Sept. 12, 2024
Are you torn between SMS verification and email verification when it comes to securing your online accounts? As we continue to live more of our lives online, it is more important than ever to protect our personal and sensitive information. With so many ways to prove who we are, it can be hard to know which is best--and most secure. SMS verification and email verification are both common tools to help secure your account, but each has its own strengths and weaknesses that can affect how secure your account really is. In this article, I compare the two verification methods to see how they stack up, explain how each works, and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you make an informed decision about which is right for you, and offer some sms verification vs email verification tips so you can better protect your accounts.
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SMS verification is a form of account security that sends a one-time password (OTP) via text to a user after they enter their login credentials. This means that even if a user's password is compromised, unauthorized users won't be able to access their account because they won't have the OTP text sent to the user's mobile device. When users visit a login page, they will have a code sent directly to the phone number they provided and they must enter it into the website/app to log in.
It's very convenient and immediate -- most people have their mobile phones with them all the time. Because of this, it has very high completion rates, since people are used to receiving texts and can easily access the verification code on their phone. Recent research found that SMS verification blocks stolen credential cyberattacks, like the type facilitated by over 24 billion username/password combinations available on the dark web in the last year alone. As these types of threats grow more common, it grows more important to defend against them.
SMS verification is one of those key account security features that businesses and developers use to protect their websites or apps. SMS messaging is a widely available and familiar technology that most users are already comfortable with. When you add SMS verification to your account, you can see average completion rates over 90%. SMS verification is also fast -- users receive their verification code in seconds.
Email verification is an alternative way to confirm a user is who they say they are by sending an email to the email address they provided, with a confirmation link or code that they click or enter to prove they have access to that email inbox. In this way, you can validate that the email address they signed up with is a real email, and that they have access to it. It serves as a gatekeeper, because only the person who owns that email can verify that email.
But email verification isn't foolproof. Unlike SMS, which is generally more secure because mobile devices are highly personal, email accounts are more vulnerable to phishing and spoofing. Criminals can intercept emails or send their own fake emails that appear to be genuine, and deceive people into giving them their private information. Because email verification is susceptible to this kind of abuse, it's a great tool, but it's most effective when combined with other security tools to make sure your users are protected.
Both SMS and email verification are a form of 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) -- a security standard that makes it much harder for bad individuals to gain access to your account than just your password. With 2FA, you need to provide 2 different types of authentication factors, which could be something you know (like a password) plus something you have (like your phone or your email). With that second layer of security in place, bad individuals would need both to access your account. And as cyberattacks (like identity theft and data breaches) continue to rise, it's more important than ever.
SMS verification is so popular because it's easy and convenient. Everyone has a cell phone, so receiving a text is simple and doable. Users only need to supply a phone number to sign up, and the system does the rest.
This makes SMS verification a valuable solution for industries like finance and e-commerce, where secure, instant access is a must. Plus, SMS verification is often cost-effective to set up, because you don't need expensive hardware or apps that might create a barrier for non-technical users.
That’s one thing that makes SMS verification better than email verification.
SMS is secure, easy, and instantaneous, while email isn’t.
As long as you’ve got a phone in hand, you’re good to go with SMS verification—no WiFi? No problem! You’re not tethered to a specific location or device with SMS. Email verification, meanwhile, is.
SMS vs email for verification? SMS verification also requires no additional user education, whereas email does.
Phishing scams are only getting more sophisticated, and so are we, but we’re an MFA company. Most people aren’t.
While SMS verification requires no additional user education, email does. Email verification is also potentially insecure. I mean, if you’re relying on an email verification for something important and your email gets hacked? Phishing scams. SMS verification vs email verification.
Now more than ever, keeping people's accounts secure is paramount. Verification methods, and 2FA in particular, help to increase security and keep sensitive information protected. When it comes to 2FA verification, two of the most common forms are SMS verification and email verification. Both increase security, but they're not created equal.
SMS verification typically uses one-time passwords (OTPs) — temporary passwords that expire after a certain amount of time, usually around 300 seconds. When a user wishes to log in and access sensitive information, they receive a code via text message sent to their registered mobile number and, because the code is received within seconds, can prove their identity in a matter of 35 seconds.
One of the primary reasons why SMS verification is so popular is because it’s user friendly — nearly everyone has a mobile phone, and 90% of text messages are read in 3 minutes, so it is a very effective communication channel for time-sensitive verification. Additionally, when accounts are verified with a mobile number, companies can prevent the majority of first-time automated attacks, as most bots will not have the user’s personal mobile information.
