App Showcase: Tiny Fax

What it does

Tiny Fax is a mobile utility designed to replace the traditional fax machine. The app allows users to send and receive faxes directly from their iPhone. Its core functionality includes composing faxes with cover pages, attaching documents by scanning them or importing them from various sources like a photo library, and adding legally-binding electronic signatures before sending.

Where it shines

Tiny Fax excels in providing a complete, self-contained workflow for a common business task. The process of adding a cover page and filling out sender details is straightforward and intuitive (00:46). The document handling is particularly strong; users can easily import images and then add a handwritten signature, which they can resize and place precisely on the document (02:37). This transforms the app from a simple transmission tool into a light-duty document editor, adding significant value.

UX highlights

• Clear Form Fields: The main fax composition screen uses clear, well-labeled fields for recipient number and name, minimizing ambiguity (00:21).
• Optionality for Speed: Features like 'Recipient name' and 'Cover page' are explicitly marked as optional, allowing users to send a quick fax with minimal fuss.
• Multiple Document Sources: The 'Add document(s)' modal (01:34) offers a comprehensive list of sources, including scanning, photo library, iCloud, and even Dropbox, catering to various user workflows.
• Saved Signatures: The app allows users to save their drawn signature, which is a crucial time-saver for anyone sending faxes regularly (02:25).
• Helpful In-App Prompts: When a user saves a signature, a small, non-intrusive pop-up explains how to delete it later (02:26), proactively teaching the user the interface.
• Drafts Management: The ability to save a fax as a draft (03:21) and easily access, edit, or delete it later is a well-implemented feature for users who might be interrupted.

Monetization & growth

The app employs a dual subscription model. To send faxes, users are presented with a paywall offering unlimited sending on weekly, monthly, or yearly plans (00:07). This paywall appears immediately after a brief onboarding. For receiving faxes, there is a separate subscription flow to get a dedicated fax number, also with multiple pricing tiers (03:26). The app also cross-promotes its sibling app, TinyScan, through a persistent banner and a pop-up, leveraging its user base for growth (00:16).

Who it’s for

This app is primarily for professionals, small business owners, and individuals who occasionally need to interact with organizations that still rely on faxing, such as legal, medical, or government entities. It's ideal for remote workers or anyone who needs to send a signed document quickly without access to a physical fax machine or scanner. The receiving feature is geared more towards businesses that need a permanent, digital fax line.

Notes & opportunities

The initial onboarding is very abrupt, immediately hitting the user with two system permission prompts (00:01, 00:02) without any warm-up screens to provide context. This could lead to a higher rate of permission denials. Introducing a brief screen explaining why notifications are useful before the prompt could improve opt-in rates. Additionally, the ad for TinyScan, while well-framed, could be perceived as slightly aggressive since it appears as a pop-up very early in the user experience (00:17).