Online Fax Services with Desktop Applications/Downloads
Although there are many Internet fax services, they differ in the extent of features and complementing services they offer. Such is the case with desktop applications/downloads for faxing, both of which make desktop faxing possible.
Top 5 Online Fax Services With Desktop Applications/Downloads
| Features | RingCentral | Popfax | MetroFax | Sfax | FaxFreedom |
| Desktop Application | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Printer Driver | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating System | Windows, Mac | Windows, OSX, Linux |
Windows | Windows | Windows |
| Send Desktop Faxes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Receive Desktop Faxes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Included free with service plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Faxing Application and Printer Driver Differences
A desktop fax application works very differently from a fax printer driver. Here’s how:
Desktop fax applications: Allow you to receive and send faxes directly from your computer without having to sign on to your online fax service. Usually an activation wizard takes you through the desktop application download process. Other Internet fax providers include a download tab on the control panel of the member’s account. In either case, the online fax applications put a fax icon, task bar, or panel on your desktop, giving you all the functions of a fax machine right on your computer screen. It makes online faxing more efficient because all you need to do is click the icon on your desktop to conduct Internet faxing activities.
Fax printer drivers: Enable you to fax from any software program, such as Microsoft Word or Excel, simply by clicking on the print option from the task bar. The fax printer driver appears as one of your printers in the print dialog box. Once selected, a pop up window allows you to enter recipient names and fax numbers, and select a default cover sheet or create a new one.
Features of Desktop Faxing Applications and Fax Printer Drivers
Online fax services have developed their own desktop faxing applications or fax printer drivers to complement their service plan features. Most function in the same way, but there are differences from one online fax provider to another. Here are some examples:
Ring Central – Its RingCentral Call Controller allows you to manage incoming and outgoing faxes directly from your desktop computer. Among its features are making notes on or signing your faxes electronically, using a fax icon or dragging and dropping the document to be faxed in the call controller box, receiving a message on your desktop that you’ve received a fax and using your Microsoft Outlook contacts to broadcast faxes.
Popfax – Its PopCompanion desktop application for sending and receiving faxes runs minimized in the background. Its general screen menu bar with Inbox and Outbox folders navigates faxing actions, such as previewing a fax, sending a fax, mark as read or unread, moving a fax to another folder and deleting a fax. A separate screen on the menu bar allows contact list management. The features-rich application also has a search field for finding and sorting faxes, and keyboard shortcuts synched to menu bar functions. Popfax also offers a printer driver for Windows that enables users to fax any type of document directly from the application.
MetroFax – With its MetroFax Printer, users can send faxes from any Windows application the same way they would print a document. MetroFax also has a download that integrates specifically with Microsoft Office applications. Users can send faxes from all Microsoft Office programs by selecting the File menu on the program’s task bar.
Sfax – Sfax Driver is the printer driver that works with any desktop application or software with print capabilities. Sfax Sherpa is an inbound faxing desktop application that receives incoming faxes. Users designate a folder for received faxes, preferred file type and how often they want their faxes retrieved. When a fax arrives, Sfax delivers it according to these parameters. Both the HIPAA compliant fax printer driver and desktop application include a digital signature feature.
FaxFreedom – The FaxFreedom software installs a desktop printer driver so any type of document or file can be faxed using the print menu option. After selecting FaxFreedom as the designated printer, recipient fax numbers can be selected in a pop up window.
Choosing an Internet Fax Service with Desktop Applications/Downloads
When considering online fax services with desktop applications/downloads, closely review what the online fax desktop application does and the functions of the Internet fax printer driver. Narrow down your choices until you have found the best Internet fax service with the desktop faxing application that most closely meets your faxing needs.
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