SMS verification is not bulletproof, however. There are workarounds, such as SIM swapping, that allow cybercriminals to take control of someone’s mobile number and gain access to sensitive accounts. Nevertheless, SMS verification remains the most widely used and trusted form of verification in the digital space, particularly in the finance sector, where security is of utmost concern.
Email verification is another common way but it normally works differently than SMS. People can either get a verification link or an OTP (one-time password) emailed to them. For the link, they can just click on the link and it'll take them to a confirmation page, and for the OTP they'll have to enter a code. While this adds another layer of security, it's usually a lot slower than text messages.
The downside to email verification is that email accounts themselves aren't secure. If someone's email account gets hacked, then everything tied to it is compromised. Unlike SMS which is tied to a specific mobile device, emails are a lot more insecure because you can read them on any device. This means email accounts are a lot easier to hack into and have less secure access controls.
Another thing to consider is user experience. Not everyone checks their email religiously, so there might be some delays in how quickly people can get verified. For a lot of people, they'll get verified much faster with SMS since it's immediate and the message will definitely be seen right away.
The donor receives a "receipt" of sorts in the form of a text message with a link to track their donation and see where the money is going. They love transparency, and they love to see firsthand where the money is going, so they come back and donate more often. Win win win! The only thing that would make this even better is if they could donate to a specific cause or a specific recipient. That way, they can donate to a cause they care about (e.g. medical research for a certain type of disease), and they can donate to a specific recipient (e.g. someone in need). And that's exactly what we're doing with our next project!
As a result, the user isn't just choosing their preference, they are using different methods of 2FA based on the context of access. Which is great because everyone's needs will be different. Some people may prefer 2FA via SMS because it's easy. Others may have concerns about security and prefer email. If you offer a hybrid model, you can remove as many barriers as possible for the user and help them consistently use 2FA, keeping their account safe.
By offering users the ability to choose how they verify, you make security better, you make the user experience better, and in general, you just make the internet a better place, because you can serve everyone and their security preference.
These days, keeping your information secure is more important than ever—especially with so many transactions and accounts taking place online. Companies employ different types of verification (like SMS and email verification) to confirm your identity and protect against fraud. It's about more than just security and keeping your sensitive information out of the wrong hands—when it comes to different verticals, it's also a key part of what kind of user experience you're in for.
Banks were one of the first types of businesses to use SMS verification. They use it to secure transactions and account access. When you log in to your online bank account, for example, the bank will send you a One-Time Password (OTP) by SMS. In addition to your username and password, you'll need to enter the OTP to view your account. This helps prevent unauthorized access and identity theft, and helps banks maintain the trust of their customers and protect their money. Triodos sends 250,000 messages each month enabling their customers to access their accounts securely.
You log in like you usually do, and then you receive a code that's only good for a few minutes. You key in the code and that's it. It locks down access and helps prevent fraud because anyone else logging in without the correct code won't get in. While SMS verification isn't actually secure (SIM swapping, phishing attacks, etc), because it's easy for people to understand and it's so cheap to set up, banks just go on using it.
In e-commerce, verifying customers' identities is everything. A lot of platforms have email verification to ensure that the email is valid before they fulfill the orders. This ensures that you can contact your customers for interviews and that your marketing is going to real customers. You can also decrease the number of fraudulent transactions (which are costly and can damage your brand) that occur on your e-commerce store.
Email verification often includes sending a verification link or code to the user's registered email address. The user has to select the link or input the code in order to fully register for or purchase something, showing that they have access to the email. This short extra step in the customer journey can reduce cart abandonment and help ensure the integrity of your transactions.
An excellent use of effective SMS verification is a company called EasyPark. They are a mobile parking solution where users can pay for parking in an app. They used adaptive SMS verification to increase their conversion rate by 7%. This 7% is 100% customers having a better experience, and being informed at crucial stages of the process to support their sale. In this case, SMS verification is only a means of keeping customers engaged, and keeping them comfortable and informed during the sale. Also, tech-savvy users receiving updates via SMS? Easy. They don't want a parking ticket, they want a short process, and peace of mind.
In order to combat the ever-increasing problem of fraudulent signups, many online services have email verification built into the registration process. By confirming that users are providing real email addresses, they're able to block bots and spammers from gaining unauthorized access. This not only results in a higher quality user base, but a more secure environment for everyone.
When users verify their email, companies can have more confidence in the legitimacy of the signups they're getting—critical for platforms that are safeguarding user data, and that affects the overall quality and trustworthiness of the service. SMS verification vs email verification.
