Best Fax Machines for Effortless Document Transfers
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Brother Printer High-Speed Laser Fax Machine -
Canon Inkjet Fax Machine -
HP Officejet Pro Wireless Printer and Fax Machine -
Brother Plain Paper Fax Machine -
Sharp UX-B750 Inkjet Fax Machine -
Brother IntelliFax-5750e High-Performance Laser Fax -
Panasonic KX-MB2061 Multi-Function Laser Printer and Fax Machine -
Canon FAXPHONE L190 (6356B002) Multifunction Laser Fax Machine -
Samsung SCX-4521F Laser Multifunction Machine Print/Copy/Scan/Fax -
Canon PIXMA TR7520 All-In-One Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax Machine -
Brother IntelliFax 4750e High Performance Business-Class Laser Fax -
Canon PIXMA MX452 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner, Copier, and Fax -
Epson WorkForce WF-2540 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Copier, Scanner ADF, Fax -
HP Officejet 4630 e-All-in-One Printer -
Canon FAXPHONE L190 Monochrome Laser Fax Machine Duplex Printer -
Buyer's Guide
The fax machine may be a fading technology, but there's still a steady demand for them in the marketplace. These once prevalent office appliances were capable of sending documents over phone lines, it was faster than the mail and cost a lot less than overnight delivery. But with the rise of email, smartphones, and tablets; the fax machine started to take a backseat to the new methods of communication and the gadgets that came with them. There are still a large array of fax machines available on the market from many of the same manufacturers that put them on the map in the first place and you can find them at all the major retailers. But a majority of the machines that are most sought after by consumers are those "all in one" style units that do a variety of jobs in addition to faxing.
In fact, almost all fax machines can make copies but the newest models are capable of scanning and printing, most of them compatible with inter-office networks through Ethernet. These are usually wireless units that will even allow multiple users to fax directly from their PC, a Mac, and even an IPhone or Android powered smartphone. So while faxing documents from one place to the next has grown somewhat obsolete, the machines that can do the job are getting more versatile and sophisticated. Don't worry though, you can still find a basic telephone and fax unit without the fancy bells and whistles or the price that comes with it. You'll find lists for the best fax machines in 2022 on the market below. Give them a look and you'll see that we've found fax machines that can fit every budget and every environment; from large commercial offices to small businesses that may even be run out of the home. If you're thinking about buying a fax machine, chances are one of these will be the one for you.
Epson WorkForce WF-2540 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Copier, Scanner ADF, Fax
Detailing the Best Fax Machine of 2022
Brother Printer High-Speed Laser Fax Machine - Best Fax Machine Overall
The 2840 boasts excellent laser output in a unit offering high speed fax transmission at 33.6 Kbps which breaks down to about 2.5 seconds a page. With print and copy speeds that can produce up to 21 pages per minute you're getting one terrific fax machine.
For those consumers who will be using this unit for faxes and copies, you can load it up with 250 pages in a high-capacity paper tray fully adjustable for different size media. If you end up running out of paper, the 2840 has 400 pages of storage so it can keep your output in memory for when you get a chance to reload.
This fax machine also features a 20 page auto doc feeder for faxing and copying multiple documents for one job. In case, that's not enough, hook up your computer to the machine through a USB connection for printing documents. All of this for an average retail price of around $119.
Canon Inkjet Fax Machine - Runner Up
Offering transmission speed at 14.4 Kbps, the FAX-JX210P can produce fax output at around six seconds per page. Not the fastest you'll ever find, but for a home unit intended for occasional use, that's not too bad.
Canon utilizes Ultra High-Quality (UHQ) technology in this machine, meaning it utilizes 256 grayscales to offer the best reproduction of your images and text in your faxes. This means everything is crystal clear and easily legible when it arrives at the receiving end of the transmission. They also incorporate FINE technology in their ink so you get great looking monochromatic images and text while using less ink from job to job.
60 page memory, 20 page auto doc feeder, and a 100 page paper capacity keep you productive and efficient. This fax even comes equipped with caller ID and direct mail prevention to control what content comes in and which calls get answered. There's even dial security function to make sure your documents are being transmitted to your intended party so no worries about dialing out to wrong numbers.
HP Officejet Pro Wireless Printer and Fax Machine - Honorable Mention
Although it has additional copy, scan, print, and web access functions, HP's Officejet 8610 offers a reliable and efficient fax mode. With resolution quality of 200 x 200 dpi, the unit is capable of fax speeds of up to 4 seconds per page and can hold up to 100 pages in memory and 99 different numbers in speed dial. But the most notable thing here is the ability to fax in color.
