Metrofax vs RingCentral

Security

RingCentral prioritizes strong security features, given that it is a business solution. It employs industry-grade 256-bit AES encryption to encrypt data. It also provides security throughout all stages of its product development.

As a secure alternative to RingCentral, Metrofax falls short. While the MetroFax privacy policy and website discuss several aspects of data handling and collection, it doesn’t provide an explicit discussion of technical security features. On its list of FAQs, the fax service only mentions that your data is encrypted. It also says that digital faxes are more private than faxes sitting open on a community fax machine, which is only common sense and not persuasive proof of robust security.

HIPAA Compliance

Given its lack of security features, MetroFax cannot claim HIPAA compliance. If you’re going to fax protected health information (PHI), it’s better to choose another internet fax provider.

If you’re looking for a HIPAA-compliant alternative to MetroFax, you can consider RingCentral. RingCentral provides a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), which is required for business associates under HIPAA rules. It also undergoes third-party auditing to maintain industry standards of security.  

Device Applications

Both MetroFax and RingCentral provide free mobile apps so you can fax easily from anywhere using any device. MetroFax apps are available for download at the iTunes app store and Google Play.

RingCentral apps for PC, Mac, Android, and iOS are available from the RingCentral app gallery.  

API and Developer Support

RingCentral’s API goes beyond faxing since it also supports integrations for SMS, video calls, and team messaging. As for its Fax API, you can configure it to integrate fax functionalities into EHR, EMR, or CRM systems. 

In this aspect, MetroFax falls short as a suitable Ringcentral alternative as it doesn’t have a programmable API for integrating faxing with your current workflows. 

Fax Broadcasting

By default, RingCentral lets you send faxes to 50 recipients simultaneously. You can also ask RingCentral to enable its fax broadcasting feature if you need to send a fax blast to more recipients. Without the fax broadcasting feature turned on, faxes sent to more than 50 recipients will fail, and you’ll receive an email notification stating that the fax status is pending. Document attachments should also not exceed 200 pages with a 50MB maximum file size.

MetroFax’s fax broadcasting feature is more limited. You can only send to up to 50 recipients. Moreover, file attachments should be limited to 10 documents and not exceed 18 MB.

Fax Numbers and Number Porting

All MetroFax plans include a local or toll-free number within the US or Canadian regions. If you have a current fax number, you can also port it to this online fax service for free.

RingCentral is a more flexible MetroFax alternative when it comes to fax numbers. Its Fax 3000 plan lets you choose from fax numbers in over 105 countries. What’s more, you can also choose a vanity number for better number recall. As for its number porting service, RingCentral shoulders the transfer cost. That’s additional savings while avoiding the hassle of updating contacts.

Pricing and Plans

RingCentral is one of the pricier alternatives to MetroFax at $27.99 monthly per user for 3000 fax pages. While this price translates to only $0.01 per page, the cost can rapidly multiply if you have multiple users in your team. However, you can save $5 monthly by choosing to pay annually. Also, consider that the expense includes cover pages, cloud service integration, and mobile apps. For users needing video, SMS, and calling capabilities, subscribe to RingCentral Advanced for $35 monthly.

MetroFax provides a cost-effective entry-level plan for only $9.96 monthly (billed annually). This subscription lets you send and receive up to 500 fax pages each month. MetroFax also offers a Professional plan for $31.63 per month, which is best for businesses with higher faxing requirements.