Faxing still shows up in healthcare, legal, and government workflows, and a separate, expensive dedicated unit is overkill for most home offices. The category has split into two camps: traditional all-in-ones that bundle fax with print, scan, and copy, and paperless servers that turn your computer or phone into the fax machine. Picking between them comes down to how often you fax and whether you already own a printer.
The Shortlist At A Glance
Epson EcoTank ET-4760 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer
Canon imageCLASS MF465dw Monochrome Laser All-in-One
Brother MFC-L8930CDW Business Color Laser All-in-One
CimFAX A5 Paperless Fax Machine
Canon imageCLASS MF275dw Monochrome All-in-One Laser
CimFAX C5 PC/Mobile Fax2Email Server (20 Users)
CimFAX B5 Paperless Fax Server (10 Users)
Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5800 Wireless Supertank All-in-One
Brother MFC-L3710CW Compact Color Laser All-in-One
More On The Choices That Made The List
The EcoTank ET-4760 takes a different approach to the cost problem than the laser machines on this list. Instead of toner cartridges, it uses refillable ink tanks that you top off from bottles, which matters most when you print color pages regularly and want predictable running costs.
For a home office that handles a few faxes a week plus everyday printing, the bundle is hard to beat. You get fax, color printing, scanning, copying, an automatic document feeder (a tray that feeds multi-page documents through the scanner without you standing there), and Ethernet in one box. The catch is inkjet print speed, which lags behind the Canon MF465dw you will read about next.
Where It Excels
- Cartridge-free ink tanks drop the long-term cost of color pages dramatically compared with cartridge-based inkjets.
- All-in-one design means fax, scan, copy, and ADF live in a single compact machine, which keeps your desk uncluttered.
- Ethernet plus wireless gives you flexibility to drop it on a wired office network or place it anywhere within Wi-Fi range.
- Color output holds up for charts, signage, and client documents that monochrome lasers cannot handle.
- Supertank capacity suits light-to-moderate monthly volumes without constant refilling.
Things To Consider
- Inkjet print speed sits well below the laser units below, so large print jobs can feel slow.
- The included ink set has a finite shelf life once opened, and refilling needs a flat, stable surface to avoid spills.
Feature Snapshot
Made For
Home offices that need fax, color printing, and scanning in one unit without the cartridge refill treadmill.
Consider Something Else When
You print mostly monochrome documents at speed and want a laser workflow instead, in which case the Canon imageCLASS MF465dw will feel more responsive.
Where the Epson ET-4760 trades speed for color flexibility, the Canon imageCLASS MF465dw leans into raw monochrome output. The 42 pages-per-minute rating puts it firmly in small-business territory rather than casual home use.
Duplex printing (automatic two-sided output) on both the printer and the document feeder means long fax transmissions and double-sided reports finish without babysitting. The 5-inch touchscreen simplifies routing incoming faxes to email or network folders. For an office that prints stacks of contracts, statements, and forms every week, the throughput difference over the ET-4760 becomes obvious within a day.
Practical Advantages
- 42 ppm monochrome speed keeps multi-page fax jobs and print runs short.
- Auto duplex on both print and scan paths reduces paper handling for two-sided documents.
- Three-year limited warranty offers longer coverage than most competing all-in-ones.
- Mobile-ready setup supports printing and fax workflows straight from a phone.
Worth Noting
- Monochrome only, so any color task still requires a separate printer or an inkjet backup.
- The body is heavier and taller than the EcoTank above, so a sturdy shelf or printer stand helps.
Best Suited To
Small and medium businesses that need fast monochrome throughput with fax baked in.
Look Elsewhere When
You mainly send the occasional fax from a laptop and have no print volume to justify a workhorse laser, in which case the CimFAX A5 paperless server trims both hardware and consumables.
The MFC-L8930CDW sits above the Canon MF465dw on the performance ladder, and the difference is mostly about color. This is a workgroup-class color laser with the security and paper capacity that shared offices expect.
