Do I need a fax app on my iPhone?

No. Shotfax is a website, not an app. Open Safari, go to shotfax.com, upload the PDF or photo, enter the fax number, pay $2.99. There is nothing to install. Most dedicated iPhone fax apps charge a monthly subscription or a per-page fee that works out more expensive than Shotfax for a single fax.

Can I fax a photo from iPhone Photos?

Yes. On the upload screen, tap Photo Library instead of Choose File, pick the JPG from Photos, and Shotfax converts it to a clean black-and-white PDF automatically before sending. Photos work best in good light with the whole page in frame. For multiple pages or anything formal, the Apple Notes Scan Documents feature gives a sharper result.

How do I scan a paper document on iPhone?

Open Apple Notes, create a new note, tap the camera icon in the keyboard bar, tap Scan Documents. Hold the phone over each page; the app auto-detects the edges and captures. Tap Keep Scan, repeat for each page, then tap Save. The result is a multi-page PDF ready to upload to Shotfax. Files app, Mail app, and most third-party scanners also produce PDFs that work.

What is the cheapest way to send a fax from iPhone?

For a single fax, Shotfax at $2.99 is cheaper than most iPhone App Store fax apps that charge per-fax (typically $5 and up based on an April 2026 survey) and far cheaper than most monthly subscription apps. One cheaper option is FaxZero free, but FaxZero prints ads on the cover page, caps at 3 pages plus cover, and only delivers to US and Canadian numbers.

Will the fax still work if I close Safari?

Yes. Once you complete payment, the fax is queued on the Shotfax server and transmitted by Telnyx regardless of whether your Safari tab is still open. If you provided an email, the delivery receipt PDF arrives by email. If you left the success page open, it updates to Delivered automatically.

How to guide · By Povilas Konopackas, founder · Updated May 2026

How to send a fax from iPhone without an app.

You have an iPhone and a document that needs to go to a fax machine. Every App Store result wants you to install a fax app and sign up for a subscription. You can skip all of that. iPhone already has a built-in document scanner, and Shotfax is a website, not an app. Three minutes, no install, $2.99.

1. What you need

An iPhone running iOS 15 or newer (anything from 2021 onwards). Safari is the default, but Chrome and Firefox work equally well.
The document to fax. If it is already a PDF on your phone (in Files, Mail, Messages, or the Downloads of another app), you are ready. If it is on paper, you will scan it using Apple Notes.
The destination fax number. Confirm it with the receiving office by phone if you can.
A payment method Polar accepts. Apple Pay works, as does any major credit or debit card.

2. Scanning a paper document with Apple Notes

Apple Notes has a built-in document scanner that has been quietly excellent since iOS 11 and is the single best reason not to install a third-party fax app. It auto-detects edges, corrects perspective, boosts contrast, and saves as PDF.

Open the Notes app. Tap the pencil icon in the bottom right to create a new note.
Tap the camera icon in the toolbar above the keyboard.
Tap Scan Documents.
Hold the phone above the first page. The yellow outline snaps to the page edges and the app captures automatically. Hold steady until it beeps.
Tap Keep Scan. The app returns to the viewfinder for the next page.
Repeat for every page. The bottom left shows a page counter.
When done, tap Save. The scan is embedded in the new note as a multi-page PDF.
Tap the scan preview, then the share icon. Choose Save to Files to move the PDF somewhere you can find it during upload.

If the result looks too dark or too bright, tap the scan, then the filter icon (three overlapping circles), and pick the Black & White filter. That reduces color noise and sharpens text before the fax machine downconverts it to 196 DPI.

3. Opening Shotfax in Safari

Swipe home, tap Safari.
Type shotfax.com in the address bar. Hit Go.
The upload area is near the top of the page. Scroll slightly to see it.

You can also bookmark the site. Tap the share icon, then Add to Home Screen. The next time you need to send a fax it is a one-tap shortcut, still no app install.

4. Uploading the PDF

Tap the upload area. iOS shows three options: Photo Library, Take Photo or Video, and Choose File.
For a PDF (scanned or saved from another app), tap Choose File. Navigate to where you saved the PDF (Files, Downloads, iCloud Drive). Tap the file.
For a single photo of a page, tap Photo Library. Pick the photo. Shotfax converts it to a fax-ready black-and-white PDF automatically.
The upload area updates with the file name and estimated page count. Price is $2.99 flat for documents up to 20 pages; longer files are rejected before payment so you can trim or split first.

5. Entering the fax number

Tap the destination number field.
Type +1 followed by the 10-digit US or Canada number, or the full international format for other countries (+44 for UK, +49 Germany, +61 Australia, etc).
As you type, Shotfax shows a live country confirmation under the field. It reads "United Kingdom, keep typing" until the number is the right length, then flips to "United Kingdom, length looks right, ready to send" with a small check mark.
Add your email in the next field if you want the delivery receipt PDF. Skip it if you do not.

6. Paying and waiting

Tick the acknowledgment checkbox. This is required under EU consumer-rights law and acknowledges that the fax starts immediately.
Tap Send fax for $X.XX.
Safari opens Polar checkout. Apple Pay is available if set up; otherwise any major card.
After payment, Safari returns to the success page. The status polls every few seconds and flips from Paid to Sending to Delivered.
Total time from first tap to delivered: usually 1 to 3 minutes.
If you provided an email, the delivery receipt PDF arrives within a few seconds of delivery.

7. What to do if the fax fails

Most failures are one of: wrong number, busy line (especially on IRS and insurance lines during business hours), or the receiving device is a voice phone not a fax. Shotfax routes failed sends through its automatic refund path; you do not need to contact support. The charge comes back on the same card within 7 business days and a failure email explains the reason.

If it was wrong number, verify the number with the receiving office and re-send. If it was a busy line, try again 30 minutes later or in the evening. If it was "not a fax", the line is a voice phone; you need a different number.

8. Why not use a fax app?

The economics are simple. Most popular iPhone fax apps we surveyed in April 2026 are either subscription-based (typically around $10 to $15 per month) or per-fax services with a sign-up form (typically $5 to $7 per fax). For one fax, Shotfax at $2.99 is cheaper than those common price points. For two faxes a year, it is far cheaper. For daily faxing, an app and a dedicated fax number make sense; that is not most people. Most free apps are ad-supported with low page caps and US-only delivery (like FaxZero on the web).

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