Webhook vs Polling for OTP Delivery: Which Is Better?
Webhook vs polling OTP delivery is a design choice every developer building verification faces. Both get the code from the provider to your app, but they differ in efficiency, complexity, and reliability. This guide compares them so you can choose the right approach.
Direct answer: Webhooks push OTP messages to your server as soon as they arrive, which is efficient and avoids rate limits. Polling asks the API repeatedly, which is simpler to set up but uses more requests. Use webhooks as the primary method and polling as a fallback when webhooks are not available.
How webhooks work
You register a callback URL with the provider. When an OTP message arrives, the provider sends an HTTP request to your URL with the message data. Your server verifies the signature, stores the code, and notifies the user.
Webhooks are event-driven, so there is no repeated asking. Delivery is fast, and API usage stays low.
How polling works
Your app asks the API every few seconds whether a message has arrived. The API responds with the latest messages or an empty result. When the code appears, the loop stops.
Polling is simple and works everywhere, but it generates many requests and can hit rate limits if the interval is too short.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Webhook | Polling |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | High | Low |
| Setup complexity | Needs public endpoint | Simple |
| Latency | Near real time | Depends on interval |
| Rate limit risk | Low | Higher |
| Reliability | Needs retries and verification | Needs timeout and backoff |
When to use webhooks
- You need fast delivery for users waiting on a code
- You handle high volume and want to avoid rate limits
- Your server can expose a secure public endpoint
- You can verify signatures and handle retries
When to use polling
- You are prototyping or testing
- Your environment cannot receive inbound requests
- You need a fallback when webhooks fail
- You want the simplest possible integration
Best practices for both
For webhooks, verify signatures, return a fast 200 response, process data asynchronously, and deduplicate events. For polling, use a sensible interval, exponential backoff, and a timeout. In both cases, log delivery events and alert on failures. The OtpGet API documentation covers the endpoints and event formats for both methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are webhooks better than polling for OTP delivery?
Generally yes. Webhooks are faster and more efficient, but they require a public endpoint and signature verification.
Can I use both webhooks and polling?
Yes. Many teams use webhooks as the primary method and polling as a fallback for reliability.
What are the risks of polling?
High request volume, rate limits, and unnecessary load. Use a sensible interval and backoff to reduce risk.
How do I secure a webhook endpoint?
Verify the provider's signature, use HTTPS, reject unexpected payloads, and process events idempotently.
Conclusion
Webhook vs polling OTP delivery is a trade-off between efficiency and simplicity. Webhooks win for production scale, while polling is a useful fallback and prototype tool. Read the OtpGet API docs and implement both for a resilient verification flow.
Related reading: more API guides on the OtpGet blog.