It's equipped with some of the more standard fax accessories including 35 sheet auto doc feeder, duplex printing and a monthly duty cycle of 30,000 pages. The unit also features print, copy, and scan modes and with a tag of around $129 at most retailers, you're getting a lot of machine for your money. Unlike many all in ones, the fax mode is usually the most overlooked in lieu of the more attractive functions, but not on this machine. The output speed and quality definitely earn it a place on our list.
Brother Plain Paper Fax Machine - Consider
The 575 is a reliable, compact fax machine which can fit almost anywhere you need it to go. Running at speeds of up to 9,600 bps, it transmits around 15 pages per minute which isn't bad for a machine this size. In the event your machine loses power or runs out of paper, the 512 KB of internal memory can store up to 25 pages of incoming faxed material.
Using plain paper, the unit can hold up to 50 sheets in the upright input slot and there's also an automatic feeder than can handle 10 sheets in one pass. Auto dial is quick and convenient, capable of storing up to 104 numbers and the 575 also has Caller ID. The machine also acts as a landline telephone which can share the same line as the fax so there's no need for extra hardware.
Sharp UX-B750 Inkjet Fax Machine - Best Budget Fax Machine
The UX-B750 is a low use machine perfect for home environments or small businesses looking to have a fax machine on hand at all times. It has 14.4 Kbps transmission speed, able to run around eight pages per minute, as well as outputting at a respectable 391 dpi.
What makes this unit stand out is just how many faxes and copies it can give you on a single cartridge. Depending upon the print quality you choose, one standard inkjet cartridge will last through 800 pages of output. The UX-B750 also has a digital answering machine, something our other picks don't have. Internal memory can store up to 120 pages of faxes and the machine can send two sided faxes quickly and easily.
Brother IntelliFax-5750e High-Performance Laser Fax - Best Office Fax Machine
Retailing for around $800, the 5750e is equipped with a high speed 33.6K bps SuperG3 fax modem, which can transmit at speeds of up to two seconds per page or slow things down to communicate effectively with slower machines. There is plenty of paper capacity here as well, sporting dual 250 sheet paper trays, the 5750e can manage around 500 pages so it's always ready to produce. The trays can also handle mixed media sizes, so you can have it loaded with letter and legal size paper at one time.
8MB of memory are standard on this machine, able to accommodate up to 600 fax pages in storage, and can b upgraded for use in high-volume situations. Laser quality output makes everything look its best, and you can expect sharp clarity and contrast with both fax output and copies as well.
For extra functionality and convenience, an Internet fax mode lets you send and receive via the internet versus a landline, allowing you to send fax transmissions from any PC. Standard functions such as speed dial, transmission to multiple destinations at once are also included and you can even use it as a scanner if you wish.
Panasonic KX-MB2061 Multi-Function Laser Printer and Fax Machine - Best Office Fax Machine
Panasonic has a real winner on their hands with the UF-7200. First of all, it's fast, boasting a print engine that can crank out 19 pages per minute. Scan documents at just over one second per page with a 100 page automatic document feeder, and a G3 fax transmission speed at 2.4 seconds each sheet. The paper drawer can take up to 550 sheets at a time, so you'll find yourself refilling the UF-7200 less from week to week.
Choose from 580 auto dial slots to store the numbers you communicate with the most and if you need more than that, an optional SD card can give you 1,000 additional numbers. The 600 dpi resolution will produce clear, laser-printed documents every time and the included toner cartridge is good for up to 10,000 pages. Additionally, there’s a full QWERTY keyboard up top, enabling you to program and operate the UF-7200 with complete system control.
Canon FAXPHONE L190 (6356B002) Multifunction Laser Fax Machine - Best Office Fax Machine
The D480 is looks like a standard office copier, but it can print, copy, scan, and, of course, fax. Equipped with a 33.6 Kbps Super G3 fax modem, Canon's unit can be counted among the fastest machines on our list. Two to three seconds per page fax output, a resolution of 203 x 391 dpi, and eight speed dial inputs, are just some of the great features here.
This unit affords you 256 pages of memory capacity and produces high-quality laser output across all of its many functions. Print, scan, and copy modes all offer fast output speeds and sharp resolution to more than keep up with the fax mode for which you bought the unit in the first place.
Samsung SCX-4521F Laser Multifunction Machine Print/Copy/Scan/Fax - Best Office Fax Machine
The SL-M2875 is one of the most convenient and resourceful choices on our list. This machine from Samsung offers style and high detail with print speeds at 29 pages per minute. High resolution of up to 4800-by-600 dpi produces sharp monochrome documents while special image processing technology produces copies with the same clarity and detail as the originals. Faxing capabilities offer 200 number auto dial storage and modem speed of 33.6 Kbps.
8MB of memory can hold up to 600 pages of faxes and this unit can send content to multiple recipients at once. An ethernet hookup allows multiple users to connect to the machine for sending faxes from a PC. You can also use the Samsung Mobile Print app to print, scan and fax directly from your mobile device.
