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Modern macOS has no built-in fax workflow, so Mac users fax through one of three routes: a USB fax modem with third-party software, a multifunction printer's Mac fax driver that sends through the printer's phone line, or an online fax service, which is the simplest option for occasional use. If you already own a fax-capable printer, its driver route is free and worth trying first.
Very old versions of Mac OS X had a fax queue in the Print dialog: you plugged in a USB modem, chose "Fax PDF," and the Mac dialed. Apple removed that workflow years ago, and current macOS has nothing fax-shaped built in. There is no equivalent of Windows Fax and Scan, and the system has no fax driver framework at all. Anything fax-related on a modern Mac comes from third-party software or from a printer's own drivers.
| Route | What you need | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Multifunction printer fax driver | A fax-capable MFP (Brother, HP, Canon, Epson) with its full Mac driver installed, plus a phone line into the printer | You already own the printer; faxes are occasional |
| USB fax modem + third-party app | A USB fax modem with Mac-compatible drivers and an app like FaxTalk or a similar sender, plus an analog phone line | You have no fax printer but do have a phone line |
| Online fax service | Just the document and a browser | You fax rarely, have no phone line, or want it done in minutes |
Install the full driver package from the printer maker's site, not just the basic AirPrint driver. During setup, many makers add a second queue alongside the print queue, labeled something like "Brother MFC-XXXX Fax" or "HP OfficeJet Fax." To send, you print your document to that queue, enter the recipient's fax number in the dialog, and the Mac hands the job to the printer, which dials out on its own phone line. The Mac never touches the phone line itself; it is just passing a print job to a queue the printer treats as a fax.
The gotcha: this only works over USB or a local network connection with the full driver. If you set the printer up with AirPrint only, the fax queue usually does not appear, and people conclude the feature is broken when it was never installed.
It is the most fragile option. Few USB fax modems ship Mac drivers, and the third-party sending apps that do exist are aging. You also need the analog phone line, which is the same requirement that makes the Windows version awkward. Unless you already own compatible hardware, buying into this route today is hard to justify for the occasional fax.
For most Mac users, an online fax service wins on every axis except recurring cost: no modem, no phone line, no driver archaeology. You upload the document, enter the number, and the service handles the fax protocol.
LetterAgent works the same way. Describe the fax to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and it is sent to US and Canadian fax numbers, no modem or phone line needed. Fax is currently available in testing, so send times are not guaranteed, and there is no inbound fax.
Ready to fax it? Fax with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and it is sent.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
Need help? Ask your assistant: it can check a job's status any time. If it ever can't handle something: hello@getletteragent.com