Authentication Template
An Authentication template is a WhatsApp message template in Meta's Authentication category, used only for one-time passwords, login codes and verification codes. Meta presets its wording, so it cannot carry custom text or promotional content.
What is an Authentication template?
An Authentication template is the WhatsApp message template type for one-time passwords (OTPs), login codes and verification codes. It is one of Meta's three template categories, alongside Marketing and Utility.
Meta charges Authentication messages at the same rate as Utility, well below Marketing: in the United States 0.0028 € against 0.0207 € for Marketing, in the United Kingdom 0.0182 € against 0.0526 € (0.0438 € until 30 September 2026), and in Germany 0.0456 € against 0.1131 € (Meta's rate card effective 1 October 2026). In these three markets the Authentication rate did not change on 1 October 2026.
Rules for Authentication templates
- Fixed wording. Meta presets the body text: “[code] is your verification code.” You cannot write your own text around the code.
- Two optional lines. A security recommendation (“For your security, do not share this code.”) and an expiry note of 1 to 90 minutes.
- A code button instead of a link. Copy code on every device, or one-tap or zero-tap autofill on Android.
- No marketing content. Promotions, cross-selling and upgrade offers belong in a Marketing template.
- One template per language. Multilingual workflows (for example EN/DE/FR) need one approved template for each language.
Approval process
Authentication templates are submitted through the WhatsApp Cloud API or Meta Business Manager. Approval usually takes minutes (automated), up to 24 hours when Meta reviews a template manually.
What an Authentication template looks like
Because Meta presets the text, every Authentication template follows the same pattern:
Body (preset): "738214 is your verification code. For your security, do not share this code."
Footer (optional): "This code expires in 10 minutes."
Button: "Copy code" (or one-tap / zero-tap autofill on Android)Cost: US, UK and Germany, 2026
| Recipient market | Meta Authentication rate (net) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| United States (North America) | 0.0028 € | Marketing for comparison: 0.0207 € |
| United Kingdom | 0.0182 € | Marketing for comparison: 0.0526 € (0.0438 € until 30 September 2026) |
| Germany | 0.0456 € | Rest of Western Europe (AT, CH and more): 0.0142 € |
Full cost comparison against SMS OTPs, including platform fees, in 2FA cost 2026: SMS vs. WhatsApp, worked examples for the US, UK and Germany.
Authentication templates with SendSeven
With SendSeven you send Authentication templates over the REST API and receive sent, delivered, read and failed events by webhook. An SMS fallback for recipients without WhatsApp lives in your own backend: if no delivered event arrives within 30 to 60 seconds, send the code by SMS through the same API. On the API Only plan, each active channel costs €9 a month with 1,000 messages included, then €0.005 per message, with Meta's own per-message fees on top.