What counts as authentication
The category is narrow by design.
- One-time passwords for login or two-factor authentication
- Account verification codes
- PIN resets and identity checks
- Code delivery is authentication only when the user triggered it
Glossary
WhatsApp Authentication Message: Definition and Rules
What authentication messages are, why they are cheap, and how to deliver codes reliably.
The short answer
A WhatsApp authentication message is a business-initiated template that delivers a one-time password, login code, or verification PIN. Because the user asked for the code, no opt-in or opt-out is required, and it bills at the cheapest rate — $0.004 per conversation in the US.
Why it is cheap and exempt
The user is waiting for the message, so the abuse surface is small.
- No opt-out needed: the customer requested the code
- No opt-in record needed beyond the request itself
- Cheapest category: $0.004 per conversation in the US
- Higher-tier countries still cost more than lower tiers
Delivery best practices
A code that arrives late is a failed login, not a failed message.
- Put the code in the template body or behind a secure one-time link
- Keep messages short: the code should be visible without scrolling
- Set a sensible expiry and allow re-send
- Do not mix marketing content into authentication templates — it fails review
How Wutt handles codes
Wutt's automation and integrations send authentication templates for login and verification flows, tracks send status, and bills at Meta's exact rate with zero markup.
- OTP sends tracked for delivery status
- Billed at Meta's exact rate
- Zero markup on authentication conversations
Last updated 5 August 2026
Common questions
No. The user asked for the code, which is the consent. No opt-out is needed either.
$0.004 per conversation in the US, the cheapest category. Other countries vary by tier.
No. Promotional content in an authentication template fails review and risks the template.
The category applies per channel. On WhatsApp, a code for a password reset is an authentication template.
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