Your document is already on your computer. The only thing standing between it and the recipient’s fax machine is — what, exactly? A trip to a print shop? A landline you don’t have?
Neither. You can fax straight from your computer over the internet, and it takes about a minute. This guide covers the ways to do it — including the free one — on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook.
Can a computer even send a fax?
Fax machines talk to each other over the analog phone network. A computer can join that conversation in one of two ways:
- The old way: a fax modem + landline. Windows still ships Windows Fax and Scan, which can send faxes — if your PC has a fax modem plugged into an analog phone line. Almost no modern computer has one, and fewer homes have a landline to plug it into. Macs dropped fax hardware entirely years ago.
- The modern way: an online fax service. Your document travels over the internet to a fax provider, which transmits it to the recipient’s machine on the phone network. No hardware, no phone line, nothing to configure.
Unless you already own a fax modem and a landline, the online route is the one that actually works in 2026. Here’s how to do it.
How to fax from your computer in 4 steps
This works on any computer that runs Google Chrome — Windows, Mac, Linux, or a Chromebook.
Step 1: Add Browserfax to Chrome
Open the Browserfax page on the Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome. It installs in seconds and sits next to your address bar — no software download, no account setup form.
Step 2: Sign in with Google
Click the icon and sign in with your Google account. That’s the whole registration: it creates your account and loads it with 20 free pages, no credit card required.
Step 3: Upload your document
Choose the file to fax — PDF, JPG, or PNG. If your fax has several parts (a form plus an ID scan, say), select multiple files and Browserfax merges them into a single fax in the order you choose. Documents are processed locally in your browser and encrypted in transit and at rest.
If your document is on paper, snap a photo or scan it first; if it’s a Word file, save it as a PDF (File → Save As → PDF) and upload that.
Step 4: Enter the number and send
Type the recipient’s fax number and hit Send. You’ll see the real status as it happens — Queued → Sending → Delivered — so there’s no wondering whether it arrived. If a fax fails, the pages are refunded automatically.
That’s it. Sending works to 50+ countries, and there’s no subscription needed to send — ever.
Your options compared
| Method | Needs | Cost | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online fax service | A browser | 20 pages free, then from $4 one-time | The practical choice for almost everyone |
| Windows Fax and Scan | Fax modem + analog landline | Hardware + landline fees | Only if you already own both |
| Print shop / office store | A trip, per-page fees | Often $1–2 per page | Slow and pricey for a file that’s already digital |
| All-in-one printer with fax | Printer with fax + landline | Hardware + landline fees | Fine if it’s all set up; overkill to set up today |
What it costs
- Free to start: 20 pages on Google sign-in.
- Pay per fax: one-time packs — $4 for 25 pages, $11 for 100, $49 for 1,000. Packs never expire, so occasional faxers aren’t paying a monthly fee for nothing.
- If you also need to receive: Basic at $8/month (100 pages) or Pro at $16/month (500 pages), each with your own dedicated US fax number and unlimited incoming faxes.
For the fuller picture of how this stacks up against subscription services, see our comparisons with eFax and FaxZero.
Receiving faxes on your computer
Sending is only half the job for some people — doctors’ offices, agencies, and title companies often want to fax something back to you. For that you need your own fax number.
With a Browserfax subscription you get a dedicated US fax number instantly. Incoming faxes appear in the extension, and you get an email notification with a link that stays live for 7 days. Here’s the full walkthrough: how to get a fax number without a landline.
Related guides
- How to send a fax without a fax machine — the general-purpose version of this guide
- How to get a fax number — for receiving faxes on your computer
- eFax vs Browserfax — what the biggest brand really costs
- FaxZero vs Browserfax — how the free options compare
FAQ
Can I fax from my computer without a phone line?
Yes — that’s the point of online faxing. The service bridges the internet and the phone network for you, so your computer needs nothing but a browser.
Is there a truly free way to fax from a computer?
Browserfax includes 20 free pages with a Google sign-in and no credit card. For most people that covers the occasional form; after that, packs start at $4 one-time with no subscription.
Do I need to install software?
Just the Chrome extension — there’s no desktop application to download. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebooks.
What file types can I send?
PDF, JPG, and PNG. For Word documents, export to PDF first, then upload.
How do I know my fax actually arrived?
Browserfax shows live delivery status for every fax — Queued → Sending → Delivered — and automatically refunds your pages if a transmission fails.
Ready to send one? Add Browserfax to Chrome — your first 20 pages are free, no credit card, no subscription.