Printer Fax Scanner Copier All In One: Buyer's Guide (2026)

By Alexey Spasskiy · Published April 8, 2026 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 10 min read

A printer fax scanner copier all in one — also called a 4-in-1 or multifunction printer (MFP) — replaces four separate devices with a single machine. In 2026, the best models print at laser speeds, scan at high resolution, copy multi-page documents automatically, and send faxes over a standard phone line — all from a compact footprint on your desk.

This guide covers the six best all-in-one printers with fax available today, plus a straightforward breakdown of what to look for before you buy.

Do All All-in-One Printers Include Fax?

No — and this is the most important thing to check before buying. Many printers marketed as "all-in-one" are actually 3-in-1 machines (print, copy, scan) with no fax capability at all.

To confirm a model has fax, look for:

• "4-in-1" explicitly in the product name or description
• A fax modem listed in the specifications
• An RJ-11 phone port (the standard phone jack) on the back of the machine

Brother's MFC (Multi-Function Center) line, Canon's imageCLASS line, and Epson's EcoTank Pro and WorkForce Pro lines consistently include fax. Basic home photo printers from any brand typically omit it.

Key Features to Look For

Print Technology: Inkjet vs. Laser

This is the most consequential decision in buying an all-in-one with fax.

Rule of thumb: If you print mostly text documents and value speed and low cost-per-page, choose laser. If color matters and you print frequently, an ink tank model (Epson EcoTank, Canon MegaTank) dramatically reduces running costs compared to standard cartridge inkjets.

Fax Connectivity

All all-in-one printers with fax use an analog RJ-11 phone line connection. This is the same port used for landline telephones.

If you don't have a traditional phone line, you have three options:

1. VoIP + ATA adapter — an Analog Telephone Adapter bridges your internet connection to the printer's fax port. Works, but reliability can be inconsistent due to VoIP compression. See our guide to VoIP fax machines for setup details.
2. Online fax service — skip the hardware fax entirely and send from your phone or computer using a service like mFax. No phone line needed.
3. PC fax software — some printer manufacturers include software to route faxes over the internet from your computer.

Print Speed (ppm)

• Under 15 ppm: Fine for home use with occasional printing
• 20–25 ppm: Good for small offices printing daily
• 30+ ppm: High-volume small offices and workgroups

Budget inkjets average 8–15 ppm color. Mid-range monochrome lasers hit 30–36 ppm. Speed matters most for black-and-white text documents.

Scan Resolution and ADF Capacity

Standard fax transmission maxes out at 200–400 dpi regardless of scanner quality — the G3 fax protocol caps it. Your scanner resolution matters for the print/copy/scan functions, not for fax output.

For the ADF (Automatic Document Feeder), which enables multi-page fax and copy without lifting each page:

• 20-sheet ADF: Adequate for occasional use
• 50-sheet ADF: Necessary for regular office workflows
• Single-pass duplex ADF: Scans both sides of a page simultaneously — a premium feature worth having

See our guide on how to fax from a scanner for details on the scanning-to-fax workflow.

Connectivity

• Wi-Fi: Standard on all modern models
• Ethernet: Essential for shared office networks — present on mid-range and above
• Wi-Fi Direct: Connect device-to-printer without a router
• Mobile printing: AirPrint (Apple), Mopria (Android), manufacturer apps

Paper Capacity

• 100–150 sheets: Budget models — refill frequently
• 250 sheets: Standard for mid-range; handles a ream with some space
• 350+ sheets: Canon G7020 offers the largest tray in this category

A 250-sheet tray is the practical minimum for a busy home office or small business.

The 6 Best Printer Fax Scanner Copier All-in-Ones (2026)

1. Brother MFC-J4335DW — Best Budget Pick

2. Brother MFC-L2820DW — Best Monochrome Laser

3. HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e — Best Color Inkjet

4. Epson EcoTank ET-4850 — Best for Low Running Costs

5. Canon imageCLASS MF665Cdw — Best for Small Business

6. Xerox B235 — Best for Small Teams

Can You Fax Without a Phone Line from These Machines?

No — the fax hardware on every printer in this guide requires an active RJ-11 analog phone line. The fax modem dials out through that line just like a telephone.

If you don't have a landline:

• Best option: Use mFax from your phone or computer. Send legally valid faxes over the internet with delivery confirmation — no phone line, no hardware fax. Our guide to faxing without a phone line covers all the methods.
• Workaround: Connect a VoIP line to the printer via an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter). Works sometimes, but G3 fax over compressed VoIP often fails. See VoIP fax machines for the configuration details.
• PC fax software: Some all-in-ones ship with software to send faxes from your computer using internet fax services — check your manufacturer's bundled apps.

How to Find Your Printer's Fax Number

Once your all-in-one is connected to a phone line, it will have the fax number of that phone line. To confirm it, check the machine's settings menu or call the number from another phone and listen for the fax tone. Our guide to finding the fax number on a printer walks through every major brand's menu structure.

What About Wireless Faxing From a Printer?

All the printers in this guide connect to your network via Wi-Fi, but fax transmission still routes through the phone line — not Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is used for print, scan, and copy jobs sent from your devices to the printer. The fax module is a separate, parallel system that bypasses your network entirely.

Some models support "PC faxing" — sending a document from your computer through the printer's software over the internet — but this relies on the software, not the printer's hardware fax modem. For full wireless faxing flexibility, see our guide to sending faxes wirelessly.

Choosing the Right All-in-One for Your Situation

The Online Alternative: When Hardware Isn't Worth It

A printer fax scanner copier all in one makes sense if you print, copy, and scan regularly — the fax capability is a bonus that costs nothing extra. But if the machine is primarily for faxing, the math often favors an online service.

mFax lets you send and receive faxes directly from your smartphone or browser — no printer, no phone line, no toner. Over 5 million users send faxes with mFax, with a 98% delivery success rate and a 4.8-star App Store rating.

For personal faxing, visit mFax.to and send your first fax in under 2 minutes — pay only for what you use, no monthly fee required.

For business teams, mFax Business adds HIPAA-ready compliance, virtual fax numbers, and team accounts — starting at about $9/mo (billed annually). There are no fixed tiers to outgrow: build your own plan with a live calculator, choosing the exact seats and pages you need and paying only for what you use.