Online Fax Pricing Comparison: Pay-Per-Fax vs Monthly Subscriptions
Explore the pros and cons of pay-per-fax and monthly subscription fax services to find the best fit for your needs.
Online Fax Pricing Comparison: Pay-Per-Fax vs Monthly Subscriptions
Choosing between pay-per-fax and monthly subscription fax services depends on your faxing needs. Here's the breakdown:
- Pay-per-fax is cost-effective for occasional users. For example, OneFaxNow charges $3.50 for 1–10 pages or $5.00 for 11–50 pages, with optional HIPAA compliance for an extra $3–$5. It’s ideal for sending medical records, legal documents, or other sensitive information without recurring fees.
- Monthly subscriptions are better for frequent users. Plans like eFax Plus ($18.99/month for 340 pages) or Fax.Plus Basic ($8.99/month for 200 pages) provide fixed page limits but can lead to wasted capacity for low-volume users.
- In-store faxing (FedEx, UPS, Staples) is convenient but expensive, with costs ranging from $1.80–$5.99 for the first page, plus privacy concerns for sensitive documents.
Key takeaway: Occasional users benefit from pay-per-fax services like OneFaxNow, which offers no-account setup, real-time tracking, and success-only billing. For heavy users, subscription plans may offer better value.
Quick Comparison
| Service Type | Cost (1–10 Pages) | HIPAA Compliance | Account Required | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OneFaxNow | $3.50 | Yes (+$3–$5) | No | Occasional users |
| eFax Plus | $18.99/month | Only on $50 plan | Yes | Frequent users |
| FedEx (in-store) | $1.89 (local) | No | No | Urgent, single use |
For secure, affordable, and hassle-free faxing, pay-per-fax services like OneFaxNow are often the smartest choice.
Pay-Per-Fax Services: Pricing and Features
Pay-per-fax services operate on a simple model: you pay per fax without worrying about monthly fees or contracts. This setup is perfect for those who only need to send faxes occasionally, especially when dealing with sensitive documents. Below, we break down the pricing and features of some popular providers.
OneFaxNow: A No-Account, Pay-Per-Fax Option
OneFaxNow keeps things simple with pricing at $3.50 for 1–10 pages and $5.00 for 11–50 pages. The standout feature? You don’t need to create an account. In just about a minute, you can upload your document, enter the recipient’s fax number, and securely pay through Stripe.
For healthcare professionals, they offer optional HIPAA compliance for an additional fee: $3.00 (making it $6.50) for 1–10 pages and $5.00 (totaling $10.00) for 11–50 pages. This includes features like live tracking, audit logs, and instant generation of a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) - a critical document for healthcare compliance.
Other features include live delivery tracking with real-time updates, a tracking link, email confirmations, and up to three automatic retries for failed faxes. Plus, OneFaxNow only charges you if the fax is successfully delivered, so you’re not paying for failed attempts.
Comparing PayPerFax, FaxZero, and Faxaroo
Here’s how OneFaxNow stacks up against other pay-per-fax services:
- PayPerFax charges between $2.00 and $4.00 per fax, depending on the page count. However, you’ll need to create an account, and their HIPAA compliance options aren’t clearly stated. Delivery tracking is basic compared to the real-time system offered by OneFaxNow.
- FaxZero has a free tier for up to 3 pages (with ads) or $1.99 for up to 25 pages without ads. While affordable, it doesn’t support HIPAA compliance, and delivery confirmation is limited to a basic email notification.
- Faxaroo charges $2.00–$3.00 per fax, with no public information on HIPAA compliance. It supports only PDFs and common image formats, and the page limit is capped at 10 - well below OneFaxNow’s 50-page maximum.
Unlike its competitors, OneFaxNow offers instant BAA generation, a feature that can be a game-changer for healthcare professionals who need immediate compliance documentation.
Pay-Per-Fax Services Comparison Table
| Service | 1–10 Pages | 11–50 Pages | HIPAA Available | Account Required | File Types | Delivery Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OneFaxNow | $3.50 | $5.00 | Yes (+$3/$5) | No | PDF, DOCX, JPG, PNG, TIF, TIFF | Real-time with tracking link |
| PayPerFax | $2.00–$4.00 | $4.00–$6.00 | Not publicly stated | Yes | PDF, common formats | |
| FaxZero | Free (3 pages) / $1.99 | $1.99 | No | No | PDF, JPG, PNG | |
| Faxaroo | $2.00–$3.00 | $3.00–$4.00 | Not publicly stated | Yes | PDF, JPG, PNG |
Why Choose OneFaxNow for Occasional Faxing?
