A lot of businesses and institutions still prefer receiving information via a fax machine. If you don't have one, an iPhone app can help.

Using a fax machine to send documents may be considered outdated, but there are iPhone apps that allow Apple users to take advantage of this tried-and-true technology. For example, during tax season, having a mobile app that lets someone easily send over receipts, bills, and other pertinent income forms to their respective tax preparers is highly beneficial. It makes what ought to be a high-stress task a more manageable one.

Faxing is a little bit like emailing, but rather than having data go through various stages online where it could potentially be intercepted, information is sent through a telephone network and is transmitted to a receiving device, usually a physical printer. Getting fax is considered a more secure form of communication, and a lot of businesses, hospitals, and government agencies actually prefer it on some occasions. Being able to send a fax without having an actual fax machine could be helpful when dealing with entities that require this method of data sharing. The iOS App Store has several free iPhone fax apps that are worth considering.

One of the more popular iPhone apps for sending faxes is aptly named FAX from iPhone - send fax. Developed by a company named Municorn, FAX ​from iPhone includes an excellent quality document scanner that churns out the best possible quality, no matter what type of document is being sent. Users can also combine multiple documents into a single file and track the status of sent documents. Do note that, much like other popular iOS apps in the Business category, FAX offers an initial free trial period but will start charging for the chosen subscription plan that ranges between $9.99 for a week to $99.99 for a year, so make sure to pick the appropriate one when signing up. Additionally, the developers recommend that the app be used on an iPad if the Apple user has one handy.

A Few More Fax App Options For The iPhone

The eFax App by j2 Global, Inc. is another app. Also primarily designed for the iPad, the app not only lets users send faxes but actually receive them as well. It can generate an optional and customizable cover page and also manage fax contact lists as part of the service. ​For a premium subscription, people can also send faxes by email through the iPhone. It's recommended to sign up for an account with the service through the App Store to ensure a smoother cancellation of the subscription if users merely want to try the app for free.

Fax Burner by Networx Online, Inc. also lets iPhone users both send and receive faxes. The free version of the app provides a toll-free fax number that people can use for up to 24 hours. The free service is limited to sending five fax pages and receiving 25 fax pages per month, so if more is needed, a paid upgrade may be necessary. A lot of users that are happy with the product like it for its straightforwardness and ease of use, which is a big factor when dealing with business-related tasks.

Fax apps are essential to have, and a number of good ones can be found through the App Store. However, some users may balk at the thought of paying for premium services. At the end of the day, purchasing the shortest subscription plan available may still be preferable to having to find an actual fax machine to send and receive documents from institutions that still insist on using the technology for security reasons. If iPhone users find a fax app with a free trial that covers their pressing document needs, it's best to keep track of how long their account has been active so they can cancel in time, providing it's no longer needed.

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Sources: FAX from iPhone/ App Store, eFax App/App Store, Fax Burner/App Store