20+ Fax Facts That Will Change How You Think About Faxing in 2025

Think faxing is a thing of the past? Not quite. While traditional fax machines may be collecting dust, the act of faxing is far from obsolete. In fact, modern businesses in legal, healthcare, and government spaces still rely on fax for one simple reason: it works.

This article will walk you through the surprising history of faxing, share 20 compelling fax facts, and show you where this secure communication tool is headed in 2025 and beyond.

The Evolution of Faxing Through the Decades

Faxing began long before most people think. The earliest patent was issued in 1843 to Scottish inventor Alexander Bain, whose chemical-based fax system (“Bain’s facsimile”) laid the foundation to transmit images over wires. In the early 1900s, the technology had improved enough to transmit photos for newspapers.

By the 1960s and 70s, corporate offices began using fax machines more regularly. The real boom came in the 1980s, when businesses large and small adopted them to send contracts, invoices and memos. These machines used analog phone lines to transmit data encoded into audio tones.

Fast forward to today, and faxing has mostly left behind clunky hardware. Cloud faxing, also called internet fax or online fax, uses secure web and app-based platforms to send and receive documents. With services like eFax, you can fax from a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Plus, there are no busy signals or toner refills required.

Online faxing supports real-time delivery, digital archiving and encryption. It’s now built into workflows for everything from telehealth appointments to insurance claim processing.

The Top 20 Fax Facts You Should Know in 2025

Here are compelling fax machine facts and online fax trends that highlight how relevant faxing still is.

1. The first fax machine predated the telephone.

Alexander Bain patented his original fax machine in 1843, which was 33 years before Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone in 1976.

2. Faxing is still required in U.S. healthcare.

Over 75% of healthcare providers use fax to share patient records, test results and referrals due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Learn more about modern HIPAA compliance needs.

3. Online faxing encrypts your documents.

Unlike email, electronic fax platforms offer end-to-end encryption and audit trails. This makes them ideal to send private information.

4. Fax machines are still widely used in Japan.

Despite tech advances, many Japanese offices and homes continue to rely on fax machines for both business and cultural reasons. 

5. Online faxing works without a landline.

Cloud fax tools like eFax only require an internet connection. So you don’t need a dedicated phone line or any bulky equipment.

6. Faxed signatures are legally binding.

In most countries, including the U.S., a faxed signature holds the same legal weight as an original, handwritten one. 

7. Faxing is used heavily in finance and law.

Industries handling sensitive documents still prefer faxing for its traceability, delivery confirmation, and compliance alignment. In fact, faxes may be more legally binding than email. 

8. You can fax directly from email.

With eFax, sending a fax is as easy as attaching a document to an email, entering your recipient’s fax address and hitting send. Learn more about faxing via email. 

9. Digital faxes reduce office waste.

Switching to online faxing helps businesses cut back on paper, ink and maintenance costs. In this way, it’s much more cost effective and eco-friendly than traditional faxing. 

10. Fax traffic is growing in compliance-heavy fields.

Government agencies, insurance providers and medical centers continue to rely on fax to meet strict privacy laws. Sectors like manufacturing, education and logistics also need fax for various uses. Explore an overview of the industries we serve.

11. Mobile fax apps let you fax from anywhere.

With cloud platforms, you can send or receive a fax while commuting, traveling or working from home. All you need is an internet connection and an eFax account to fax from nearly any device. Learn how to send and receive faxes online. 

12. You can port your fax number.

Don’t want to lose your old fax number? Most online fax providers support number porting. This means you can use your existing fax number to experience e-signatures, mobile access and cloud storage.  

13.. You can store faxes in the cloud.

With modern faxing, there is no need to print or file anything. You can store your incoming and outgoing electronic faxes securely online. With eFax, you can even store unlimited faxes. 

14. Faxing avoids email spam filters.

Since faxing bypasses email servers, it’s less likely your message will be blocked, filtered or lost. Spam filter algorithms tend to find fax more secure than email. 

15. You can automate fax workflows.

Application programming interfaces (APIs) allow businesses to plug faxing into existing systems like CRMs, EHRs and accounting tools. Explore eFax API documentation.  

16. Fax technology is growing, not shrinking.

The global cloud fax market is expected to grow to over $1.4 billion by 2026. For more insights, read the full solutions report. 

17. Online fax services support electronic signatures.

With electronic fax, there’s no need to print, sign, scan and resend signatures. Electronic signatures can be tracked, stored and shared via fax.

18. Fax machines still exist in many small offices.

While digital faxing dominates, thousands of businesses still use standalone fax machines every day. Learn how fax machines work (and why they’re still relevant).

19. You can schedule faxes for later.

eFax and similar tools let you set up fax deliveries ahead of time, which is ideal for after-hours communication. Explore how to automate fax workflows. 

20. NASA used fax tech to send images from space.

Early space agencies transmitted images of the moon and Mars using modified fax transmission technology. It was called the Uplink Text and Graphics System (TAGS)

Fax Trends 2025: The Shift from Fax Machines to Mobile Faxing

Modern businesses no longer need bulky hardware to fax. Mobile-first tools are replacing fax machines and offer a better way to share important documents.

In 2025, more organizations are:

• Using fax APIs to automate document delivery.
• Integrating fax tools into apps and software platforms.
• Switching to cloud faxing for remote-friendly workflows.
• Replacing machines to cut costs and increase security.

Cloud fax solutions give users real-time visibility, searchable records and encrypted storage. That makes faxing scalable across distributed teams. For example, a legal team can send a signed contract from a smartphone in one city and receive the confirmation in another.

Instead of treating fax as outdated tech, more businesses now see it as a secure messaging solution with modern features.

Step Into the Future of Digital Faxing with eFax

eFax gives businesses a modern way to replace the fax machine—without losing the reliability and security that makes it essential.

With eFax, you can:

• Send and receive faxes by email. Just attach a file and send it to a fax number.
• Use a mobile app or desktop platform. Fax anywhere, anytime.
• Add digital signatures. No printing required.
• Store documents in the cloud. Easily search and retrieve faxed documents.
• Keep your number. Port your existing number to avoid disruption.
• Stay compliant. eFax is built for HIPAA, GDPR, and other regulatory standards.

eFax is designed to work with the tools businesses already use. This includes Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce and more. You can automate routine faxing tasks, track delivery and reduce document errors with built-in checks and logs.

Whether you’re in legal, healthcare, insurance or education, eFax can improve how you send and receive sensitive information.

To experience the difference for yourself, sign up for an eFax account today.