Dropbox Fax (formerly HelloFax)

Overview

Dropbox Fax, formerly HelloFax, is a web-based service for sending and receiving faxes through a browser or email. It suits occasional senders who want to avoid paper and users who need cloud-based inbound faxing; its strongest trade-off is a small free sending allowance against paid inbound access and no dedicated mobile app.

Faxes arrive as PDFs, and outgoing documents can be uploaded rather than printed and scanned. Transmissions are encrypted, and international faxing is supported, making the service useful for straightforward digital fax workflows across locations.

Key features

Dropbox Fax covers both ends of a fax workflow: send uploaded files and receive faxes through the web or email. Common file types include PDF and DOCX. Connections to Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, OneDrive, and Evernote can make it more convenient to work with documents already stored in those services.

Paid accounts can receive faxes using virtual numbers. The service supports setting up multiple numbers and users and routing incoming faxes, which is useful for teams that need to direct documents to the right people. Existing fax numbers can be transferred without downtime or lost faxes, though porting is available only in the US and Canada. Developers can also use its API and SDKs.

Pricing

The free plan costs nothing and permits five outbound pages. Sharing or completing quick actions can earn up to 20 more pages. This is a reasonable way to handle occasional outgoing faxes, but it is not a standing free inbound service: receiving faxes requires a paid account.

Paid access offers flexible plans or pay-as-you-go, but the paid plans have custom pricing. That makes the free allowance easy to evaluate, while regular senders and anyone needing a fax number for inbound documents will need to weigh the paid cost against their expected volume. The pricing note mentions a 30-day trial, but there is no trial; no credit card is required for the free plan.

Platforms

Dropbox Fax is a web service, not a mobile app. You can access faxes on a computer, tablet, or mobile device through the cloud, and send or receive by email, but readers who want a dedicated Android or iOS app should look elsewhere.

Who it's for

It is a good fit for people who fax occasionally, already keep documents in supported cloud services, or need paid inbound faxing with routing and multiple users. It is less compelling for frequent senders who need predictable published pricing, people who require a permanent free allowance beyond the limited outbound pages, or app-first mobile users.

Pros and cons

• Pros: free outbound sending: Five pages are included, with up to 20 more earnable, which helps occasional users avoid paying for every small faxing task.
• Pros: cloud and email workflow: Web and email faxing, PDF delivery, common file uploads, and five cloud integrations reduce the need to handle paper documents.
• Pros: configurable inbound service: Paid users can use virtual numbers, route inbound faxes, and transfer numbers in the US and Canada.
• Cons: inbound faxing is paid: The free plan only covers sending, so anyone who needs to receive faxes must upgrade.
• Cons: no mobile apps: Mobile access works through the cloud, but there is no dedicated app for readers who prefer app-based faxing.
• Cons: paid price is custom: Without a published price, recurring users cannot readily compare the cost to their expected fax volume.

Alternatives

Choose FAX.PLUS if you want Android and iOS apps alongside web access, or a larger free sending allowance of 10 pages; its Basic plan is $6.99 a month. FaxTerra is another app-based option, with 10 free pages per month for sending to the US and Canada.

For low-cost paid access with a dedicated fax number, OVHcloud Fax has a €0.99 a month EcoFax Pro plan, plus a per-page sending charge. WestFax may suit users who want a defined monthly allowance: its Solo plan is $14.99 a month for 500 pages and one user license.

TELUS Cloud Fax is an alternative with a single-number plan that specifies monthly inbound and outbound page allowances. iFax offers paid plans including 200 pages for $12.49 a month. For web-only faxing with a free allowance, consider Browserfax, which offers 20 pages on its free plan. eFax is another paid option, with plans for individuals, businesses, and corporate use.

Browse Online Fax Services for more faxing options, or File Sharing Software if document storage and sharing matter more than faxing.

Verdict

Dropbox Fax is best for occasional fax senders and teams that need a digital inbound workflow connected to cloud documents. Its free outbound pages and email-based access are practical strengths, but paid inbound service, custom pricing, and the lack of mobile apps make it a weaker choice for frequent faxing or app-first users.