Many businesses already use both SMS and email verification to secure their accounts and delight their users, and with both in place, you receive a 1-2 punch security combination that prevents a wide array of fraud types. For example, you may use SMS verification for 2-factor authentication and email verification for signups, which greatly reduces unauthorized account login.
Both allow you to meet the user preferences of different user types, including those who may not be as tech savvy. This flexibility not only increases user satisfaction and happiness but also protects you against possible hacks. SMS verification vs email verification.
When it comes to user verification and online security, most businesses are looking for the most secure way to keep user accounts safe. There's the age-old battle of SMS verification vs email verification, each with benefits and drawbacks, and each best fit for different use cases and user preferences. Understanding these tradeoffs is key to choosing the right option for your user base.
People use SMS verification because it's fast. When I say fast, I really mean fast. People like things that are fast.
Like when you receive the SMS code, you enter the SMS code, and you're finished. This is important because the faster the verification process, the less likely people are to abandon your site during the sign-up process. Would you believe that the average abandon rate of a form is 94% if you don't have SMS verification? 94%! That means without SMS verification only 6 people out of 100 will actually sign up for your site. This is why SMS verification is so popular.
People also use SMS verification because people are used to using SMS. People are used to using SMS because everyone has a mobile phone, and everyone knows how to use SMS. And since everyone knows how to use SMS, everyone reads their SMS messages. And since everyone reads their SMS messages, SMS is a reliable way to get information in front of someone. Because SMS has so much reach (i.e. people will 100% read the SMS code), it's a good way to verify users because it is so reachable.
And because SMS is reachable on mobile, you don't need the internet to send an SMS. This is important because the whole world doesn't have internet. A lot of the world doesn't have good internet. So if you are relying on email to verify users, people might not be able to sign up because they never received the email to verify their account. But with SMS, they don't have to worry about that. Most of the world has a mobile phone. And most of the people with a mobile phone can receive an SMS!
One common way to do this is via SMS (text). Sounds great, right? Well, it is and it isn't. It's one of those things that's great in theory but the devil's in the details. Why? Because SMS has a ton of drawbacks to it. For one, it's insecure and vulnerable. One way to intercept SMS is through a SIM swapping attack. Hackers have a lot of ways to do this, but another way is to intercept it in the air or in between your phone and the cell towers. Aka, it's not very secure.
Another drawback is deliverability. While SMS is generally reliable, there can be issues where your SMS may not get delivered on time due to some technical issues or network issues. This can cause annoyances and issues with your verification. So, you have to weigh the cons and pros of SMS being your primary way of doing verification.
Email verification does have its own benefits, though. It is less expensive for most companies, especially those with large user bases, to send an email than an SMS, which means they can do more with their verification budget.
Email verifications also have far more engagement potential. They can contain links and other styled elements, which can help guide a user through the verification flow, creating better user experiences. Companies can personalize their messaging to the user, offering them value in addition to verifying their account. They can be tracked and analyzed, generating insights into user behavior and email performance.
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At the end of the day, you should do what works best for your users! Both methods are equally valid, and there's no harm in using both and seeing what works best for your users.
When it comes to SMS verification, it’s all about the basics. Companies should keep verification message content simple and easy to understand, so that users who don’t understand more complex instructions won’t get lost or frustrated, and codes should be sent immediately—in an ideal world within a few seconds of sign-up or request—so that the user receives an instant response while verifying.
Imagine receiving a text message that says, “Your verification code is 123456. Enter this code to complete your sign-up.” It’s that type of straight-to-the-point SMS that tells the user exactly what they need, and nothing more. It also just looks more professional. You’re not trying to sell them anything else or any other message. Just “here’s your code, enter it.”
And if for some reason the messages are delayed or not sent, send a second one with a quick apology. It just makes the user feel better and like they can trust that you’re really serious about making sure they’re satisfied and supported.
When using SMS for verification you need to prevent abuse. When you use rate limiting to prevent abuse you have to slow down how often and how quickly a user can request an OTP. The most effective rate limiting is rate limiting of One-Time-Password (OTP) requests. All that rate limiting means is that you slow down how often and how quickly a user can request an OTP.
For example, if a user has attempted to request an OTP 3 times in 5 minutes, our system should block any further requests from their account for a temporary period. This not only keeps the service secure from brute forcing, but also gives real users loads of chances to get their code without overwhelming them and thus a better user experience.
In addition to this, implementing smart retry logic can improve the deliverability of your OTPs meaning less network congestion and less money wasted on messaging. So if you're wondering how slow you should let people request OTPs, the answer is slow enough. 1.5 seconds per request (up to a maximum of 2 requests per second) is plenty of time for someone to retrieve their code.
