How to Port Your Existing Fax Number to an Online Fax Service

Nov 14

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What is Fax Number Porting, and Why is it Important?

Fax number porting is the process of transferring your existing fax number to a new provider. Typically, you can't port your fax number out unless you ported it in.You will want to port your fax number if either of the following is true:

You have an existing fax number that's printed on your marketing materials (e.g. letterhead, business cards).
You want to take your fax number with you if you decide to switch to a different provider.

Online Fax Porting Number Costs

Porting number costs vary significantly among online fax services. There is typically a fee to port your fax number into an online fax service as well as a fee to port your fax number out of an online faxing service. Included below is a list of services and their porting number costs.

Offer Free Number Porting:

*You can typically only port out a number if you've ported it in.

Offer Number Porting for a Charge:

*You can typically only port out a number if you've ported it in.

FaxSer - $15 to port in (only in NY, NJ, and CT)
FaxAge - $20 to port in and free to port out
MyFax - $20 to port in and doesn't allow you to port your number out
MetroFax - $24.95 to port in and free to port out
Fax87 - $25 to port in and free to port out
SRFax - $25 if they have service in the area
eFax - free to port in and $40 to port out
UnityFax - $15 to port in for local numbers, $50 to port in for toll free numbers, an additional $1/month if you port a number in
PopFax - must buy their "portability pack" that costs $168 and includes two years of receive service
MaxEmail - must call to see if your number qualifies

Do Not Offer Number Porting:

Our Recommendation

I recommend using our online fax comparison chart and picking the two or three services you're most interested in. Then, use our information for porting number costs to see which service best fits your needs and go sign up.Compare the top online fax services here.

Steps to Port Your Number to an Online Fax Service

Verify with your current provider that your number is able to be ported.
Sign up for service with the online fax service you want. Go through the process just like you would if you weren't porting a number in.
Contact the online fax service you signed up for and notify them you want to port your number in. The online fax service will provide you with a transfer request form.
Fill out and submit the transfer request form to the online fax service. The transfer process takes about two weeks. Don't cancel your service with your current provider during this time as it can cancel the transfer request.
When the transfer request has gone through, the online fax service will switch the fax number on your account with the number you transferred in.

Set up a Fax Number