How to Send a Fax from iPhone in Minutes

You need three things: a fax app, the document, and the recipient's fax number. The iPhone does the scanning. The app's fax service does the dialing.

This walk-through uses Cheapfax. It's free to download. Faxes cost 50¢ per page, with no subscription.

Before you start

Sign in to Cheapfax with email, Apple, or Google. Have the fax number handy. Cheapfax sends to numbers in the United States and Canada.

Fill in and sign the document first. A fax sends the page as it is.

Step 1: Add the document

Open Cheapfax and tap New fax. You get three choices.

Scan with camera opens the iOS document scanner. Lay the page flat on a dark surface and hold the phone above it. The scanner snaps to the edges. It captures the page once the image is steady. Scan the next page the same way. Tap Save after the last one.

Choose from Files opens the Files picker. Use it for a PDF you downloaded, one saved from an email, or one in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

Choose from Photos opens the photo picker. Each photo you select becomes one page.

A PDF in Mail or Safari can skip this step. Tap Share and choose Cheapfax. The file opens in a new fax.

Step 2: Enter the fax number

Tap the Fax number field and type the number. The +1 is optional. A green check mark means the number is valid.

Tap Save to keep the number in the address book. Next time, tap Choose from address book instead of typing it.

Step 3: Check the pages

Compose shows the document and its page count. Make sure the count matches the paper in front of you.

Tap Preview fax. Each page shows the way it will print, in black and white on a US Letter sheet. Faint pencil and colored ink are the first things to disappear. If a page looks hard to read here, it will look worse on paper. Rescan it.

Step 4: Add a cover sheet (optional)

Turn on Add cover sheet to put a first page in front of the document. Fill in a subject and a short message. Pick the Modern or Traditional layout.

Medical offices and legal offices often ask for one. It tells the front desk who the fax is for. It adds one page to the price.

Step 5: Send

The Send button shows the total pages and the price. Tap it.

Credits on your account are used first. If they cover the fax, it goes out right away. If they don't, the App Store asks you to confirm the purchase. The fax sends after payment.

Step 6: Watch it go through

The status screen follows the fax as it dials and transmits. You can close the app. With notifications on, you'll get one when it's done.

A delivered fax gets a receipt with the time, the number, and the page count. A failed fax returns its pages to your account as credits. That happens on its own.

How long it takes

The setup takes as long as the scanning. The send itself usually takes a couple of minutes. A busy line adds time. The service waits and dials again.

Common snags

The check mark won't appear

The number is probably missing a digit or the area code. US and Canadian fax numbers have ten digits after the +1.

The page count is higher than expected

A cover sheet adds a page. A PDF can also carry a blank last page. Preview the fax to find it.

The fax failed

Call the office and confirm the fax number. Then send again. The refunded credits pay for the new send.