Pros and Cons of iFax: Analysis of a Popular E-Signature Software

The sudden shift to remote work arrangements has forced the wider adoption of software and other technologies that facilitate improved collaboration and productivity even outside office settings. As a result, tools and services like iFax are seeing more use in organizations today.

For instance, through iFax, one of the most popular e-signature platforms and online fax services, employees can send and receive faxes even without fax equipment. The software also makes it easier to electronically sign documents.

To help organizations determine if the service will be a useful addition to their software ecosystem, this article explores the pros and cons of iFax. We also discuss the service’s key features so interested users can make a more informed decision.

Many employees have sung praises for remote work and working from home, but these work arrangements bring some challenges as well. For instance, various studies have explored the cybersecurity risks posed by remote workers. In particular, one study found that 33% of system administrators spend the most amount of time maintaining remote workers’ security on a daily basis.

Surveys of IT decision makers have also revealed how cyberattacks threaten remote workers today.

Moreover, 65% of IT and business leaders believe that vulnerabilities in third-party software are also to blame for successful cyberattacks. These figures highlight the importance of using only tools and software with robust security features. One such software is iFax, which offers military-grade encryption for all transmissions to ensure utmost data protection.

Below, we explore in detail the pros and cons of iFax. We also discuss how the platform’s features can benefit your business.

Overview of iFax

iFax is a hybrid fax service that allows users to send and receive faxes from mobile devices and computers. This means users can send and receive faxes—including documents, images, Excel files, and PowerPoint presentations—even without using fax equipment. Aside from online fax services, the platform also offers various tools for fax archiving and an integrated eSignature tool.

Moreover, the platform comes with a variety of document management capabilities. Each time a user sends a fax, iFax syncs and updates fax records across multiple devices, if needed. The system also makes it easier for users to tag faxes, contacts, and documents, so users can easily search and access previously sent faxes and files. The online storage of documents also helps users to avoid having to set up a space for fax equipment and paper-based files.

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Another important feature of iFax is its robust security. The platform secures each transmission through military-grade, 256-bit encryption and two-factor authentication. iFax is also designed to meet regulatory compliance standards like HIPAA, GLBA, and HITECH. This compliance also makes the platform ideal for businesses in healthcare and law.

Furthermore, iFax provides businesses with toll-free fax numbers and international fax numbers. These numbers make it easy for users to stay connected to clients and colleagues, wherever they are. They also help your business to maintain a professional image.

Pros and Cons of iFax

1. Send and Receive Fax Online

One of the main features of iFax is that it lets users send and receive fax online. All users need is an account with the web-based platform. For instance, once they’ve created an account at ifaxapp.com, users can just enter the numbers of the fax’s recipients, attach documents, and send the fax. Users also get a notification once their transmission gets delivered to the recipients.

Since the platform is web-based, users can also send faxes from computers and mobile devices like tablets and mobile phones. The platform offers a user-friendly, simplified dashboard so you can create faxes, attach documents, and send faxes in minutes. Faxes are delivered just as quickly, too, since recipients get faxes in less than a minute.

For added convenience,  you can also track the status of your transmissions in real-time. Once faxes are delivered, you can view and download transmission receipts as proof of delivery.

iFax provides a secure way to send a variety of documents, including health records.

2. Streamlined Fax Workflows

Moreover, iFax works as an efficient collaboration software. Aside from documents, the platform lets user send images, Excel files, and PowerPoint presentations via fax. This flexibility makes it easier for teams across organizations to collaborate. It also makes the platform a useful tool for teams who do different types of work.

Aside from sending and receiving faxes, you can also use iFax to attach eSignatures to faxes. Users can simply use their devices’ touchscreens to draw electronic signatures that are displayed on the fax’s cover page. Through this feature, users can enjoy the benefits of using eSignature software without having to invest in one. The feature also helps organizations take advantage of eSignature trends such as hand-drawn signatures.

3. Mobile Apps for Faxing

iFax is designed as a hybrid fax service, the platform offers both web-based and on-premise services. Aside from the web-based platform, you have the option to use iFax’s apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. These apps are also as fully-featured as the web-based platform, so there’s no need to worry about missing out on certain features or capabilities.

For instance, even if you use the Android or iOS app to send a fax, you’ll still be able to attach a cover page and documents to faxes. Users can also attach eSignatures through their devices’ touchscreen.

These mobile apps come in handy, especially since the number of mobile device users climbs each year.

iFax also lets mobile app users attach files and eSignatures to faxes.

