How to Get a Fax Number Without a Landline

Plenty of organizations still insist on faxing you things — doctors’ offices, insurance companies, courts, government agencies. But that doesn’t mean you need a landline or a fax machine sitting on a desk waiting for them.

Here’s how to get your own fax number and receive faxes directly in your browser.

What is an online fax number?

An online fax number (sometimes called a virtual fax number) is a real US fax number that works exactly like a traditional one from the sender’s side: they dial it from their fax machine and press send. The difference is on your end — instead of a machine printing pages, the fax arrives digitally.

With Browserfax, incoming faxes show up right in the Chrome extension, and you also get an email notification with a download link the moment a fax arrives — fax to email, without setting anything up.

How to get your fax number

1. Install Browserfax from the Chrome Web Store and sign in with Google.
2. Pick a plan. Basic is $8/month and Pro is $16/month (annual billing gets you 3 months free). Every plan includes a dedicated US fax number with unlimited incoming faxes — the tiers differ only in how many pages you can send each month (100 vs 500).
3. Your number is ready instantly. No paperwork, no waiting for provisioning.
4. Share it. Give the number to your doctor, bank, or anyone who needs to fax you. It’s yours for as long as you keep the plan.

Why receive faxes online instead of on a machine?

• You’re not tied to a location. Your faxes reach you on any computer where you’re signed in to Chrome — home, office, or on the road — plus an email notification wherever you are.
• Nothing gets lost. No paper jams, no empty toner, no fax that printed while you were away and got thrown out.
• It’s private. A fax to a shared office machine can be read by anyone walking past. A fax to your Browserfax number is only visible in your account, encrypted in transit and at rest.
• It’s cheaper. A landline plus hardware costs far more than $8/month — and unlimited receiving means no surprise per-page charges for incoming faxes.

Can I send faxes too?

Yes — sending and receiving live in the same extension. Plans include a monthly allowance of send pages (100 on Basic, 500 on Pro), and every fax shows its real delivery status, with automatic page refunds if a fax fails.

Not ready for a plan? Start free: you get 20 free pages for sending just by signing in with Google, and you can add a fax number later when you need to receive.

Get your fax number with Browserfax — set up in minutes, right from Chrome.