The verification code is the simplest message any product sends, and the most urgent: if it does not arrive, the customer cannot get in. That is exactly why the cost and delivery gap between WhatsApp and SMS is worth working out.
Cost
The number below is not an estimate — it is the measured average across real authentication conversations on our platform:
| WhatsApp | SMS |
|---|
| Cost | $0.0036 per conversation | Varies by operator |
| Resend | Free within 24h | Charged every time |
| Length | No awkward limit | 160 chars — fewer in Arabic |
| Copy button | Yes | No |
| Read receipt | Yes | No |
The line that matters more than the rate: resends. A customer who does not see the code taps "resend" two or three times — on SMS that is three charges, on WhatsApp it is the same conversation at one price.
Delivery
Arabic over SMS is sent as Unicode, so 170 characters become three concatenated parts that sometimes arrive broken or as question marks. WhatsApp does not have that problem. In exchange, SMS reaches any phone even without internet — the one genuine advantage it keeps.
The shape Meta accepts
The authentication template has a fixed, non-negotiable shape: short text with the code, a copy button, and a warning not to share it. Do not try to slip an offer or a marketing link inside — Meta rejects the template, and if it slips through it is re-categorised and billed at a higher rate.
What we recommend
- WhatsApp first, SMS as fallback. Try WhatsApp, and if there is no delivery within 60 seconds fall back to SMS automatically.
- Six digits, five minutes. Shorter increases errors, longer weakens security.
- Rate-limit per number. Without a cap, anyone can drain your credit with repeated resends.
Frequently asked
What does a WhatsApp OTP cost?
Measured on real authentication conversations on our platform, the average is $0.0036 per conversation — and the conversation stays open 24 hours, so resending a code to the same user that day costs nothing extra.
Do I need an approved template?
Yes. Meta has a dedicated authentication template category with a fixed shape: short text with the code and a copy button. You cannot send a code in a free-form message.
What if the customer has no WhatsApp?
Keep SMS as a fallback. The practical pattern: try WhatsApp first, and if there is no delivery within a minute fall back to SMS. You get the lower cost and still guarantee reach.
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