4. Easy Fax Management

iFax also comes with various features to help organizations in improving their document management workflows. For one, the platform allows users to apply tags to faxes, contacts, and attachments. As a result, this tagging system makes it easier for users to search for previously sent faxes and documents.

With iFax, faxes and attachments are also saved to the cloud for easier, more secure storage. The platform provides unlimited cloud storage for users. With these features, organizations can go completely paperless without much hassle.

The platform also allows users to easily scan and sign documents from computers and mobile devices. iFax comes with a built-in scanner and editing technology so users can crop scanned images and adjust setting such as contrast, brightness, and sharpness. The eSignature tool can come particularly handy, especially since 39% of organizations say that eSignature technology improves productivity.

5. Secure, Compliant Fax Transmissions

Another important feature of iFax is that the platform provides users with a way to securely send faxes. The platform uses 256-bit, military-grade, end-to-end encryption to protect faxes during transmissions. Through the encryption system, iFax also minimizes the risk of unauthorized access to transmissions and helps ensure that only the recipients can open the faxes.

iFax is also designed to be compliant with a variety of data security standards, including HIPAA, HITECH, and GLBA. This means the platform allows users to send HIPAA-compliant fax, which meets the provisions enacted by the HIPAA law. Specifically, faxes sent through the platform—including patient information and medical records—meet the law’s audit trail standards. iFax also provides various HIPAA-compliant fax cover templates to provide additional protection against breaches and unauthorized access.

The platform’s HIPAA-compliant features also extend to its mobile and desktop apps. And to further secure patient information and medical data, iFax also seamlessly integrates with EHR software.

iFax allows users to attach a cover page to their faxes to comply with HIPAA standards.

6. Toll-free Fax Numbers

Another advantage of using iFax is that it provides users with a toll-free fax number. Through this fax number, users can both send and receive faxes. And since these numbers are toll-free, customers and colleagues can reach you without having to pay charges. The same is true for international clientele who want to call you or fax documents to you from overseas.

Aside from convenience, these fax numbers also help you to maintain a professional image to your clients. A toll-free fax number, in particular, can improve your business’ image. It can also help you to establish a stronger presence in your local area.

Once you sign up for an iFax account, you get a customized fax number. Though the platform currently doesn’t allow you to pick your own fax number, it does save you the trouble of having to find a one.

7. White Label Fax Services

You also have the option to use iFax to support cloud-based fax delivery for your business. The platform comes with an API so you can easily integrate fax features into existing software and applications. You’ll also get access to real-time reporting and audit trails so you can monitor your business’ performance at any time.

You can also establish your business’ brand through cover page templates that can be customized with your business’ name and logo.

8. Multiple Pricing Plans

iFax is also available in one Free plan and two paid plans. The Free plan currently doesn’t allow users to receive faxes and lets users send only 5 pages per month, but it may be a good choice for individuals who only need to send faxes occasionally. Meanwhile, the Plus plan costs users $16.67 per month (billed annually). It allows users to send up to 500 pages per month and also allows for the use of 1 fax number.

Lastly, corporate users can opt for the platform’s Professional plan. This plan costs $25 per month (billed annually) and these costs go up as users choose to send more than 1,000 pages per month. Pricing for the plan also goes up if users choose to use more than 1 fax number.

Is iFax the best choice for your business?

As the foregoing discussion on the pros and cons of iFax indicate, the answer to this question ultimately depends on your business’ needs. iFax comes with a wide variety of features that can benefit your business. For instance, the platform’s features for sending and receiving faxes online make fax management easier for organizations. Moreover, the platform’s built-in tools for scan-to-fax functions, eSignatures, and tagging also help improve productivity and ease collaboration. This can be particularly helpful to remote teams.

The platform’s tiered pricing plans also make it a good fit for many types of users and organizations. However, since the Free plan is somewhat limited in terms of features, users may want to sign up for the Professional plan to benefit from the full range of iFax’s capabilities.

If you’re interested in learning more about tools for remote work, check out our guide to the best collaboration tools for remote teams.

By Louie Andre

B2B & SaaS market analyst and senior writer for FinancesOnline. He is most interested in project management solutions, believing all businesses are a work in progress. From pitch deck to exit strategy, he is no stranger to project business hiccups and essentials. He has been involved in a few internet startups including a digital route planner for a triple A affiliate. His advice to vendors and users alike? "Think of benefits, not features."