How to Send a Fax from Linux
No fax modem. No packages to install. No account. Open your browser on any Linux distro, upload a document, enter the fax number, and pay. Your fax is delivered in minutes.
What you need
Linux computer
Any distro -- Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Mint, Debian
Web browser
Firefox, Chrome, Chromium, or Brave
Document
PDF, DOCX, JPG, PNG, TIFF, or TXT
Payment
Credit card or Google Pay
Step-by-step guide
Open OneFaxNow in your browser
Open Firefox, Chrome, Chromium, or any modern browser and go to OneFaxNow.com. Click "Send a Fax" to open the fax form.
No account creation, no sign-up. This works identically on GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, Cinnamon, and every other desktop environment.
Upload your document
Click "Choose Files" to upload from your file manager (Nautilus, Dolphin, Thunar, Nemo, or PCManFM). You can also drag and drop files directly onto the upload area.
- PDF -- export from LibreOffice, Evince, Okular, or any PDF tool
- DOCX -- Word documents (OneFaxNow converts them server-side)
- JPG / PNG -- photos, screenshots, or scanned images from Simple Scan
- TIFF / TXT -- high-resolution scans or plain text files
Tip: Using LibreOffice? Go to File > Export as PDF for the cleanest fax output. You can upload up to 15 files per fax (50 pages total).
Enter the fax number and your email
Type the recipient's U.S. or Canada fax number. The form auto-formats as you type -- just enter the digits.
Enter your email address to receive a delivery confirmation when the fax goes through.
Optional: toggle "Add Cover Page" to include sender and recipient details and a message on the first page.
Pay and send
Review your fax details -- number, email, page count, and price -- then click "Pay & Send".
Pay with a credit/debit card or Google Pay. Your payment is authorized but not charged until the fax is delivered successfully.
Pay-on-success guarantee: If the fax fails after 3 automatic retries, the authorization is released and you are never charged.
Track your delivery
After payment, you'll see a live status page that updates in real time: Sending → Delivered.
- Watch transmission progress live in your browser
- Automatic retries if the line is busy (up to 3 attempts)
- Email confirmation when delivery is complete
Why browser-based faxing beats traditional Linux fax software
Linux has several traditional fax solutions, but they all require hardware and significant configuration. Here is how they compare to a browser-based approach.
| Feature | HylaFAX / efax | fax4CUPS | OneFaxNow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Hours (modem + config) | Hours (CUPS backend) | Under 2 minutes |
| Hardware required | Fax modem + landline | Fax modem + landline | None (browser only) |
| Package installation | apt / dnf / pacman + deps | AUR / manual install | None |
| Phone line required | Yes (not VoIP) | Yes (not VoIP) | No |
| Works on all distros | Varies (driver issues) | Limited | Yes |
| HIPAA compliant | No | No | Yes (instant BAA) |
| Cost | Hardware: $30-100+ | Hardware: $30-100+ | $3.50 per fax |
| Maintenance | Ongoing | Ongoing | None |
Linux-specific faxing tips
LibreOffice to PDF
In LibreOffice Writer, Calc, or Impress, go to File > Export as PDF. This produces the cleanest output for faxing. You can also upload DOCX files directly.
Scan with Simple Scan
Use GNOME Document Scanner (Simple Scan) or Skanlite (KDE) to scan paper documents. Save as PDF, then upload to OneFaxNow.
Any desktop environment
GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, Cinnamon, MATE, i3, Sway -- if your DE has a browser, you can fax. Drag-and-drop works in all major file managers.
CLI PDF conversion
Convert Markdown or HTML to PDF with pandoc or wkhtmltopdf before uploading. Useful for developers who write documentation in plaintext.
Works on every Linux distribution
OneFaxNow is a web application. If your distro can run a browser, you can send a fax. No packages, no dependencies, no configuration.
Ubuntu / Kubuntu
Firefox, Chrome, Chromium
Most popular Linux desktop
Fedora Workstation
Firefox (default), Chrome
GNOME desktop with Wayland
Arch / Manjaro
Firefox, Chromium
Rolling release, nothing from AUR needed
Linux Mint
Firefox (default), Chrome
Popular for Windows converts
Debian
Firefox ESR, Chromium
Stable and LTS-compatible
Pop!_OS
Firefox, Chrome
System76 hardware supported
Also works on openSUSE, NixOS, Gentoo, Void Linux, Solus, elementary OS, Zorin OS, and any other distribution with a graphical browser.
Why OneFaxNow for Linux users
Nothing to install
No apt install, no dnf install, no pacman -S, no flatpak, no snap. Open your browser and go.
No account required
No sign-up, no email verification, no password to manage. Privacy-first -- the way Linux users prefer it.
Flat pricing, no tokens
$3.50 for 1-10 pages, $5.00 for 11-50 pages. No confusing credit packs or per-page token systems.
HIPAA available
Healthcare IT staff on Linux workstations get encrypted transmission, audit logs, automatic file deletion, and an instant BAA.
Simple pricing
Lite
1-10 pages
$3.50
HIPAA add-on: +$3
Standard
11-50 pages
$5.00
HIPAA add-on: +$5
Pay only on successful delivery. Authorization released on failure.
Frequently asked questions
Can Linux send a fax without a fax modem?
Yes. OneFaxNow is a browser-based service that sends faxes over the internet. You do not need a fax modem, landline, or any special hardware. Open your browser, upload your document, enter the fax number, and pay.
Does OneFaxNow work on Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, and other distros?
Yes. OneFaxNow runs entirely in your browser. It works on every Linux distribution -- Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Linux Mint, Debian, Pop!_OS, Manjaro, openSUSE, and any other distro with a modern browser.
Is HylaFAX still the best way to fax from Linux?
HylaFAX is still functional but requires a physical fax modem, active landline, and significant configuration. Most modern internet connections are VoIP, which scrambles fax signals. For occasional faxing, a browser-based service is faster and requires no hardware.
Can I fax a LibreOffice document?
Yes. Export your LibreOffice document as PDF (File > Export as PDF), then upload it to OneFaxNow. You can also upload DOCX files directly -- OneFaxNow converts them server-side.
How much does it cost to fax from Linux?
$3.50 for 1-10 pages, $5.00 for 11-50 pages. HIPAA mode costs $6.50 for 1-10 pages or $10.00 for 11-50 pages. You only pay on successful delivery.
Can I send a HIPAA-compliant fax from Linux?
Yes. Toggle HIPAA mode before sending to get encrypted transmission, automatic file deletion, audit logs, and an instant Business Associate Agreement (BAA). No special software needed -- it works through the browser.
Do I need to install any packages or dependencies?
No. OneFaxNow runs entirely in your browser. There is nothing to install via apt, dnf, pacman, or any other package manager. If your browser can load a website, you can send a fax.
Ready to fax from Linux?
Open your browser, upload your document, and send. No fax modem, no packages, no account.