Fax services have several choices for a business or individual. The following is a comparison between three popular fax services: MetroFax vs eFax vs MyFax.
MetroFax is by far one of the more expensive replacement services for dedicated fax machines. It offers many features that are attractive to dedicated fax users, however, the price is usually much higher than other options.
eFax is one of the most popular discount fax services that still offers dedicated fax machines. The monthly rates are very low for what you get in return, but they have many hidden fees making their offer less appealing. They also require a 3-year contract which is something to consider.
MyFax is a completely online fax service. There are no dedicated fax machines offered, but the low monthly rates make it one of the most popular options for small businesses and individuals who want to go paperless.
Let us check out all three in detail.
What is MetroFax?
MetroFax is a free service that allows anyone with a computer and internet access to send faxes to any recipient in the world for absolutely no cost.
To use MetroFax, you simply create an account (which is free), then download the software onto your computer where you can compose your fax letterhead.
You can write letters or type directly into the MetroFax windows. You can also attach files to your fax letter. Once you are ready, click the Send button and your fax will go through within minutes!
What makes MetroFax especially valuable is its accessibility – users do not have to connect their computer to a phone line or even be in front of their computer.
MetroFax allows users to fax their documents from anywhere with an internet connection. Users are also allowed to receive faxes at no additional charge, so you can stay connected even when you are away!
What is eFax?
eFax is an online fax service that offers digitized business communications via email, their website, and applications for tablets and smartphones. An eFax account includes a local phone number in the area code of your choice.
eFax users can send and receive faxes through their regular email address or by logging into the eFax site and clicking on the “Send a Fax” button. The faxes are delivered to your email inbox or the eFax website, depending on how you send them. You cannot receive incoming fax if you don’t have Internet access.
The website also offers additional services including Chat, Browse2Emailâ„¢ (which allows you to upload JPEG images up to 10 MB in size and have eFax convert them into a faxable document to send), Sync2Emailâ„¢, Voice Fax Mailboxâ„¢(which allows you to email up to 20 audio messages at a time), and Video Fax Mailboxâ„¢.
eFax is owned by j2 Global, Inc., an Internet communications company that provides services such as email, online faxing, virtual phone systems, hosted voice services, and application development tools.
The company was founded in 1998 by subpoenaed former Microsoft executives Robert S Messing, who served as eFax’ CEO for several years before leaving the business world to become a professional magician/comedian under his stage name Mofy the Magician, and Mark Kvamme, who is now an investment partner at Sequoia Capital.
eFax has over 11 million users worldwide (2011). The company claims that it added 1.7 million new customers during 2010 alone. eFax’s largest base of operations is in North America but they also have a presence throughout Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East, and contain several customers in Australia.
What is MyFax?
MyFax is a web-based service that provides users with a fax number where they can send and receive faxes. The company claims to have more than 1 million registered users, which makes it one of the most widely used online fax services.
The MyFax API allows third-party developers to access and integrate the functionality of MyFax with other applications and to develop new applications. Some example API methods include retrieving a user’s fax messages, sending fax messages, and managing a user account. MyFax provides support for JSON, XML, and HTTPS/SSL protocols.
MyFax was founded in 1999 by Bradley Metrock. In 2004 they were purchased by eFax which is now part of j2 Global. The MyFax API has been in production since January 5, 2010.
The documentation for the MyFax API is located at https://developer.myfax.com/. There are three types of calls that can be made to the MyFax API: sending fax, retrieving messages, and managing users’ accounts.
Why Choose MetroFax?
In today’s world of everyday communications, the fax machine isn’t as common as it used to be. You might think that printing a document and sending it through the USPS is faster – after all, you don’t have to wait for a phone line to become free. However, if you’re thinking about choosing MetroFax, you should know why we’re still a necessary part of modern-day businesses.
First and foremost, they’re affordable. Not just compared to other faxing services, but compared to printing out a document and having it sent by the postal service. This goes double when you consider that even if you own your printer, it’s not going to be free to use.
Another great reason to choose MetroFax is that our employees are all highly trained professionals who understand how to get your fax sent immediately, every time. If you’re looking for a reliable way to get documents across town or around the world, why not call us today? They’ll be happy to help you get started with your free trial.
MetroFax has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for excellence in customer service and general excellence within the fax industry.
Why Choose eFax?
eFax is a cloud-based service that provides users the ability to send and receive faxes from their computer or web-enabled device. Despite this seemingly antiquated technology, eFax offers many advantages over traditional faxing:
Save Money. With eFax, you can save up to 70 % on your current phone bill simply by switching to a virtual fax number.
Increased Security. With eFax, you can send and receive faxes from your email inbox without the worry of exposing sensitive information to viruses or spam.
