Nowadays, email and instant messaging have become the default tools for exchanging business information quickly. With so many digital communication options available, it’s natural to wonder: Do people still use fax machines? Do people still fax at all?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes, and not just in niche situations. While the physical devices themselves are fading, the faxing method remains far from obsolete.
Let’s break it down.
Table of Contents
Is Fax Obsolete?
No. Faxing is not obsolete, and there’s no indication that it’s disappearing anytime soon. What is changing is how people fax. Traditional hardware is becoming less common, but the need for secure, traceable document transmission remains strong, especially in industries that rely on regulatory compliance.
A ReportLinker study projects that the global fax services market could grow at an annual rate of 11.03% between 2022 and 2027, indicating that faxes are still used widely across healthcare, legal, and financial sectors.
Thanks to modern alternatives like cloud and online fax platforms, faxing continues to evolve rather than vanish. However, the percentage of businesses using physical fax machines is expected to continue declining as organizations adopt more flexible solutions.
Are Fax Machines Obsolete?
As of 2025, fax machines themselves are not fully obsolete, but many businesses are transitioning away from them. Here’s why:
Phased out
Manufacturers have slowed or stopped producing replacement parts, making it harder to keep aging fax machines operational. Once a device breaks, finding compatible components or qualified repair technicians becomes a challenge.
Expensive
Owning a fax machine entails costs that can add up quickly, including maintenance, toner, paper, and the cost of analog phone lines. International fax transmissions could take a toll on small businesses with limited budgets. This makes scaling difficult and costly for companies, especially those with remote or distributed teams. Scaling would require purchasing additional fax equipment and incurring extra costs for secondary and toll-free analog phone lines.
Inconvenient
Fax machines require physical space, consistent machine upkeep, and landline connections. They cannot adapt well to the flexibility that modern workflows require, making hardware faxing less practical.
So, while fax machines still work and faxes are still used in many offices, more businesses are shifting toward digital and cloud-based solutions for greater flexibility and efficiency.
Are Faxes Still Used Today?
Absolutely. Faxes are still widely used across various industries where secure, verifiable, and compliant document delivery is crucial.
Familiarity
For long-established industries, the fax workflow is already deeply integrated into daily operations. Switching to entirely new systems can be confusing and time-consuming, making faxing the simpler choice.
Reliability
A key advantage of fax machines is that they can function even with limited or unstable internet connectivity. During emergencies or network outages, fax machines still work over analog phone lines, offering a dependable alternative.
Document integrity
Many professionals still prefer faxed documents because printed copies with handwritten signatures offer strong legal validity. Some organizations even use tamper-evident paper to enhance authenticity.
Do People Still Use Fax Machines?
Yes—people still use fax machines, particularly in sectors where privacy, compliance, and documentation integrity are essential.
The healthcare industry is a prime example. Hospitals, clinics, and insurance providers still fax protected health information (PHI) because:
- Faxing supports HIPAA compliance
- Medical staff are familiar with the process
- It reduces the risk of unauthorized digital access
Other sectors such as legal, government, finance, and manufacturing also continue to use faxing as part of their daily workflows.
So if you’re asking, “Do people still fax?” the answer is a clear yes, but increasingly through modern methods rather than traditional machines.
Online Faxing: An Alternative to Fax Machines
Faxing is far from becoming obsolete, especially now that there is a modern way to fax documents quickly and securely. With online faxing, you can eliminate the need for a traditional fax machine. You can send and receive faxes using any phone or computer connecting to the internet. It’s the best alternative for businesses seeking a cost-effective, scalable, and flexible document exchange solution.
With a trusted online fax service, businesses can:
- Transmit documents securely through encrypted channels
- Stay compliant with HIPAA, GLBA, and industry regulations
- Send and receive faxes from any device
- Receive status updates through apps and email notifications
- Eliminate paper, toner, and maintenance costs
This shift allows organizations to keep the reliability of faxing while enjoying the convenience of cloud-based technology.
Faxing Is Evolving and iFax Helps Businesses Evolve With It
So, is fax obsolete? Not at all. While traditional fax machines are becoming less practical, faxing as a secure and dependable communication method remains deeply embedded in many industries. Healthcare providers, law firms, financial institutions, and government agencies continue to rely on faxing because it offers compliance-ready document transmission, clear audit trails, and unmatched reliability.
What is changing is the technology behind it. Modern organizations are adopting flexible fax solutions that support remote teams, streamline workflows, and eliminate the headaches of maintaining aging hardware. That’s where iFax fits in.
iFax ensures that even as traditional fax machines decline, faxes are still used reliably, and your documents remain secure while modern workflows adapt. iFax preserves everything businesses trust about faxing—security, compliance, and reliability—while delivering the convenience of cloud-based communication. Instead of dealing with phone lines, paper jams, or maintenance costs, you can send and receive faxes from any connected device while maintaining industry-standard encryption and advanced access controls.
If you’re exploring ways to modernize your fax processes, this guide may help you compare your options: How to Send a Fax Without a Fax Machine
You can also explore iFax by requesting a free demo or selecting a plan to get started.
