How long should an email verification link remain active?
Summary
What email marketers say13Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests 48 hours, then monitor double opt-in email confirmation rates and adjust as needed.
Email marketer from MarketingOverCoffee forum user 'CoffeeLover' says that a validity of 3 days (72 hours) works well because it gives users enough time without significantly increasing security risks.
Email marketer from Shopify Community user 'EcommerceExpert' shares that the duration of a verification link depends on your customer base's behavior. They say, if most users check email daily, 24-48 hours is sufficient; otherwise, extend it to 72 hours.
Email marketer from HubSpot says to analyze user engagement data to determine optimal link validity. They suggest that monitoring how quickly users typically verify their email can inform decisions on how long to keep the link active.
Email marketer from Quora user 'DigitalMarketer123' answers that 48 hours is a sweet spot as most people check emails within that timeframe. They add that a longer period could lead to security risks, while a shorter one might inconvenience users.
Email marketer from Neil Patel's blog shares that you should consider your target audience’s online behavior. If they are tech-savvy and check emails frequently, a shorter time like 24 hours is fine. If not, extend it to 48-72 hours.
Email marketer from Mailchimp explains it's best practice to implement a double opt-in process with verification links, where the expiration is implicitly tied to the user's expected behavior. They recommend monitoring completion rates and adjusting the expiration period based on user engagement.
Email marketer from Email Geeks says shorter is better, suggests 48-72 hours, and to check logs to see if this is too short for your use case.
Email marketer from SendGrid shares that the appropriate duration for email verification links depends on the use case, security requirements, and UX considerations. They suggest evaluating the risk associated with unauthorized access and the likelihood of users completing the verification promptly.
Email marketer from Reddit user 'TechGuru2024' explains that a 24-72 hour window is ideal, as it balances security with user convenience. They note that shorter durations increase security but can frustrate users who don't check their email immediately.
Email marketer from StackOverflow user 'EmailPro' shares that an email verification link should be valid for at least 24 hours but no longer than 7 days. They emphasize that a longer validity increases the risk of abuse.
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that expiry depends on the validation purpose (opt-in confirmation vs. paid subscription activation), user experience should also be considered.
Email marketer from Email Geeks says expiry depends on system/security/governance tolerance, but advises informing users of the link's lifespan.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise explains it depends on the risk profile. High-security applications should use short expiry times (a few hours), while less critical applications can use longer durations (up to a week). Consider the potential damage if someone were to fraudulently verify an email address.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests a week for email verification link expiry, noting it's not a security thing like a password reset but acknowledging users may not check email immediately. They propose tracking the data.
Expert from Spam Resource explains that the lifetime should be balanced between usability and security. Shorter expiry times (e.g., 24-48 hours) are generally better for security, but longer times accommodate users who don't check their email daily.
What the documentation says5Technical articles
Documentation from Auth0 mentions that setting an expiration time for verification links is important for security purposes. They recommend setting a reasonable timeframe during which a user is likely to access the link, balancing security with user convenience to avoid frustration. The exact duration depends on the application’s specific needs.
Documentation from OWASP answers that from a security perspective, verification links should have a limited lifespan to mitigate risks like account takeover. They recommend using time-limited, unique tokens for email verification to prevent replay attacks and unauthorized access.
Documentation from Microsoft Azure explains that the expiration time for email verification links should align with the application’s security policies. It's a trade-off between security and usability; shorter times are more secure, but longer times offer better user experience.
Documentation from RFC 6238 relating to TOTP (Time-Based One-Time Password Algorithm) mentions the importance of time synchronization and the validity window. Although specific to TOTP, the underlying concept of a time-sensitive credential applies to verification links, suggesting that a short validity window enhances security but requires careful time management.
Documentation from Twilio explains that the expiration time for a verification link should be balanced between security and user experience. They recommend setting an expiration time that aligns with your specific security needs and user behavior patterns, noting that a shorter expiration time increases security but can inconvenience users.