Add Extras. With eFax, you can add services like international calling, call forwarding & PIN-less dialing.
Don’t Wait. eFax is available 24/7 on the web, so you won’t have to worry about waiting all day for your faxes to be received.
eFax has been a leading innovator of online faxing since 1996 and offers over 4 million users worldwide the ability to send high-quality faxes from anywhere at any time.
Why Choose MyFax?
MyFax’s full-featured online faxing services include: Privacy – Your phone number is never displayed when you send a fax so your private contact information stays safe.
Phone Fax. Forward phone calls to another number or directly to your MyFax account and receive them as faxes, including international numbers.
Mobile Fax. Receive, manage and send faxes on any device with the free MyFax Mobile app – available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.
Fax to Email. Send faxes directly from your existing email account with the click of a button. There are no login accounts or setup required on your part, so it’s extremely easy to use.
Web Faxing. Use any Internet connection to send faxes anywhere in the world without installing server software.
Custom Fax Numbers. Get a toll-free or local fax number to promote your business and look more professional.
Crystal Reports. See exactly who opens your faxes, clicks on links, and more with custom reports at any time through MyFax.com.
Secure Messaging. cc: or bcc: email addresses and send secure, encrypted faxes instantly with MyFax Secure Messaging.
White Paper and Video Faxing. Download or send a fax from any web browser with no software required.
International Faxing. Send faxes to numbers in over 200 countries around the world with our discounted international rates.
Fax API. Integrate faxing into your existing software with the MyFax Fax API.
Mobile-friendly Formatting. Send faxes on any device using our mobile-optimized viewing interface.
No Hidden Fees or Minimums. All of our plans come with no monthly fees, no setup charges and you only pay for the faxes that you send.
Fax Archiving. Keep a digital version of every fax that you send and receive in the cloud, with no limit on storage space.
Convenient Fax Tools. Import contacts from your existing email applications to make sending a faster process, preview faxes before they’re sent, and more!
MetroFax Vs eFax
eFax has been around for longer than MetroFax and at one time, you either had to fax through them or get an email with the document attached that you then needed to print out and fax manually.
Those days are over, however, as both companies have evolved their services to offer customers several features that will hopefully meet their business needs.
eFax is generally less expensive in most cases and offers the capability to send faxes from your email as well as several other features such as being able to access dead tree versions of faxes sent (yes you can save them!).
Both companies offer a great number of online tools that allow your customers the ability to access business records, send and receive faxes online (and even read them), as well as interact with clients. Both companies integrate with QuickBooks, Outlook, SalesForce.com, and Google Apps to make this happen.
eFax lets you send faxes from your email address but charges for this capability while MetroFax does not charge for the same feature. eFax also has a mobile version of their site that allows you to access account information on your Blackberry or Smart Phone.
MetroFax is a very young company and appears to offer fewer features than eFax, though their service offering has recently been expanded to include an online fax store where you can purchase extensions and send and receive faxes from.
Both companies appear willing to work with small businesses and offer multiple pricing plans for different numbers of users at different locations.
For the time being, MetroFax seems like the worse deal but only you can decide what is most important to your business and make an informed decision.
When considering MetroFax vs. eFax, be sure to ask about any monthly fees that may apply (there are some), how many extensions you get for free or whether or not you can send faxes from your email address.
eFax Vs MyFax
eFax is a company that provides fax services to its customers. The idea behind the service is that fax machines are becoming obsolete with all of our new technology and people no longer need a physical machine.Â
All you need to do is create an email account under your business name and use this for sending and receiving faxes instead of the old-school way.
You also do not need a dedicated phone line or machine to send and receive faxes as you would with a traditional fax machine. eFax sends and receives your faxes through your email account so it is all done online.
MyFax is another company that provides fax services. MyFax works in a very similar manner to eFax and it offers almost the same service to its customers.Â
MyFax does not require you to sign up for an extra email account but rather uses your current one so long as you have created an email specifically for email marketing purposes, this is why I would recommend eFax over MyFax.Â
MyFax has a few more features such as the option to send faxes in color or black and white, you can also include free cover pages if desired.
eFax is mostly beneficial if you are only planning on using this service for personal use because it allows you to connect your phone line so that any time someone calls your business phone your fax machine will ring as well.
This is perfect for those who work from home and need to receive both faxes and voice calls at the same time. MyFax also offers features that eFax does not such as FAX2Email which allows you to send a fax directly into your account without having to download it onto your computer.
If you want to purchase a fax machine and get rid of your phone line, I would recommend eFax over MyFax for this reason.
MyFax Vs MetroFax
For solutions to your questions, complaints, and problems about using these two services, you can contact their customer support team via email or phone. MetroFax has email support, while MyFax offers toll-free numbers for its customers.