Canon PIXMA TR7520 All-In-One Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax Machine - Best Office Fax Machine
The second Canon on our list is a compact unit which prints, scans, copies, and faxes. The auto document feeder offers one-touch scanning and it also corrects text and images, ensuring they’re processed with total clarity.
The MX392 has a 33.6 Kbps modem for Super G3 faxing and can transmit at three seconds per page for black and white faxes and up to a minute per page for color. The unit will dial up to 19 different locations at once and store about 50 pages of faxes in memory.
This unit is also compatible with the popular Evernote organizer software so you're able to easily scan documents into the program for easy storage along with a high-speed USB 2.0 port for quick data transfers from your PC.
Brother IntelliFax 4750e High Performance Business-Class Laser Fax - Best Fax Machine Overall
The 4750e delivers in all categories, making it an excellent choice for your office. Sporting a 33.6 Kbps modem, it can transmit at speeds of up to 3 seconds per page or regulate itself to slow down in order to communicate older machines that aren’t as fast. Expandable memory is available as well, offering a potential 8MB of storage able to keep up to 600 pages of fax material safe and secure in the event of a power outage or if the machine simply runs out of paper.
The unit can print your faxes or make copies in laser quality for exceptionally sharp and clear output every time. Copying is quick and efficient with a speed of around 15 copies per minute. Plug in any computer via the USB port and it will even print docs from there as well with up to 15 pages a minute.
Also included is a 50 page auto doc feeder and 250 page capacity which can be doubled with an optional second tray. Brother's high-yield toner cartridges are designed to take on more jobs by using less ink, so your costs of operating the 4750e won’t be sky-high either.
Canon PIXMA MX452 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner, Copier, and Fax - Best Fax Machine Overall
Canon has a long line of easy to use, all-in-one products featuring integrated fax capabilities and the MX452 is a prime example of the best of their PIXMA line. It features built in Wi-Fi for wireless inkjet printing from a printer or a range of mobile devices, high resolution scanning with auto mode, and of course, Super G3 speed fax.
The MX452 runs at modem speed of up to 33.6 Kbps, transmitting at around three seconds per page for the black and white and about a minute for color. The unit can keep up to 50 pages in memory for printing and you can store 20 numbers on speed dial.
Auto Document Fix software runs on all machine operations including the fax, so you can be sure you're transmitting and receiving clear, sharp documents at all times. The Auto Document feeder at the top can handle up to 30 sheets of paper without the need to load one page at a time so all you need to do is slip your documents in the tray, hit send and let the machine do the rest.
Epson WorkForce WF-2540 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Copier, Scanner ADF, Fax - Best Fax Machine Overall
Matched evenly with the Canon above, the Epson WF-2540 runs at 33.6 Kbps speed making it a Super G3 fax, transmitting both black and white as well as color faxes. The speed dial feature allows you to keep 60 numbers at your fingertips and the internal memory can store up to 180 pages. The WF-2540 also allows you to send faxes to and from your PC, just like the PIXMA. You also have an Auto Document feeder that can take up to 30 pages for easy, hands-free paper feeding.
Faxing speeds take about three seconds with black and white transmission which keeps pace with the Canon. There are subtle differences however in PC connectivity, with the Canon allowing for Wi-Fi and USB, whereas the Epson lets you connect via USB host, Wi-Fi, LAN and USB 2.0.
Other features such as scanning and printing resolution and speeds run concurrent with each other and both units are run on inkjet technology. The Epson is even priced to compete with the Canon MX452, with both running under $100 at many retailers.
HP Officejet 4630 e-All-in-One Printer - Best Fax Machine Overall
HP's 4630 e-all-in-one is a durable and reliable multi-funtion printer offering all of the standard modes of a good multi-purpose printer. This unit gets a spot for its affordability, high-quality fax capabilities and color output. That's right, this is a color printer, suitable for printing docs and photos, so you also get your fax output in color too.
At up to 4 pages per minute, it's a quick little machine offering resolution at 300 x 300 dpi. Storage size is relatively standard at 99 pages in memory and you get 99 speed dial presets for fast transmission. It comes with a 35 page auto doc feeder that works with all the modes and has a paper capacity of about 100 sheets.
Canon FAXPHONE L190 Monochrome Laser Fax Machine Duplex Printer - Best Fax Machine Overall
With a speed of 33.6 Kbps, the L190 from Canon is among the fastest machines on our list. Monochrome laser fax quality of 200 x 400 dpi, transmission output of three seconds per page, and a first print time of six seconds, this unit is efficient and produces quality output, while offering 40 speed dial presets. It can even send to multiple destinations at once.