Advanced security features typically include settings like secure print release, which holds jobs in memory until you walk up and enter a code. For a clinic, law firm, or finance office where confidential faxes pass through daily, that layer of control tends to matter more than raw ppm. The trade-off is footprint: this unit needs a real desk or its own cabinet, not a shelf above a file box.
Positive Takeaways
- Color laser output delivers crisp charts, marketing collateral, and client-facing materials in-house.
- Advanced security features protect confidential fax and print jobs from casual snooping.
- Duplex print, scan, and copy speeds keep multi-page workflows moving without operator intervention.
- Higher toner yields lower cost per page than entry-level color lasers, which suits sustained monthly volume.
Honest Caveats
- Larger and heavier than the Canon MF465dw, so placement needs planning.
- Replacement toner cartridges cost more per unit than the monochrome models, even when yield is high.
- Some advanced settings live in nested menus that can frustrate first-time setup.
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Mid-sized offices handling confidential documents and demanding consistent color output alongside fax.
Swap It Out When
Your fax volume is light and color printing is rare, in which case the Brother MFC-L3710CW keeps costs and footprint down.
Everything before this point is a printer that also faxes. The CimFAX A5 flips the model: a small box that connects to a phone line and routes faxes through your computer or phone, with no paper output at all.
For a remote worker who handles a few faxes per week, paperless routing means documents arrive as PDFs in your inbox instead of curls out of a tray. The hardware is small enough to tuck behind a monitor. The trade-off shows up when you need to sign and send a physical page, which still requires a scanner.
A Few Strong Suits
- Send and receive faxes from Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS, so the device you already have does the work.
- Incoming faxes can auto-forward to email as PDFs, eliminating trips to a machine down the hall.
- No toner, no ink, no paper jams, which keeps long-term running costs near zero.
- Around-the-clock reception means you never miss a fax outside business hours.
Small Caveats
- Requires a dedicated phone line for the device itself, separate from your regular voice line.
- Software setup can take patience if your network policies restrict new drivers or services.
Perfect Match For
Remote workers and small home offices that send and receive occasional faxes without the printer overhead.
Reach For A Different Pick When
You already need a printer for daily work and only want fax as a side feature, in which case the Canon MF275dw bundles everything in one.
Where the MF465dw pushes for high-volume offices, the Canon MF275dw steps down the speed ladder to a friendlier entry point. At 30 ppm it still outpaces most inkjets, but the body shrinks and the upfront cost eases.
The adjustable 6-line touchscreen keeps everyday navigation simple, and duplex printing trims paper use without extra steps. For a small office or a serious remote worker who needs laser reliability and fax without the MF465dw footprint, the MF275dw is a sensible midpoint.
Why It Works Well
- 30 ppm monochrome speed handles everyday office throughput comfortably.
- Duplex printing and a compact frame fit on a standard small-office desk.
- Wireless and mobile-ready setup matches the workflow habits of hybrid workers.
Points To Note
- Monochrome only, so any color requirement still needs a separate device or service.
- Smaller paper capacity than the MF465dw, meaning more frequent refills on busy weeks.
Technical Highlights
Who Should Grab It
Small offices that want laser-class reliability and fax without the higher upfront cost of a workgroup machine.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
Color is essential to your daily work, in which case the Brother MFC-L3710CW delivers color laser output at a similar scale.
The CimFAX C5 builds on the A5’s paperless approach and adds multi-user routing for small teams. Twenty users can send and receive faxes through one shared box, each with their own inbox.
For a clinic front desk, real estate office, or small legal practice, the value comes from a single fax line serving the whole team without queuing at one machine. Auto-forwarding to email means faxes land in the right inbox the moment they arrive. The honest read is that this pays off only when several people actually need fax, not when one person handles it all.
Reasons It Performs
- Twenty-user capacity covers typical small-team fax volume without queueing.
