Can You Fax Without a Phone Line? How Faxing Works With & Without Landlines

Summary: Understanding Faxes and Telephone Lines

  • Does a fax machine require a landline? Yes, traditional fax machines must be connected to a telephone landline to send and receive faxes.*
  • Do I need a landline/phone line to fax? Yes and no. You need a landline to send a fax with a fax machine. You do not need a landline to send a fax through an electronic (or e-fax) service. 
  • Can you fax without a telephone line? Yes, you can send faxes over the internet through an online fax service. Read on to learn how, or click Get Started.

This article will answer your questions about using a fax machine with a phone line and whether you require a landline to send a fax. We’ll explain a bit about fax machines, why they need landlines, and the popular alternative to setting up a fax machine in your home. 

Part 1: How Faxing Works Without a Landline 

Faxing is a method of communication that a few industries such as healthcare, education, law, and government still use. So, with wireless devices becoming more common and wired landlines less so, do you need to have a landline to fax a document? 

No, you don’t need a dedicated landline to send or receive a fax. But, as we’ve said, you do need a landline to use a physical fax machine. 

To fax without a landline, all you need is a computer, an internet connection, and a digital copy of your document, preferably in PDF format. Here’s how to send a fax online using Fax.Live:

  1. Make sure your document is saved on your computer in PDF format.
  2. Go to Fax.Live.
  3. Log in or create a free Fax.Live account.
  4. Click Send New Fax.
  5. Upload your PDF document and enter the recipient’s fax number.
  6. Hit Send.
  7. That’s it — no landline, no fax machine, and no extra hardware required.

Can you fax from your phone?

Yes. If you’re using a smartphone that has an internet connection either through a data plan or Wi-Fi, you can use Fax.Live’s web browser-based service to fax a document from just your phone. Want to fax from your phone instead? Here’s how to fax from a smartphone.

So, I don’t need a fax machine to send or receive faxes?

Correct. Online faxing is faxing without an actual fax machine. It may seem contradictory to say you can fax without a fax machine, but digital fax services let you easily transmit documents over the internet to a fax machine. 

Likewise, if someone needs to send you a fax, and you don’t have access to a fax machine, the online fax service will receive your faxes, which you can then access through your account login. Read here about how to receive a fax online.

Think of a fax service as the “middleman” that brings your document from your computer to a fax machine so that it can be sent out via fax. 

How much does it cost?

How much does it cost to have a fax line? Dedicated landlines run around $20 to $50 per month, depending on where you live and the type of service. Then, figure in the cost of supplies (ink, paper) and installation. 

How much do online fax services cost? Lots less. There are no setup or operational costs, and subscriptions start as low as $9.99 a month, which can be canceled any time.   

You can try Fax.Live with our free trial. Fax digitally — without a phone line — today for free to see if Fax.Live is right for you. If you need to receive regular faxes, our affordable monthly plans let you set up a phone line that you can use to receive new faxes at any time. Learn more about receiving a fax for free here. 

Part 2: How Faxing Works With Landlines

Why do (most*) fax machines require landlines?

Fax machines transmit data about scanned documents over phone lines by converting the document into audio tones that can be deciphered by another fax machine on the receiving end. You can learn more about what a fax is here. Fax machines require a landline connection that’s actively being serviced by a provider. Twenty or more years ago, this wasn’t a problem. Today, many people have forgone landlines in favor of smartphones. 

How do you get a fax line from home?

If you have a fax-printer combo, you can fax from home using a landline (as long as the machine is connected to the landline). People who use a fax machine often get a separate, dedicated landline that isn’t shared by a home or office telephone line. This is because, while the fax is in use, it ties up the line. If you intend to send and receive a high number of faxes regularly, it’s best to get a dedicated number for your fax line. 

This second phone line will have a port somewhere in your house, preferably in an office space, that you can then plug your fax machine into. The fax machine will use this dedicated landline to send and receive faxes. 

This can be costly, as your phone company may charge an installation fee to set up a second phone line. Additionally, you’ll need to pay for the new line monthly. It can be much cheaper to use a digital fax service, especially if you’re regularly sending faxes daily. 

*Some Wi-Fi enabled all-in-one printers can send faxes over VoIP (voice over internet protocol), but compatibility and reliability vary widely, and this setup is uncommon.

Photo by Wesley Hilario on Unsplash