With its straightforward pricing, no-account setup, and robust HIPAA options, OneFaxNow is a great fit for one-time transmissions like medical records or legal documents. The instant BAA generation is especially handy for healthcare professionals, saving time and ensuring compliance without the usual headaches.
Monthly Subscription Fax Services: Costs and Features
Monthly fax subscription plans typically charge a fixed fee for a set number of pages, which works well for frequent users but can be unnecessarily expensive for those who send faxes only occasionally. Unlike services designed for heavy faxing, OneFaxNow's approach caters specifically to occasional users. Let’s break down some key subscription plans to see how fixed-rate models might not be the best choice for low-volume faxers.
Subscription Service Features and Pricing
Here’s a closer look at some popular fax subscription services and their pricing:
-
eFax:
- eFax Plus: $18.99 per month ($15.83 per month when billed annually) for 340 pages.
- eFax Pro: $24.99 per month ($20.83 per month annually) for 550 pages.
- eFax Protect: Designed for healthcare professionals, this plan costs $50.00 per month ($41.66 per month annually) and includes 1,000 pages along with HIPAA compliance and a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
- All plans charge $0.10 per additional page [2].
-
Fax.Plus:
- Basic: $8.99 per month ($6.99 per month annually) for 200 pages, with $0.10 per overage page.
- Premium: $17.99 per month ($13.99 per month annually) for 500 pages, with $0.07 per overage page.
- Business: $34.99 per month ($27.99 per month annually) for 1,000 pages, with $0.05 per overage page.
- Enterprise: $99.99 per month ($79.99 per month annually) for 4,000 pages, with $0.03 per overage page. This is the only tier that includes HIPAA compliance with a BAA [1].
- SRFax:
- MyFax:
For someone who faxes occasionally, these subscription plans often lead to unused capacity. For example, an eFax Plus subscription provides 4,080 pages per year - far more than most occasional users would ever need.
Subscription Services Comparison Table
| Service | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost (Equivalent) | Pages Included | Overage Rate | HIPAA Compliance | Account Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eFax Plus | $18.99 | $15.83/month | 340 pages | $0.10 | Only with Protect plan ($50/month) | Yes |
| eFax Pro | $24.99 | $20.83/month | 550 pages | $0.10 | Only with Protect plan ($50/month) | Yes |
| Fax.Plus Basic | $8.99 | $6.99/month | 200 pages | $0.10 | Only with Enterprise plan ($99.99/month) | Yes |
| Fax.Plus Premium | $17.99 | $13.99/month | 500 pages | $0.07 | Only with Enterprise plan ($99.99/month) | Yes |
| SRFax Basic Plus | $11.45 | Not publicly stated | 200 pages | Not publicly stated | Included | Yes |
| MyFax Home | $12.00 | $8.25/month | 200 pages | $0.10 | No | Yes |
| MyFax Business | $25.00 | $20.83/month | 600 pages | $0.10 | No | Yes |
This comparison makes it clear that for infrequent faxing, paying for unused pages in a subscription plan doesn’t make financial sense.
Why OneFaxNow Makes Sense for Occasional Users
Subscription models are great for high-volume faxers, but they often leave occasional users paying for pages they’ll never use. That’s where OneFaxNow’s pay-per-fax model stands out. With no subscription fees and a simple pay-as-you-go structure, occasional users only pay for the pages they send. For those with sporadic faxing needs - especially when HIPAA compliance is required - this approach can lead to much lower overall costs.
In-Store Faxing at FedEx, UPS, and Staples
Using in-store fax services at major retailers like FedEx, UPS, and Staples offers a straightforward way to send faxes, though it comes with higher per-page costs and limited privacy. These services can quickly become expensive, especially when dealing with multi-page documents.
FedEx charges $1.89 for the first page of a local fax and $1.59 for each additional page. For long-distance faxes, the cost jumps to $2.49 for the first page and $2.19 for subsequent pages. International faxes are the priciest, starting at $5.99 for the first page and $3.99 for each extra page [7].
UPS offers slightly different pricing, with local faxes costing $2.00 for the first page and $1.50 for additional pages. National faxes are charged at $2.00 per page, regardless of whether it’s the first or a subsequent page. International faxes are priced at $3.00 per page [7].
Staples falls somewhere in the middle. Local faxing costs $1.80 for the first page and $2.20 for additional pages. National faxes are priced at $2.39 for the first page and $2.19 for subsequent pages. International rates align with FedEx, at $5.99 for the first page and $3.99 for each extra page [7].