- Fax-to-email routing delivers incoming documents straight to the right person.
- Remote access means traveling staff can still send and review faxes from anywhere.
- Pop-up notifications on the desktop keep incoming faxes from getting lost in a busy day.
Some Limits To Know
- Requires a dedicated analog phone line and a network connection to function.
- Per-user licensing structure means the value drops sharply if your team is smaller than expected.
Right Fit For
Small teams that share one fax number and want each member to receive documents directly.
Not Your Match When
Only one or two people need fax in your office, in which case the CimFAX B5 below is sized more sensibly.
The CimFAX B5 is the B-Series version of the C5 above, trimmed to ten users and aimed at leaner teams. Functionally it does the same job: routes faxes through your computers and phones without paper output.
For a ten-person office where fax volume is real but not heavy, the B5 avoids the C5’s larger user license. Auto-forwarding to email and remote access carry over from the C5. The trade-off is that a growing team may outgrow ten users sooner than expected.
Practical Pluses
- Ten-user capacity fits typical small-office needs without paying for unneeded seats.
- Drag-and-drop and right-click sending on desktop keep the workflow familiar.
- Automatic PDF archiving to a shared folder simplifies recordkeeping and audits.
Practical Considerations
- You may find the ten-user ceiling tight if your team expands within the device’s lifespan.
- Still requires a dedicated phone line, which some modern offices have to request from their provider.
Feature Snapshot
Who Will Love This
Small offices that need shared fax routing without committing to a larger multi-user license.
Skip It When
You also need everyday printing and scanning, in which case the Epson EcoTank ET-4760 bundles those functions into a single device.
The ET-5800 is the bigger sibling of the ET-4760 reviewed first, and the upgrade is mostly about scale. Larger ink reservoirs, faster throughput, and higher monthly duty cycle push it into serious office territory.
For a small business that prints marketing materials in-house and still needs fax, the cost-per-page math stays favorable even at higher volumes. PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology (Epson’s printhead design that runs without a heating element) tends to be quieter and more durable over long runs. The honest read is that smaller offices simply will not exercise the capacity it offers.
What Earns Its Place
- Supertank ink capacity keeps refill frequency low even under heavy monthly use.
- Print-shop-quality color output suits in-house marketing and client-facing materials.
- Ethernet support fits cleanly into business network environments.
- All-in-one design bundles fax with scanning and copying to consolidate equipment.
Trade-Offs
- Higher upfront cost than the ET-4760, which only pays off at higher volumes.
- Footprint is larger than entry-level inkjets, so placement requires planning.
Feature Snapshot
Built With In Mind
Small businesses that print in color at volume and want fax included without switching devices.
Another Choice May Suit
You mostly print monochrome and want maximum text speed, in which case the Canon imageCLASS MF465dw is the better tool.
The MFC-L3710CW is the smallest color laser in this roundup, and the appeal is straightforward: laser-class output without the bulk of a workgroup machine. It lands comfortably on a desk or small shelf.
Wireless setup keeps cabling tidy, and the unit handles fax, print, scan, and copy without leaning on the cloud. For a one- or two-person home office that occasionally needs color documents and reliable fax, the trade-off versus bigger Brother units is mostly speed and paper capacity. Most small users will not notice the difference day to day.
What It Does Well
- Compact frame fits apartments, small desks, and tight office corners.
- Color laser output produces sharp text and saturated graphics.
- Wireless connectivity simplifies placement without sacrificing features.
- Laser-class durability means lower maintenance than comparable inkjets.
Points To Note
- Print speed lands below the larger Brother MFC-L8930CDW, so heavy jobs run longer.
- Replacement toner cartridges are smaller and need swapping more often under heavy use.
Feature Card
Right Fit For
Small home offices that want color laser reliability with fax in a compact footprint.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
You handle larger daily print volumes and need stronger security, in which case the Brother MFC-L8930CDW scales up cleanly.
