A Better MetroFax Alternative—No Subscription, No Monopoly Pricing
No account. No auto‑renewal. Pay only if delivery succeeds.
If you need to send one fax right now, a monthly plan makes no sense—even a “budget” one. MetroFax is a subscription‑only service owned by Consensus Cloud Solutions (formerly J2 Global), the same corporation behind eFax, MyFax, and nearly a dozen other fax brands. OneFaxNow is built for one‑time, pay‑per‑fax sending—no account required, charge only on successful delivery, and a HIPAA mode with an instant, fully executed BAA when you’re handling PHI.
TL;DR: Choose MetroFax if you need an ongoing fax number with high‑volume monthly sending. Choose OneFaxNow for a single U.S./Canada fax without signing up, getting billed monthly, or fighting to cancel. MetroFax pricing verified on their pricing page. (MetroFax)
Quick Comparison at a Glance
See how OneFaxNow compares to MetroFax for your faxing needs
Pricing Model
OneFaxNow
Pay‑per‑fax (1–10 pages: $3.50; 11–50 pages: $5.00). Pay only on success.
MetroFax
Monthly plans (Essential $11.95/mo; Best Value $14.95/mo; Professional $37.95/mo). $0.03/page overage.
HIPAA & BAA
OneFaxNow
Toggle HIPAA mode per send; instant BAA, encryption, audit logs, secure deletion.
MetroFax
Not HIPAA compliant. No BAA available. Parent company directs healthcare users to eFax instead.
Where You Can Fax
OneFaxNow
U.S. & Canada numbers.
MetroFax
U.S. and Canada. No international sending.
Account & Setup
OneFaxNow
No account—upload, enter details, pay, send, and track delivery in real time.
MetroFax
Account creation required; 3‑day free trial needs credit card. Users report difficulty canceling before charges begin.
Which Service is Right for You?
Compare the key differences to find the best solution for your needs
When MetroFax May Be the Better Fit
You need a dedicated fax number
for inbound faxes every month
You send or receive hundreds of faxes monthly
and need high‑volume page allotments (550–3,000 pages/mo)
You rely on email‑to‑fax workflows
integrated with your existing email client
When OneFaxNow is the Better Alternative
You want to send one fax
without creating an account, storing a credit card, or locking into a subscription
You prefer a simple, low price
for up to 50 pages total (20MB/file; multi‑file merge)
You need HIPAA only for this fax
with an instant BAA and exportable audit logs—MetroFax is not HIPAA compliant
You like the assurance of “authorize first, capture only on successful delivery”
Side‑by‑Side Details (MetroFax vs OneFaxNow)
A detailed comparison between OneFaxNow and MetroFax
| Criterion | OneFaxNow | MetroFax |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Pay‑per‑fax, no account | Monthly subscription plans (Essential / Best Value / Professional) |
| Typical cost | $3.50 (1–10 pages), $5.00 (11–50); HIPAA add‑on +$3/$5 | From $11.95/mo (Essential, 550 pages); overages $0.03/page. Annual billing reduces to $9.96/mo. |
| HIPAA & BAA | Per‑send HIPAA mode with instant BAA, encryption, audit logs, secure deletion | Not HIPAA compliant. No BAA offered. Healthcare users directed to eFax (sister brand). |
| Charge model | Pay only on successful delivery (authorize then capture) | Monthly charge regardless of delivery; overage fees if you exceed page limits |
| Coverage | U.S. & Canada | U.S. & Canada (no international) |
| Setup | Start in seconds—no signup | Account creation required; 3‑day trial needs credit card |
| Cancellation | Nothing to cancel—one fax, one payment, done | Users report cancellation loops and continued billing; chat disconnects, no phone support |
| Parent company | Independent | Consensus Cloud Solutions (also owns eFax, MyFax, jFax, SRFax, and 7+ other brands) |
| Delivery visibility | Live tracking link + email updates, automatic retries | Delivery confirmations via portal and email |
Sources: OneFaxNow product docs; MetroFax Pricing and Features pages; Paubox HIPAA analysis; Sitejabber and Trustpilot reviews. Last verified: Feb 2026. (MetroFax, Paubox)
Why buyers choose OneFaxNow as a MetroFax alternative
Simple, transparent, and secure faxing when you need it
No monthly costs
Pay only when you need to fax—$3.50 for up to 10 pages. No recurring subscriptions, no overage fees, no surprise charges after a 3‑day trial window.
Nothing to cancel
No account means no cancellation trap. You will never be stuck in a loop between a broken chat bot and a non‑functional website trying to end a subscription you no longer need.
HIPAA when you need it
Unlike MetroFax, OneFaxNow offers HIPAA compliance per‑send. Enable it for this fax, get a signed BAA automatically, plus encryption, audit logs, and secure file deletion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MetroFax HIPAA compliant?
No. MetroFax will not sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) and is therefore not HIPAA compliant. Their parent company, Consensus Cloud Solutions, directs healthcare users to eFax instead. OneFaxNow offers per-send HIPAA mode with an instant BAA, encryption, audit logs, and secure deletion.
How much does MetroFax cost per month?
MetroFax plans range from $11.95/month (Essential, 550 pages) to $37.95/month (Professional, 3,000 pages), with $0.03/page overage fees. Annual billing reduces the Essential plan to $9.96/month. Even the cheapest plan costs more than a single OneFaxNow fax at $3.50.
Why is MetroFax so hard to cancel?
Users widely report cancellation difficulties: the website cancellation process fails silently, chat support disconnects mid-conversation, and there is no phone support. Many end up disputing charges with their credit card company. This mirrors complaints about sister brands eFax and MyFax. With OneFaxNow, there is no subscription to cancel.
Who owns MetroFax?
MetroFax is owned by Consensus Cloud Solutions (NASDAQ: CCSI), the same company that owns eFax, MyFax, jFax, SRFax, Sfax, and roughly a dozen other fax brands. J2 Global acquired MetroFax in March 2013. The company controls approximately 90% of the internet fax market.
Can I send just one fax without a MetroFax subscription?
Not with MetroFax. Their 3-day free trial requires account creation and a credit card. Users report difficulty canceling within the short trial window. OneFaxNow lets you send one fax for $3.50 with no account or subscription.
Does OneFaxNow charge if my fax fails?
No. OneFaxNow uses authorization-then-capture: your card is authorized upfront but only charged when your fax delivers successfully. If delivery fails after all retries, no charge.
Ready to send your fax now?
No account needed. Just upload, address, and send. Pay only if your fax delivers successfully.