one of the fastest ways to fax PDFs, and with strong security features, they’re also a safe way to send sensitive or confidential documents.
How to Fax a PDF Online With Email to Fax
Faxing PDFs via email is similar to faxing from your phone—just find a reputable online fax provider and have your files ready.
- Create an account with an online faxing service
Most web platform like EveryFax or eFax let you send PDFs and a wide range of other file formats as faxes. To get started, visit their website and create an account. With these services, you can even send faxes directly from your email, turning your email service into a fax machine! - Get your fax ready to send
When using an online fax service that integrates with your email, start a new fax by entering the recipient’s fax number in the ‘To’ field of a new email, and then add ‘@send.everyfax.com’ if you’re using EveryFax. - Add a PDF document as an email attachment
This is the same process as attaching any other file in an email. Simply attach your PDF to the email and hit send, and it will be sent as a fax to the number you specified. - Send and confirm receipt
The provider will then convert your PDF into a fax and send it to the recipient’s fax number. Once the transmission is complete, you’ll receive an email confirmation.
An email to fax solution is a great way to fax a PDF, as it only requires an internet connection—no fax machine or phone line needed. You can also receive incoming faxes directly in your email inbox, as these email-to-fax services are compatible with all major email providers.
How to Fax a PDF Using a Fax Machine
While many have moved to mobile or online faxing services, you can still fax a PDF using a fax machine if you have access to one.
The process will vary depending on the machine. For modern machines, PDF documents can often be uploaded and converted directly to fax format without needing a scanner. However, older machines may require you to print your PDF documents first, then load them into the document feeder or scanner.
- Prepare the fax
Plug in and connect the machine, then prepare your cover page. Enter the fax number—remember, for traditional fax machines, you must verify that international fax numbers include the correct country code (faxing apps typically handle this for you). - Upload or scan the PDF
If you’re using an older machine that doesn’t accept digital files, print the PDF onto paper and feed it into the machine. Alternatively, for modern fax machines, you can upload the file directly from your computer or a memory stick. - Review your fax and send
Once you’re ready and have entered the correct fax number, send the fax and await confirmation of delivery.
While the majority have transitioned to online fax services and apps, it remains possible to fax a PDF the traditional way if you have access to a fax machine!
How to Create PDF Files
Sometimes you may need to fax a PDF but don’t have the documents in the correct format—maybe you have paper documents or files from Microsoft Word or Excel that need to be converted to PDF. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to scan, convert and create PDFs online or through popular apps.
Turn a paper document into a PDF
If you have a physical document that you need to convert into a PDF, this can be done with your mobile device or a scanner.
- Using your mobile phone
The simplest way to scan and fax a document is by using a fax app with the scanning feature such as our own Municorn Fax App. Other than that, your options include downloading a dedicated scanner app or using the built-in technology on your phone, such as the Notes app on iPhone. With all of these the process is simple—point your camera at the document, and your device will capture it and save it as a PDF file. - Using a scanner
If you have access to a physical scanner, place the paper into the scanner tray and follow the user interface instructions. Most modern scanners, especially those that are part of multifunction printers, can save scanned documents as PDFs. Just be sure to select the PDF format in your scanning settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I fax file types other than PDFs using online fax services? Absolutely! Most online fax services are very flexible in that regard. In addition to PDFs, you can easily send Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and even image files. This means you can fax what you need, without having to convert everything to PDF first.
- How secure is it to transmit sensitive information through an online fax service? Online fax services are secure. They often use encryption to protect your data as it is sent. Many online fax services, Municorn included also follow industry standards and regulations, such as HIPAA for healthcare information, so you can be sure that your sensitive documents are protected.
- Is it possible to receive faxes on my mobile device with an online fax service? Yes! Most online fax services and mobile apps allow you to receive faxes on your smartphone or tablet. Just like your email, you can view, download and organize your received faxes.
- What are the costs involved in using an online fax service? While some online fax services offer free trials, most will require a subscription or a pay-per-fax fee. The cost will depend on the provider and the plan you choose, but you’ll find that these services are more affordable than having a traditional fax machine and dedicated phone line. Fax App plans for example start at $9.99 for unlimited faxing.
