How to Create a Compliant 10DLC Web Opt-In Form

If you collect SMS opt-ins through a form on your website, the form must meet specific carrier requirements before your 10DLC campaign can be approved. Vetting reviewers visit the opt-in URL you provide in the Call to Action/Message Flow field and check the form itself. This article explains what the form must include and gives you sample language and code you can use.

This guide is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or legal representation. Following these guidelines does not guarantee approval, as carriers may still request additional information, clarifications, or modifications. We recommend consulting with legal counsel or compliance experts for any legal concerns related to your specific use case.

Required Elements

Your web opt-in form must include all five of the elements below.

1. Phone Number Field

• Clearly label the field as a mobile phone number.
• We recommend making the phone number field optional.
• If your form needs a phone number for another reason (for example, to book an appointment or create an account), the field can be required. In that case, the SMS consent checkbox must be optional, so the customer can submit the form without agreeing to receive texts.

2. SMS Consent Checkbox

• Unchecked by default. The customer must check the box themselves.
• Optional. The form must submit successfully whether or not the box is checked.
• SMS only. It must be separate from any other agreement, such as "I agree to the Terms and Conditions" or email newsletter sign-up.
• Specific. The label must name your brand and the type of messages. Vague labels such as "Text me" or "Contact me" are rejected.
• Visible. It must appear on the form itself, not inside your Terms and Conditions or Privacy Policy.

3. Consent Disclosure

The following disclosure must appear next to the checkbox:

By checking this box and providing your phone number, you agree to receive [types of messages] text messages from [Brand Name] at the number provided. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help. Reply STOP to opt out. Your mobile information will not be shared with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Privacy Policy & Terms.

The disclosure must include each of these items:

• Brand name: who will be texting the customer.
• Types of messages: for example, appointment reminders, order updates, event announcements, or promotional offers.
• Message frequency: "Msg frequency varies" or a specific number, such as "up to 4 msgs/month."
• Cost: "Msg & data rates may apply."
• HELP information: "Reply HELP for help."
• Opt-out information: "Reply STOP to opt out."
• No third-party sharing: a statement that mobile information will not be shared with third parties for marketing or promotional purposes.

4. Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions Links

• Links to your Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions must appear on the form, either within the disclosure text or directly beside it.
• Both links must work and open real policy pages, not placeholders or pop-ups.
• Both pages must contain the required SMS language. See the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions sections of our 10DLC Campaign Vetting Guidelines.

5. Working Submit Button

• The form must have a clear submit button, such as "Sign Up" or "Submit."
• The form must actually work. Submitting it should record the phone number and consent, not return an error or do nothing.
• After a customer opts in, send a confirmation text. See the Opt-In Message section of our 10DLC Campaign Vetting Guidelines.

Additional Language by Use Case

Marketing

If you will send promotional messages, the checkbox label and the disclosure must say so clearly. For example:

I agree to receive marketing text messages, including promotions and offers, from [Brand Name].

Charity or Political

The disclosure must state whether donations will be solicited. For example:

Donations may be solicited.

Multiple Message Types

If you send both informational and marketing messages, you can use two separate checkboxes, one for each type. This lets customers choose what they receive and makes your consent records clearer.

Example Compliant Form

This example form has an unchecked, optional SMS checkbox with a specific label, the full disclosure, and working policy links.

Sample HTML

You or your web developer can adapt the code below. Replace the bracketed text with your own details, and connect the form to your website or CRM so submissions are saved.

<form action="[your form handler URL]" method="post">
  <label for="name">Name</label>
  <input type="text" id="name" name="name">

  <label for="phone">Mobile Phone Number</label>
  <input type="tel" id="phone" name="phone">

  <input type="checkbox" id="sms_consent" name="sms_consent" value="yes">
  <label for="sms_consent">
    I agree to receive [types of messages] text messages from [Brand Name].
  </label>

  <p>
    By checking this box and providing your phone number, you agree to receive
    [types of messages] text messages from [Brand Name] at the number provided.
    Msg frequency varies. Msg &amp; data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help.
    Reply STOP to opt out. Your mobile information will not be shared with third
    parties for marketing or promotional purposes. Consent is not a condition of
    purchase.
    <a href="[Privacy Policy URL]">Privacy Policy</a> &amp;
    <a href="[Terms URL]">Terms</a>
  </p>

  <button type="submit">Sign Up</button>
</form>

Note that the checkbox has no checked or required attribute. It must stay unchecked by default and optional.

Common Reasons Forms Are Rejected

Form Placement and Your Campaign Registration

• The form must be on a publicly accessible page that reviewers can open without logging in.
• Enter the direct URL of the page with the form in the Call to Action/Message Flow field. If this is missing, the campaign will be rejected.
• Say where the form appears on the page. For example: "Customers opt in using the sign-up form at the bottom of www.example.com/contact."
• Pop-up forms are acceptable, but you must note in the Message Flow field that the form appears as a pop-up.
• If the form is a pop-up or is behind a login, include a screenshot of the form. Upload it to a public image host (such as Google Drive or Imgur) with a shareable link and include the link in the Message Flow field.
• The disclosure on the form must match your campaign registration: the same brand name, message types, and frequency.

Sample Message Flow

Customers opt in by visiting www.example.com/sms-signup and entering their mobile phone number in the sign-up form. They then check an optional, unchecked-by-default box agreeing to receive [types of messages] text messages from [Brand Name]. The form displays the full disclosure, including message frequency, message and data rates, HELP and STOP instructions, and links to our Privacy Policy (www.example.com/privacy) and Terms & Conditions (www.example.com/terms). After submitting, the customer receives a confirmation text.

Other Opt-In Methods

If you collect consent verbally, on paper, or by keyword, see our 10DLC Campaign Vetting Guidelines for the requirements and sample message flows for each method.