According to MyFax reviews and questions on different forums, users found it easier to use the service than MetroFax. It seems that MetroFax is not very flexible when it comes to sending fax via your smartphone device.
MetroFax offers a responsive website that looks good on mobile devices while the MyFax interface is not designed for any of these devices.
Both companies have very strong security systems including 256-bit encryption along with malware, spam, and spyware protection. MyFax has a higher rating when it comes to data safety because it offers SSL or 128-bit encryption while MetroFax offers 128-bit or 40-bit encryption.
Another difference is that MyFax has a security system called FaxFirewall, which helps in the safety of your fax communication. Both companies offer compatibility for most devices and OS including Windows OS, Macintosh, and Linux. MetroFax is supported by smartphones and tablets while MyFax is not designed for mobile devices.
MetroFax Vs eFax Vs MyFax: Pricing Comparison
MetroFax pricing plan starts from as low as $8.30 per month and goes as high as $ 29.26 per month.
eFax and MyFax pricing plans start from as low as $ 16.95 per month and go as high as $ 19.95 per month.
As you can see, MetroFax is the cheapest out of the three, hence we can say that when it comes to pricing MetroFax wins.
MetroFax Vs eFax Vs MyFax: Pros and Cons
MyFax Pros and Cons
MyFax Pros
- Convenient. Sending a fax from your PC can be very convenient when compared to traditional means of sending a fax because you don’t have to do anything except turn on your computer.
- Send faxes internationally. Many services only allow you to send faxes domestically, but MyFax allows you to send faxes internationally as well.
- Dedicated website. The website is designed very well and has a lot of easy-to-find features so it can be used for more than just sending faxes.
- Notifications and delivery confirmation for incoming faxes. Another feature that is very useful because it allows you to monitor when your fax was delivered and read.
- Sophisticated tools for managing a large volume of fax transmissions. The features allow you to easily track which faxes were sent, sort them by date, and even save faxes as a PDF.
MyFax Cons
- Requires a MyFax account. You can only use the service if have an active MyFax account.
eFax Pros and Cons
eFax Pros
- Free to use for a trial period of 30 days. If you are not satisfied with it after that time has expired, then just cancel your subscription within those 30 days and you won’t have to pay a single penny.
- Multiple options of phone numbers to choose from, such as the US country code, the city of your residing country, and even a local number that can be given out to your clients or customers.
- You will not have to pay any monthly fees like with other fax services and you only pay for what you use (the cost per each faxed page).
- To make the whole faxing process easier for you, eFax offers numerous features that will allow you to use either your computer or phone to send out a fax.
eFax Cons
- You have to have Internet access for this service to work. If your Internet connection is down then you won’t be able to send or receive faxes.
MetroFax Pros and Cons
MetroFax Pros
- MetroFax is a Windows-based software that lets you send and receive faxes from your computer.
- It’s essentially a virtual replacement for an office or home fax machine, with the bonus of being able to receive faxes using e-mail.
- It’s simple and easy to install, has a small footprint, is free of advertisements, and can be easily customized to your needs.
- It has all the basic functionality you need to get started with faxing — sending & receiving faxes using a modem or directly through e-mail.
- It includes options for doing things like viewing received faxes online, printing received faxes on your printer, converting received faxes to PDF or other file types, etc.
MetroFax Cons
- Although you can receive faxes over e-mail, the program only allows you to send them through certain e-mail servers that are configured for inbound SMTP.
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FAQs
Is eFax still free?
eFax offers a free version in which you are provided with a virtual fax number, but not a toll-free number. You may receive up to 10 faxed pages each month and inspect them using the free eFax Messenger software. Additionally, the firm offers premium plans for those who want extra faxes and the ability to transfer them.
What is the MetroFax app?
MetroFax Mobile is an optional service that complements your MetroFax Internet fax membership. You may send and receive faxes with the MetroFax Mobile application. You may even access your account's balance page using your mobile device. From your Android smartphone, Dropbox, or Google Docs, send fax pages with attachments.
Is MetroFax HIPAA compliant?
No, MetroFax does not assert compliance with HIPAA. The business has no intention of entering into a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). With a simple click, Jotform's HIPAA-compliant online forms enable you to gather patient data and payments and issue safe PDFs.
Are eFax and MyFax the same?
MyFax and eFax are two very similar online fax services. On the other hand, eFax is more expensive than MyFax and is one of the few providers that charge setup fees, but it still offers excellent mobile apps and a robust collection of included services.
Conclusion
I’ve used all three services, and find that eFax has the best price value for its service. However, I like the fact you can send faxes from anywhere using MetroFax (not sure how long this has been available).Â
At any rate, it’s always nice to have options. I hope this comparison article will help folks out by giving them an unbiased comparison of MetroFax vs eFax vs MyFax.