The L190 has an energy-saving feature so the unit runs on just 1.3 watts of power to cut down on your energy costs.You also get duplex faxing capability and a 50 sheet auto doc feeder with an overall paper capacity of 250 sheets in one tray. However, there are no expandable options, unlike some other picks on the list.
Buyer's Guide
Best Fax Machine Shopping Guide
Since fax machines are still an essential part of the business world, even in the era of smartphones, there are a few things you should know when shopping for one.
Features To Look Out For
All fax machines tend to have the same basic role: you can send one or more printed pages using a fax number. However, this is the basic function these fax machines initially came out with. Now the technology has evolved by heaps and bounds and there are more features that you should look out for, depending on your requirements.
All-in-one functionality
While you can always buy a fax machine that does all the tasks a fax machine is supposed to do and nothing else, you can also buy an all-in-one scanner/printer/fax machine. This will help you save money and space by having one solution for all your needs.
WiFi
Many fax machines today also come with built-in WiFi so you can easily send documents directly from your smartphone, computer or tablet to a specific fax number. This is a lot like wireless printing, an amazing convenience that will leave you hooked for life!
Speed dial and memory
Anyone who has used fax machines in their life knows that faxing can take a while. Even if you get the fastest fax machine in the world, it will still go one page at a time, which can be troublesome if you have multiple pages to send and a deadline to meet. However, this problem has been combated by newer models that have managed to cut down on the time that a fax takes by having local storage for numbers that are often used and offer speed dial for them. If you know you’re going to be sending faxes to the same numbers then you can rid yourself of the inconvenience of redialing by getting the best fax machine equipped with features like memory and speed dial.
Caller ID
You’ll be surprised to know that caller ID doesn’t exist on every fax machine, even though it should since it can make it easier to see who’s sending you a fax. If you’re using your fax machine to receive an abundance of faxes daily then you should consider investing in a model that supports caller ID.
What Is The Difference Between Fax Machines vs. Internet Faxing Services?
When you’re shopping for a fax machine online, you might come across internet faxing services. But what is it and how is it different from physical fax machines?
Well, we’re glad you asked. Internet faxing services help you fax documents from the internet straight to your machine. While this does sound great, there are always pros and cons to everything; physical fax machines and internet faxing services both. Lucky for you, we have everything you should know:
Fax machines
Fax machines are designed to use traditional phone lines in order to establish what we call a one-to-one connection. They can be pretty loud and heavy while also being reliable and secure, making them the best partner for every business. If you opt for a physical fax machine, you will have to bear the cost of ink, paper and a phone line. However, this way you won’t have to worry about your cost per page being higher over the long term than you could expect with a web faxing service.
Internet faxing services
These services charge a per-use fee in order to send electronic documents to other fax machines. Even though you can opt for an internet faxing service because of its convenience, it can be less secure and far more expensive than physical fax machines. Moreover, most online faxing services also tend to make you sign a user agreement that violates your privacy. This way they get the permission to read the documents you fax. So if you’re a private person or just sending confidential documents, this can be an issue for you.
Tips You Should Know
If you’re looking to fax a document that is printed on both sides then you will have to send each side as an individual fax. Since most fax machines don’t happen to support double-sided faxing, you will have to take the longer route for this. The first step would be to fax one side of a double-sided document and then the other in order to send the complete document to the recipient.
When buying a fax machine, keep in mind that you should be noting down the measurements of various models while making sure you have enough room on your workstation to accommodate the device. Since it can be pretty boxy and bulky, it can take up a decent amount of space and you might even need to buy a printer stand for it. Although this doesn’t get in the way of you buying a fax machine, these decisions need to be made before you’ve done the deed.
Moreover, if you are looking to send a fax to a phone number that has an extension line then make sure to include that extension when you dial the number on your fax machine. Although there are most modern machines that can understand and fully support additional numbers when dialing a phone number, you should always make sure to put in the correct sequence so that your fax reaches the person you had intended it to reach and not anyone else. You don’t want your confidential fax to fall in the hands of the wrong person now, do you?
FAQs
Do I need a landline for a fax machine?
It is possible to not have a landline phone line and still have a fax number. You can use an online fax service to host a fax number that will be accessible through the internet. However, in order to use a physical fax machine or a computer with fax software, it is necessary to have a landline phone line.
Can I fax from a printer without a phone line?
You can plug the fax machine into a phone jack in order to send a document using a WiFi printer. The only possible way you can fax from a wireless printer when you don’t have a phone line is when you have a special fax machine. This should have a setting that lets you connect to your mobile cellular network.
How do I fax without a fax machine?
Just simply use an online faxing service or an mobile app called eFax available on the Google Playstore for Android and the Apple App Store for iOS. This app can help you send and receive faxes directly from your smartphone or tablet without ever having to use a fax machine.
