iFax vs PerPageFax
See why PerPageFax is the simpler alternative to iFax for occasional faxing.
iFax is one of the biggest names in online fax, with native apps for every platform, HIPAA compliance, and plans that include a monthly page allowance plus receiving on higher tiers. If your business sends faxes every week, that machinery is worth paying for — plans start at $14.99/month, or $12.49/month billed annually (about $150 for the year, charged up front).
PerPageFax is the opposite: pay $0.50/page, no account, no plan selection, no recurring charges. If faxing isn't part of your regular workflow, a one-time 5-page fax is a $2.50 one-off and there's no subscription to cancel afterward. Here's how the two stack up.
The short answer
- You fax occasionally and only need to send: PerPageFax is $0.50/page with no account, no plan to pick, and nothing to cancel — a one-time 5-page fax is $2.50 and takes about a minute from a cold start.
- You send 25+ pages a month or need to receive: iFax genuinely wins. Its Basic plan is $12.49/month billed annually (about $150 up front) or $14.99/month billed monthly, with a monthly page allowance included, and Plus and up add a fax number, receiving, HIPAA compliance, and native apps.
- Both are good services built for different jobs — the break-even math below tells you which one is cheaper for your volume.
iFax vs PerPageFax at a glance
| Feature | iFax | PerPageFax |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.49/mo billed annually (~$150/yr up front), or $14.99/mo monthly | $0.50/page |
| Cost for a one-time 3-page fax | Requires a subscription (~$150/yr) | $1.50, once Wins |
| Account required | Yes | No Wins |
| Setup time | Account + plan selection | No setup time Wins |
| Fax receiving | Yes (Plus and up) iFax wins | No |
| Mobile faxing | Requires the iFax app | Works in any mobile browser — nothing to install Wins |
| HIPAA compliance | Yes (Plus and up) iFax wins | No |
| Delivery tracking | In-app status + email | Live status page + email |
| Cancellation | Cancel online anytime | N/A (no subscription) |
The break-even math
iFax Basic is advertised at $12.49/month, but that rate only applies when billed annually — about $150 ($12.49 × 12) charged up front. Billed monthly, it’s $14.99/month. At PerPageFax’s $0.50/page, that breaks even at about 25 pages per month on annual billing ($12.49 ÷ $0.50 ≈ 25) or 30 pages on monthly billing ($14.99 ÷ $0.50 ≈ 30). Send less and PerPageFax is cheaper every single month — send more and iFax’s included pages win, with the effective per-page price dropping the more you send. There is no wrong answer, only the one that matches your volume.
Which should you choose?
Choose PerPageFax if…
- You fax occasionally — pay only for what you send, no subscription
- You only need to send; receiving isn’t a requirement
- You want to fax right now: no account, no plan selection, about a minute from upload to sent
- You never want to think about cancelling or unused pages
Choose iFax if…
- You fax frequently — iFax Basic’s included pages are genuinely cheaper
- You need a fax number to receive faxes (included from Plus up)
- You need HIPAA compliance or team features like a shared inbox
- You fax as part of a daily workflow and want native apps
Why choose PerPageFax?
No subscription
Pay only for what you send at $0.50/page. iFax starts at $14.99/month — or about $150 up front for a year — even if you fax once.
No account needed
Send a fax in about a minute from a cold start. iFax requires account creation and plan selection before you can send anything.
Nothing to cancel
No subscription means nothing to cancel and no unused pages left on the table at the end of the month. iFax lets you cancel anytime — with PerPageFax there is nothing to cancel in the first place.
Auto-retry and live tracking
If delivery fails, we retry automatically at no extra charge — and every step shows live on the status page, with an email the moment your fax finishes.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on volume. iFax Basic is $12.49/month billed annually (about $150 up front) or $14.99/month billed monthly, with included monthly pages. That breaks even against our $0.50/page rate at about 25 pages per month on annual billing, or 30 pages on monthly. Below that, PerPageFax is cheaper — a one-time 5-page fax is $2.50 with nothing to cancel.
iFax doesn’t advertise a free tier — the Basic plan is $12.49/month billed annually (about $150 for the year, up front) or $14.99/month billed monthly. PerPageFax has no free tier either: you pay $0.50 per page, only for the pages you actually send.
No — PerPageFax is send-only, which is how we keep pricing at a flat $0.50/page with no subscription. iFax includes fax receiving on its Plus plan and up, so it’s the better fit if you need an inbound number.
No. Open the site, upload your document, enter the fax number, and pay per page — about a minute from a cold start. iFax requires an account and a plan choice before you can send anything.
Failed sends are retried automatically at no extra charge, every step shows live on the status page, and you get an email the moment your fax finishes — delivered or not. If a fax ultimately fails, you get a full refund automatically.