Here’s a quick look at how these services compare, highlighting the cost differences compared to online options:
When to Use In-Store Faxing
In-store faxing can be a convenient choice if you’re already visiting one of these locations for other errands and need to send an urgent, single-page fax. It’s also a fallback option if you lack internet access or need to send a physical document that can’t easily be digitized. However, these situations are becoming less common, thanks to smartphones that can scan documents and online services that handle faxing.
Privacy is a significant drawback of in-store faxing. Since store employees manage the process, and shared machines are used, sensitive documents are more exposed. For professionals handling protected information, like healthcare workers, this is especially problematic. These services don’t meet HIPAA compliance standards and don’t offer Business Associate Agreements (BAAs), making them unsuitable for transmitting medical records, insurance forms, or other sensitive data.
In-Store vs Online Faxing Comparison Table
| Service Type | Local Fax (First Page) | Per Additional Page | HIPAA Compliance | Account Required | Privacy Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OneFaxNow | $0.99 | $0.99 | Optional HIPAA mode with BAA | No | High – encrypted |
| FedEx | $1.89 | $1.59 | No | No | Low privacy |
| UPS | $2.00 | $1.50 | No | No | Low privacy |
| Staples | $1.80 | $2.20 | No | No | Low privacy |
| PayPerFax | $2.00 | $1.00 | Not publicly stated | Yes | Medium – online service |
For instance, sending a 10-page local fax through FedEx costs $16.20, while the same task through OneFaxNow would only cost $9.90.
Why OneFaxNow Makes Sense Over In-Store Options
OneFaxNow stands out as a secure, affordable alternative to in-store faxing. It eliminates the need to travel, wait in line, and pay premium rates. With encrypted transmissions, your documents remain private and never pass through third-party hands. For occasional users, it’s a more convenient, private, and cost-effective solution compared to traditional in-store fax services.
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HIPAA Compliance and Delivery Tracking Comparison
When dealing with sensitive information, ensuring both regulatory compliance and reliable delivery is non-negotiable. These features are what set secure transmission apart from costly mistakes. Here's how HIPAA compliance and delivery tracking make OneFaxNow stand out from the competition.
HIPAA Features Across All Services
HIPAA compliance is mandatory for transmitting Protected Health Information (PHI), and a critical component of this is having a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). A BAA legally binds the fax provider to meet HIPAA's security standards.
OneFaxNow simplifies this process with its HIPAA mode. The service automatically generates a BAA that you can instantly download from your dashboard. Beyond that, it ensures secure faxing with features like audit logging, encrypted transmissions, and no permanent storage of your data.
Other services offer varying levels of HIPAA support. For example:
- SRFax markets itself as "the only HIPAA-compliant fax for healthcare that will sign a Business Associate Agreement" [9].
- iFax includes BAAs for all healthcare accounts [11][13].
- eFax provides BAAs for its Protect and Corporate plans, but only upon request [10].
- WestFax explicitly states its willingness to sign a BAA and ensures compliance with Health and Human Services (HHS) privacy standards [8].
While services like Concord Cloud, Faxage, and OnlineFaxService also offer BAAs, their processes often require communication with sales or compliance teams, which can delay setup [12][13].
In-store faxing services, such as FedEx, UPS, and Staples, do not provide HIPAA compliance or BAAs. This makes them unsuitable for transmitting healthcare-related documents, insurance forms, or other sensitive information.
Delivery Tracking and Reliability Features
Compliance is only half the equation - ensuring your documents arrive at their destination is just as critical. Delivery tracking features vary widely across fax services.
OneFaxNow excels in this area by offering real-time delivery tracking. You’ll receive status emails with a job ID and tracking link for every fax. The service retries failed transmissions up to three times and only charges you if the fax is successfully delivered. If all attempts fail, you won’t pay a dime.
Other services provide only basic status notifications, and in-store faxing is even more limited. Typically, you’ll get a printed receipt confirming the attempt, but there’s no follow-up if the fax doesn’t go through.
HIPAA and Delivery Features Comparison Table
| Service | BAA Available | HIPAA Mode Cost | Delivery Tracking | Automatic Retries | Success-Only Billing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OneFaxNow | Yes (instant execution) | +$3.00 (Lite) / +$5.00 (Standard) | Real-time with tracking link | Up to 3 attempts | Yes |
| SRFax | Yes | Included in plans | Email confirmations | Yes | Not publicly stated |
| iFax | Yes (all healthcare accounts) | Varies by plan | Status notifications | Yes | Not publicly stated |
| eFax | Yes (Protect/Corporate plans) | Plan-dependent | Basic confirmations | Yes | Not publicly stated |
| PayPerFax | Not publicly stated | Not available | Basic confirmation | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated |
| FedEx/UPS/Staples | No | Not available | Printed receipt only | Manual only | No refunds |
The combination of instant BAA execution and success-only billing makes OneFaxNow a top choice for healthcare professionals and legal practitioners. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying for, when compliance is achieved, and that your document has reached its destination.
