Overview

Dropbox Fax, formerly HelloFax, is a web-based service for sending and receiving faxes through email or a browser. It is best suited to people and teams that want faxing to fit around cloud-stored documents, with an API for custom workflows. Its main trade-off is that free use is limited to outbound pages; receiving faxes requires a paid account.

Key features

Dropbox Fax handles incoming and outgoing faxes without paper: upload documents such as PDFs or DOCX files to send, and receive faxes as PDFs. Email and web access let users work from a computer, tablet, or mobile device, but there is no mobile app. Transmissions are encrypted, and international faxing is supported.

Connections to Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, OneDrive, and Evernote make the service a natural fit for teams already working in those storage platforms. Paid users can set up multiple numbers and users, then route incoming faxes. Existing numbers can be ported without downtime or lost faxes, a useful continuity measure for established fax workflows, but transfers are available only in the US and Canada.

An API and SDKs give developers a way to build faxing into other workflows. That adds flexibility beyond browser and email use, though the service’s platform listing is web rather than a broader native-app offering.

Pricing

Dropbox Fax is freemium. The Free plan is free and allows five outbound pages; sharing or completing quick actions can earn up to 20 more. It is suitable for occasional sending, not ongoing inbound faxing, since receiving requires a paid account.

Paid plans have custom pricing, with flexible plans or pay-as-you-go access. Those options suit users who need inbound faxing, but the right choice depends on their volume and billing preference. There is no trial and no credit card is required for the free plan; the pricing note’s 30-day-trial wording does not change that policy.

Platforms

The service runs on the web and supports faxing from any device, with cloud access to faxes. Mobile access is through a browser or email rather than a dedicated app. This keeps access broad without requiring an install, but teams that need native mobile apps should consider another service.

Who it's for

Dropbox Fax is a strong fit for teams that already use its supported cloud-storage integrations, need inbound and outbound faxing in one digital workflow, or want API and SDK access. It is less suited to anyone needing a dedicated mobile app, free inbound service, or number porting outside the US and Canada.

Pros and cons

Pros: Web and email sending and receiving, cloud integrations, and PDF delivery help keep fax work within digital document workflows.
Pros: Multiple numbers and users, inbound routing, and API and SDK support accommodate team processes and developer-built integrations.
Pros: Porting without downtime or lost faxes can preserve an existing number, where US or Canadian transfer is available.
Cons: The free allowance is small and outbound-only; inbound faxing requires paid access.
Cons: No mobile app is offered, despite access through mobile devices.
Cons: Custom pricing for paid access makes cost comparison harder, and number porting is geographically limited.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Online Fax Services. If file storage is the priority rather than faxing, browse File Sharing Software.

ETHERFAX is a paid option with API, self-hosted, and desktop platform support.
FAXAGE may suit buyers who want a paid service with a stated monthly per-line plan.
Openfax Cloud Fax API is a paid API-focused alternative with a free trial.
FAX.PLUS is worth considering for users who want Android or iOS apps and a free allowance of 10 pages.
GoFax REST API is a paid alternative with listed send-credit and receive-page plan quotas.
Browserfax offers web-based free access and a 20-page starting allowance.
FaxTerra offers a free plan with 10 monthly pages to the US and Canada, plus Android and iOS apps.
OVHcloud Fax is a paid alternative supporting web, desktop, and Linux platforms.

Verdict

Choose Dropbox Fax if your team wants cloud-connected email and web faxing, with API tools and paid inbound routing in the same service. Look elsewhere if you need free inbound faxing, a native mobile app, transparent paid-plan pricing, or number porting beyond the US and Canada.

	Dropbox Fax (formerly HelloFax)	Northland Cloud Fax
Free plan	Yes	No
Paid from	Free	$15.99/mo
Platforms	Web	Web
Free plan	Yes	No
Virtual fax number	Yes	Yes
Inbound faxing	Yes	Yes
Mobile apps	No
International faxing	Yes	Yes
Paid from		$15.99/mo
Monthly page allowance		500 pages/mo
Compliance support		hipaa

Dropbox Fax (formerly HelloFax) vs Northland Cloud Fax

Dropbox Fax (formerly HelloFax)

Northland Cloud Fax