You can use email verification to send an immediate verification email when a user signs up. That way you can immediately communicate how important the user action is, you're keeping the signup process "warm," and you're getting users to complete their accounts. An email should greet the user and have a call to action for the user to verify their email. For example, a good email might say, "Greetings! Please verify your email by clicking the link below." This not only makes the user feel warm and fuzzy, but expedites the activation of the user's account, meaning they are more likely to retain. You'll also want to know whether the user verified their email (in real-time). That's really valuable because you can use that information to market to these people differently depending on whether they've verified or not. For the people who haven't verified their accounts, you can remind them to verify their account, and this will drive engagement and action.
Real-time verification as the user types in information. It'll eliminate a lot of errors and improve the user experience. For instance, when a user inputs a phone number or email we validate the format of it and respond instantly. If an invalid email or phone is entered we'll display "Please provide a phone number in the correct format" immediately. Not only does this prevent errors, it also prevents user frustration -- smoothing the verification process.
That's on top of requiring the user to enter information in a given format, for example E.164 telephone numbers. By guiding the user to provide data in a specific format, the data is also more accurate, and we have a better way to contact our users in the future.
If you want to make sure your users are really secure, use SMS and email to verify users.
Use both to provide more security to the user, as a signal to the user that you take their security seriously, and as a backup, in case for some reason one method doesn't work.
Having both options available is a win-win of security and user choice. Some users may prefer to receive an OTP over SMS because it is immediate; some users may feel more secure with email confirmation.
Overall, offering both is the best user experience, and the users will want to go through the verification process.
So, what's the takeaway?
SMS verification vs email verification—why not both?
In this day and age, secure user accounts are more important than ever! And one of the ways we do that is through SMS and email verification. SMS verification is when we get the user into the app right away using a one-time password sent to their phone. It's super quick to implement, and it's a great way to make sure unauthorized users can't use your app. But it's also vulnerable to interception. Email verification, on the other hand, is efficient and a good way to communicate longer messages to your users in more detail. Unfortunately, it's also vulnerable to phishing and deliverability issues, and some of these things are just hard to fix without a lot of engineering. They both play a critical part in 2-factor authentication, which ensures that users are really who they say they are by making them prove that they're using two different devices. Many companies are choosing one or the other, and it's a good balance that pulls the best of each. And naturally, there are some best practices to keep in mind to ensure your user experience isn't sacrificed - clear messaging, and a solid immediate follow-up.
SMS verification: This adds an additional layer of security to the login process by sending a one-time password (OTP) to the user via text, so even if their password is compromised, unauthorized users won't be able to gain access. The OTP is sent to the user's cell phone and is only valid for a short time, making the accounts less likely to be hacked. Only someone with access to the user's cell phone can log in.
Email verification is when you... yep, you guessed it... have a user type in their email, then you send them a verification link or code to that email, and they click the link/enter the code to verify their account. It's awesome because that means that email is a real, live email, but the downside is that it's vulnerable to phishing attacks and spoofing, where hackers can take over email accounts or send out fake verification messages.
So users need to be careful and watch for certain things.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a security feature that requires users to provide two different methods of proving who they are—for example, something they know (like a password) and something they have (like an SMS code or email access). SMS and email verification is one kind of 2FA, and it's a great defense against unauthorized access. Both are very secure in that if one of your factors becomes compromised, it is still very difficult to gain access.
SMS verification allows for codes to be sent to phones right away, which is fast and easy for the user. Most people own phones, and SMS messages are usually read within 5 seconds. SMS doesn't need internet, so users can verify even in low-connectivity areas.
SMS verifications may be compromised using methods like SIM swapping, in which hackers gain unauthorized access to someone's phone number. Email verification, on the other hand, has phishing and spoofing to contend with, where attackers can intercept emails or replicate real ones to fraudulently obtain sensitive information. Both enhance security, but both have risks that need to be managed.
By using best practices like clear SMS messages, fast code delivery, instant email confirmations, and real-time data entry validation, you can create an optimal user experience. And by using both SMS and email verification, you get strong security that supports your users' trusted preferences and addresses the vulnerabilities of each.
Two birds, one stone! Use combined SMS and email verification to require users to provide a phone number while giving your account verification extra security.
It's also more user-friendly! If a user is traveling and can't get an SMS where they are, they can verify by email. If a user doesn't check their email, they can verify by SMS. You can also do both (and I highly recommend it) so if one method fails (for example a user never checks their SMS), they can still verify by email.
Using SMS and email to verify your users' accounts makes those accounts more secure, and security makes users happy.
sms verification vs email verification: A smartphone with an SMS verification message on the screen.
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