Your iPhone can't send a fax by itself, but it does most of the work. Scan the pages with the free Notes or Files app, save them as a PDF, and upload the PDF to an online fax service in Safari. The service delivers it to the recipient's fax machine. No fax machine, landline, or subscription needed.
Your doctor's office, insurer, or a government agency said "please fax it," and you don't own a fax machine. Good news: the phone in your pocket is enough.
Can an iPhone send a fax on its own?
No. The iPhone doesn't include a built-in fax feature, and you can't fax through the Messages or Phone app. Apple Community volunteers give the same answer to people who ask, and they point to third-party apps or internet fax services instead (Apple Community). What the iPhone does have is a very good document scanner. Online fax services take care of the "fax" part.
How do I scan a document on my iPhone?
Apple's own Notes and Files apps can turn paper into a clean PDF. Apple describes the steps in its support article How to scan documents on your iPhone or iPad:
- Open Notes and create a new note.
- Tap the Attachment button, then tap Scan Documents.
- Hold the phone over the page. In Auto mode, the iPhone captures the page by itself. Otherwise, tap the shutter button, adjust the corners, and tap Keep Scan.
- Scan the next page, or tap Done when you're finished.
You can also scan straight into the Files app: tap the More button, choose Scan Documents, then pick a folder and tap Save. This gives you a PDF file right away, which is the easiest format to upload.
Tips for a fax-friendly scan
- Use good light and put the page on a dark, flat surface.
- Keep it simple. Most faxes print in black and white, so a crisp black-and-white or grayscale scan usually looks better than color.
- Check every page before you send. Blurry or cut-off text is a common reason a recipient asks you to send it again.
- Sign first. Notes lets you add a signature with the Markup tool, which Apple explains in the same support article. Check whether the recipient accepts an electronic signature. If not, sign the paper by hand before you scan.
What are my options for sending the fax?
Once you have a PDF, you have three main ways to send it.
| Option | What you need | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Online fax website (in Safari) | Your PDF and the fax number | Nothing to install; pay-per-fax services don't need a subscription |
| Fax app from the App Store | The app, often an account | Many fax apps are subscription-based; check the "In-App Purchases" section before you download |
| Copy shop or shipping store | A trip to the store with paper or a USB drive | Prices are set by each store; see our guide to in-store fax costs |
For a one-time fax, a website is usually the simplest choice. There's nothing to install, and you don't have to remember to cancel a trial later.
How do I send a fax from my iPhone with sendfaxfast.com?
sendfaxfast.com is built for exactly this situation: you need to send one fax, quickly, without signing up for anything. You don't need an account or a subscription, and you pay per fax.
- Scan your document to a PDF (see the steps above).
- Open sendfaxfast.com in Safari.
- Enter the recipient's fax number, including the country code (for example, +1 for the US and Canada).
- Upload your PDF.
- Pay for that single fax and send it.
Here is what it costs:
| Fax type | Pages | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Short fax | 1–5 | $2.49 |
| Long fax | 6–20 | $3.49 |
| XL fax | 21–40 | $4.99 |
| XL Fax Plus | 41–100 | from $6.24 |
Prices per fax as of October 2026, the same for the US & Canada (+1), Australia (+61), New Zealand (+64), and 39 more supported countries. XL Fax Plus costs $4.99 plus $1.25 for each started 10 pages beyond 40. Maximum 100 pages per fax. Single faxes need no account and no subscription.
Because US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand numbers all have the same price, a 3-page fax from Texas to Sydney costs the same as one to Dallas. Our guide on how to fax to Australia, Canada, or New Zealand explains the number format.
Do I need a cover sheet?
A cover sheet isn't required by fax technology, but many offices like one. A simple first page with the recipient's name, your name, your phone number, the number of pages, and a short note ("Signed consent form for Dr. Lee") helps your fax reach the right person. You can make one in Notes or Pages and scan or export it with the rest of your document.
Is it safe to fax personal documents from my phone?
Any time you send personal information, a little care goes a long way:
- Double-check the fax number. A wrong digit can send your document to a stranger. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists confirming the fax number as a basic safeguard for medical offices (HHS.gov), and it's smart advice for everyone.
- Ask about a portal first. Many clinics and agencies accept uploads through a patient portal or an official upload tool. For example, the IRS has a Document Upload Tool for replies to many notices.
- Read the privacy policy of any service you use. The IRS gives the same tip to people who use online fax services (IRS.gov).
If you're sending health records, read Is online fax HIPAA compliant? first.
What about Android phones?
The process is almost the same. On Android, the Google Drive app has a built-in scanner: tap the camera icon, capture each page, and save the result as a PDF (Google Drive Help). Then open an online fax service in Chrome and upload the file.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a fax from my iPhone for free?
Some services and apps offer free pages, often with limits, ads, or a trial that turns into a paid plan. Read the terms before you enter card details. If you only fax now and then, a transparent pay-per-fax price is often the less stressful choice.
Do I need to download an app to fax from my iPhone?
No. You can scan with Apple's built-in Notes or Files app and send the PDF through a fax website in Safari. Nothing else has to be installed.
Can I fax a photo or screenshot?
Yes, but a scanned PDF usually looks better on the other end. A photo can come out dark or uneven after it's converted to black and white. If you only have a photo, crop it tightly and make sure the text is easy to read.
How do I fax several pages at once?
Scan all pages into the same note or the same Files scan before you tap Done. They'll be saved as one multi-page PDF that you can upload in a single step.
How do I know the fax arrived?
Check the status your fax service shows, and for important documents, call the recipient to confirm. Our guide How do I know my fax went through? explains what fax confirmations do and don't prove.