Matching The Right Pick To Your Fax Workflow
Fax machines used to mean one bulky unit with a handset, thermal paper, and a single button. The category has split in two directions, and understanding which direction matches your needs saves money and desk space.
Traditional all-in-ones bundle fax with printing, scanning, and copying in one chassis. They make the most sense when you already need a printer and want fax as an extra. The trade-off is that you are paying for print technology you may not fully use if fax is the only feature that matters.
Paperless fax servers take the opposite approach. A small box connects to a phone line and routes faxes through your existing computers or phones. No toner, no ink, no paper jams, and incoming documents land in your inbox as PDFs. The catch is that you still need a separate device if you want to print or scan physical pages.
Monochrome Vs Color
Monochrome laser printers cost less per page and print faster, which suits offices that handle mostly text-heavy documents like contracts, statements, and forms. Color lasers and supertank inkjets cost more upfront but pay off when charts, signage, or client-facing materials are part of the workflow.
Ink tank systems like the EcoTank line use refillable bottles instead of cartridges. The savings show up over time on color pages, but the upfront price runs higher than entry-level inkjets with cartridges.
Speed And Throughput
Pages-per-minute ratings matter most in shared offices where multiple people queue jobs. A 30 ppm unit feels quick for one user and slow for ten. For solo and small-office use, anything from 19 ppm upward handles the daily workload comfortably.
Duplex printing, or automatic two-sided output, trims paper use on long documents without extra steps. Duplex scanning on the automatic document feeder matters more for offices that regularly handle multi-page faxes and scans.
Connectivity And Setup
Wireless connectivity lets you place the unit almost anywhere with a signal. Ethernet gives a more stable wired connection in offices with structured cabling. Mobile-ready features let you send faxes or print from a phone, which fits hybrid workers who split time between home and office.
Paperless fax servers add a different connectivity wrinkle. They typically need a dedicated analog phone line, separate from your voice line, plus a network connection to route faxes to computers.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Pitfalls Shoppers Hit
A common slip-up is choosing a printer-first machine when fax is the only daily task, then paying for toner and ink the fax work alone never justifies. The CimFAX A5 or B5 sidesteps that for solo or small-team use.
Another mistake is ignoring the phone line situation. Paperless fax servers need an analog line, and many modern offices no longer have one. Confirming line availability before ordering avoids a frustrating return.
Why Top Tier Costs More
Higher-tier models earn their premium through speed, paper capacity, and security. The Brother MFC-L8930CDW and Canon MF465dw deliver faster throughput and stronger security features because they are built for shared office environments where downtime costs real money.
Color lasers and supertank inkjets carry higher upfront costs partly because the consumables last longer and cost less per page. The math only works when monthly volume is high enough to use the capacity before the unit ages out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need a dedicated fax line?
Most paperless fax servers need an analog phone line dedicated to the device, separate from your voice line. All-in-one printers with fax typically share a line through a splitter, though that can cause conflicts if a call comes in during a fax transmission.
Can I send a fax from my phone?
The CimFAX A5, C5, and B5 all support sending faxes from iOS and Android phones through their apps. Traditional all-in-ones usually support mobile printing and faxing through their manufacturer apps as well, depending on the model.
What is the cheapest way to add fax to my office?
For light fax volume, a paperless server like the CimFAX A5 keeps upfront and running costs near zero. For mixed use, the Canon MF275dw bundles fax with everyday printing at a comfortable price point for small offices.
Are ink tank printers really cheaper to run?
Ink tank printers cost more upfront but significantly less per page, especially for color, because you refill from inexpensive bottles instead of replacing cartridges. The savings compound over time when monthly volume is steady.
How long do these machines typically last?
Laser printers generally last longer than inkjets under heavy use, often five to seven years with regular maintenance. Ink tank printers like the EcoTank line fall somewhere in between, with longevity depending heavily on how often the printheads are used.