Single Opt-in vs. Double-Opt-in

What’s the Legal Requirement?

Under TCPA guidelines (which govern how businesses can send marketing texts), double opt-in is not required. The law mandates that businesses must obtain prior express written consent from subscribers before sending them promotional texts. How you collect that consent is up to you—as long as it's clear, documented, and legally valid.

A well-structured single opt-in flow—with visible consent language and a verifiable opt-in source—is fully compliant with TCPA requirements.

What Is Single Opt-In?

In a single opt-in flow, the user enters their phone number into a form (like a pop-up or checkout field) and is immediately added to your SMS marketing list.

This is the method supported by our platform, and it's what most high-performing brands use.

To ensure compliance, we:

• Capture a timestamp and opt-in source for every new subscriber

• Require brands to include TCPA-compliant consent language in the opt-in form

• Maintain records of consent in case of audits or disputes, both on the OneText platform and any connected CRM on your account

What Is Double Opt-In?

With double opt-in, a subscriber must confirm their interest twice—typically by entering their number and then replying to a confirmation text before they’re subscribed.

This extra step can offer additional proof of consent, which some brands may prefer if they’re in highly regulated industries or want an extra confirmation of consent.

However, double opt-in:

• Adds friction to the signup process

• Leads to lower conversion rates

• Isn’t required by law for TCPA compliance

So Which Should You Use?

We strongly recommend single opt-in, because:

• It’s fully compliant when done correctly

• It provides a simpler and more seamless user experience

• It maintains high opt-in and engagement rates

That said, if your legal team requires double opt-in, we support it too—reach out to your CSM to set up the configuration.