WestFax vs RingCentral

In this WestFax vs RingCentral comparison, you can compare the features and pricing of both services.

Security

RingCentral prioritizes security as a fundamental aspect of its business phone system. Its website states that the company employs top-tier data practices throughout every product development phase. It uses industry-standard 256-bit AES encryption and TLS encryption. Administrators can manage users, and you can turn on multifactor authentication. RingCentral also guarantees network redundancy across all locations, ensuring uninterrupted fax functionality.

WestFax doesn’t quibble when it comes to security. It utilizes TLS 1.2 and AES 256 to encrypt data at rest and those in transit. Moreover, it includes security features such as user activity logs, unique user identification, and automatic log-offs. 

HIPAA Compliance

Covered entities and their business associates must comply with HIPAA, a federal law that sets standards and regulations for protecting sensitive healthcare data. Fax service providers handling protected health information (PHI) must enter a legal agreement with a covered entity. Both parties must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) to acknowledge their duties and obligations in protecting PHI.

In this regard, both RingCentral and WestFax offer to sign a BAA. With the former, you must purchase a subscription first and then request the BAA from their representative or through email. WestFax, however, includes its HIPAA features and BAA in all its subscriptions. But you can also request a custom BAA via email or phone call. 

Sending a Fax

WestFax offers five ways to send a fax via its software. You can send a fax through its website portal. You can also send a fax by attaching your fax document to an email. Another method is print to fax. The fax service provides a Windows print driver for faxing. The WestFax print driver will appear as another printer on your computer, and you can use it as your printer to send a fax. Also, you can use the WestFax API to integrate faxing capabilities into any software you use. Lastly, you can download WestFax’s Android or iOS apps to fax on mobile.

As an alternative to WestFax, RingCentral doesn’t offer print-to-fax. Instead, it supports faxing via email, website portal, or API. It also lets you fax documents directly from your PC, Mac, Android, and iOS app. 

eSignatures

Neither WestFax nor RingCentral have built-in tools for creating and inserting electronic signatures. Should you need to sign any fax, you can either sign it the traditional way (by hand) or use a third-party digital document signing app like Fill or DocuSign.

Fax Numbers

WestFax offers local or toll-free numbers. After signing up, you can immediately choose your fax number. You’ll then have to wait at least 10 minutes to complete the activation process.

RingCentral is a flexible WestFax alternative when it comes to fax numbers. Upon signup, you can set up a local, toll-free, or vanity number. Note that vanity numbers cost an additional $30 fee for setup. You can also add multiple numbers to your account. Additionally, the service allows you to configure individual extensions as fax-only, voice-only, or a combination of both. RingCentral also offers international numbers as part of its Phone System plans. 

Pricing and Plans

WestFax is a flexible RingCentral alternative with four monthly plans: Basic ($8.99 for 500 pages), Fax 1500 ($29.95 for 1500 pages), Fax 3K ($59.95 for 3000 pages), and Enterprise (custom pricing). An additional page beyond the allocated pages incurs a $0.03 fee.

RingCentral has two monthly plans for fax: Fax 3000 and Advanced. The first plan costs $27.99 monthly for 3000 fax pages, while the second option costs $35 monthly for unlimited fax pages. The Advanced Plan also includes a comprehensive business phone wherein you can make calls, send texts, and conduct video meetings.