Why Choose OneFaxNow for HIPAA-Compliant Faxing
For professionals handling sensitive documents, OneFaxNow takes the hassle out of compliance and delivery tracking. Its instant BAA execution lets you start sending HIPAA-compliant faxes right away, while success-only billing ensures you’re only charged for successful transmissions.
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Which Online Faxing Option to Choose
Selecting the right online fax service depends on your usage, volume, and whether you need HIPAA compliance. Let's break down who benefits most from different options.
For occasional users - those who send fewer than 20 faxes per month - pay-per-fax services are often the most economical choice. Subscription plans with fixed monthly fees can feel like overkill when you're only sending a handful of documents. In this category, OneFaxNow shines with its competitive pay-per-fax pricing. For users who send 50 or more faxes per month, some subscription plans may lower the per-fax cost, but most professionals and small businesses fall into the occasional-use bracket. This makes the pay-per-fax model a smart financial move for the majority of users. As highlighted in earlier comparisons, this approach consistently proves to be a better fit for most.
HIPAA compliance is another area where OneFaxNow stands out. It offers instant BAA (Business Associate Agreement) execution straight from your dashboard. The optional HIPAA mode costs $3.00 for Lite faxes and $5.00 for Standard faxes, providing an affordable solution for healthcare providers, legal professionals, and insurance agents who require secure, compliant transmissions.
Compared to in-store fax services, online faxing options consistently deliver better value and reliability. OneFaxNow goes a step further with its success-only billing - meaning you’re never charged for failed transmissions. Add to that real-time tracking with job IDs, and you’ll always know when your documents are delivered. This level of transparency and accountability is hard to find in monthly subscription plans or in-store services.
In-store faxing, such as the services offered at FedEx, UPS, or Staples, typically charges per page and lacks HIPAA compliance or advanced delivery tracking. This makes them less suitable for sensitive or time-sensitive documents.
Why OneFaxNow Is the Right Choice
With no monthly fees, instant HIPAA compliance, and dependable delivery tracking, OneFaxNow is perfectly suited for occasional users. Whether you’re sending medical records, legal documents, or insurance forms, you’ll get secure and efficient service without the burden of subscription costs.
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Send a Fax Online - No Account Required
Need HIPAA compliance? Enable HIPAA mode for encrypted, audit-ready transmissions with instant BAA generation.
FAQs
What are the benefits of choosing a pay-per-fax service like OneFaxNow instead of a monthly subscription plan?
Pay-per-fax services like OneFaxNow are ideal for those who only need to send documents occasionally. Instead of committing to a subscription, you simply pay for the pages you send - keeping costs low for infrequent users.
What sets this option apart is its simplicity and transparency. There are no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and you know the pricing upfront. It’s perfect for those quick, one-time faxing needs, offering convenience without the need to sign up for a subscription.
For anyone who values speed and ease, OneFaxNow makes the process seamless. You don’t even need to create an account - just send your fax and move on with your day.
How does OneFaxNow protect sensitive documents and ensure HIPAA compliance?
OneFaxNow offers an optional HIPAA mode designed to strengthen security measures and ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations. One standout feature is the instant execution of a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), which can be downloaded right away, simplifying the process of meeting regulatory requirements.
To add another layer of protection for sensitive documents, OneFaxNow includes a detailed audit trail accessible through its HIPAA compliance dashboard. This feature provides full visibility into all fax activities, ensuring that patient data is securely handled during both transmission and storage. It’s a reliable solution for securely managing Protected Health Information (PHI).
When is in-store faxing a better option than online fax services?
In-store faxing can be a smart option in specific situations, especially when you need to send urgent legal or medical documents and require a physical, immediate method of transmission. It’s also a practical choice if you’re in an area with spotty or no internet access or if you prefer a straightforward, no-frills way to manage the faxing process without relying on digital tools.
This method can be particularly appealing to those who appreciate having a physical confirmation receipt for their records. It’s also a solid choice for anyone who values secure, hands-on handling of sensitive documents, offering the reassurance of a more personal, face-to-face approach compared to online alternatives.