Isn’t fax software expensive?

Fax software is actually free. It comes as a free download for you to install when you sign up with an internet fax service. Find the lowest rates for internet fax services from our list of Top Fax Providers.

How do I use fax software?

You use fax software just like you use your email software. In fact, some people like to think of fax software as fax-to-email software, because they operate just about the same. With fax software, you send and receive faxes much like an email attachment. Through the fax software, you can upload documents to your internet fax service to have them faxed out for you and you can have your internet fax service download faxes sent to you. And just like an email attachment, with faxes sent using fax software, you can open them, print them, save them, forward them, and do anything else you can do with any other email attachment.

Do I have to be at my computer to use fax software?

Not in most cases, no. Most decent internet fax services have a web-based interface you can log into and use just like you would the fax software installed on your computer. Just like what webmail does for email, you can send internet faxes from any computer with an internet connection, anywhere in the world.

But will faxes I send from other computers still show my fax number?

Yes. The fax software these services use, whether you use the program installed on your computer or the web-based fax software from another computer (or your own), always show the faxes you send as coming from your fax number.

What’s the difference between “fax by email” and “fax by software”?

You know how we just described that you have the choice of either using the fax software installed on your computer or logging in to your account and using the web-based fax software from any web browser (including one on your own computer)? Well, the second of those two options is often referred to as “fax by email” with the name “fax by software” then falling to the first option. That’s the difference.

Can someone without fax software or internet fax service still send faxes to me and receive faxes from me on a standard fax machine?

Yes.

What would a person on a regular fax machine hear when they dialed my internet fax number?

They would hear a prerecorded message informing them that they have reached your fax number and that they are now free to send you their faxes.

How expensive are they?

When you break it all down, internet fax service is actually cheaper than using a traditional fax machine to send and receive faxes over a telephone line. For starters, there’s no machine, no paper, no toner, and no service and repair contracts required. And for another thing, infrastructure costs for the internet fax software companies are so low, they can offer service at even lower rates than the phone companies. If you are interested in learning more about internet fax providers and pricing read our expert Fax Reviews.