Limited Time Offer Templates

Limited time offer templates display promotional messages with an expiration date and a countdown timer. They create urgency by showing users when an offer expires, and can include a coupon code and a link to take action.

Block Structure

A limited time offer template uses a single whatsapp-limited-time-offer block:

Component	Required	Description
Header	No	Image or file (video) header
Body text	Yes	Main message text (max 1024 characters)
Limited time offer	Yes	Offer text and expiration date for the countdown
Link action	Yes	Button linking to the offer page
Coupon action	No	Optional copy-code button for a discount code

Here's how a limited time offer template renders on WhatsApp, showing the offer badge with countdown, image header, body, and action buttons:

The offer badge (with the tag icon) displays the offer text, expiration, and coupon code. WhatsApp adjusts the countdown display based on how far away the expiration is -- see countdown display states below.

---

Header

Limited time offer templates support image or file (video) headers. Text headers are not supported.

Image header:

{
  "type": "image",
  "image": {
    "mediaUrl": "https://example.com/images/limited-offer.jpg"
  }
}

Video header:

{
  "type": "file",
  "file": {
    "mediaUrl": "https://example.com/videos/offer-promo.mp4",
    "contentType": "video/mp4"
  }
}

If you need to host media, use the Media Library API to upload files and get a mediaUrl. See Image Template Blocks -- Uploading media for the full upload flow.

Body

The body is mandatory and should describe the offer with compelling copy.

{
  "type": "text",
  "text": {
    "text": "Exclusive deal just for you! Get 40% off on all premium items. Don't miss out -- this offer expires soon!"
  }
}

---

Limited Time Offer Component

The limited time offer component defines the offer text and expiration. WhatsApp displays a countdown timer based on the expiresAt value.

{
  "type": "limited-time-offer",
  "limitedTimeOffer": {
    "text": "40% OFF Today!",
    "expiresAt": "2024-12-31T23:59:59Z"
  }
}

Property	Required	Description
text	Yes	The offer headline displayed to the user (max 16 characters)
expiresAt	No	ISO 8601 timestamp for when the offer expires. When provided, WhatsApp shows a countdown timer and a couponAction becomes required. Can be a variable for dynamic expiration.

Dynamic expiration

Use a variable to set the expiration at send time:

{
  "type": "limited-time-offer",
  "limitedTimeOffer": {
    "text": "Flash Sale!",
    "expiresAt": "{{offerExpiry}}"
  }
}

Countdown display states

WhatsApp adjusts the offer badge based on how much time remains:

Future date -- shows the expiration date (e.g., "Offer ends on 31 Dec"):

Expires today -- switches to showing the exact time (e.g., "Ends today at 12:35"):

Expired -- the offer badge shows "Offer ended", the coupon code is removed, and the copy-code button disappears. The link button remains:

---

Link Action

A link button is required. It provides the user with a direct path to take action on the offer.

{
  "type": "link-action",
  "linkAction": {
    "text": "Shop now",
    "url": "https://example.com/limited-offer"
  }
}

Coupon Action (Optional)

Optionally include a copy-code button for a promotional code.

{
  "type": "copy-code-action",
  "copyCodeAction": {
    "code": "{{promoCode}}"
  }
}

---

Complete Example

{
  "defaultLocale": "en",
  "deployments": [
    {
      "key": "whatsappTemplateName",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "limited_time_sale"
    },
    {
      "key": "whatsappCategory",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "MARKETING"
    },
    {
      "key": "whatsappAllowCategoryChange",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "value": "true"
    }
  ],
  "variables": [
    {
      "key": "promoCode",
      "description": "Promotional discount code",
      "type": "string",
      "format": "none",
      "examplesLocale": {
        "en": {
          "exampleValueStrings": ["HURRY40"]
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "key": "customerName",
      "description": "Customer's first name",
      "type": "string",
      "format": "none",
      "examplesLocale": {
        "en": {
          "exampleValueStrings": ["Maria"]
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "platformContent": [
    {
      "locale": "en",
      "type": "text",
      "platform": "whatsapp",
      "channelGroupIds": [
        "3f979241-dea3-4f55-b7bb-d769eec27e51"
      ],
      "blocks": [
        {
          "type": "whatsapp-limited-time-offer",
          "whatsappLimitedTimeOffer": {
            "header": {
              "type": "image",
              "image": {
                "mediaUrl": "https://example.com/images/flash-sale-banner.jpg"
              }
            },
            "body": {
              "type": "text",
              "text": {
                "text": "Hi {{customerName}}, our biggest sale of the year is here! Get 40% off everything with code {{promoCode}}. Hurry, the clock is ticking!"
              }
            },
            "limitedTimeOffer": {
              "type": "limited-time-offer",
              "limitedTimeOffer": {
                "text": "40% OFF Today!",
                "expiresAt": "2024-12-31T23:59:59Z"
              }
            },
            "couponAction": {
              "type": "copy-code-action",
              "copyCodeAction": {
                "code": "{{promoCode}}"
              }
            },
            "linkAction": {
              "type": "link-action",
              "linkAction": {
                "text": "Shop the sale",
                "url": "https://example.com/flash-sale"
              }
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "supportedPlatforms": ["whatsapp"]
}

---

Without Coupon Code

If you don't need a coupon code, omit the couponAction and expiresAt:

{
  "type": "whatsapp-limited-time-offer",
  "whatsappLimitedTimeOffer": {
    "body": {
      "type": "text",
      "text": {
        "text": "Free shipping on all orders -- today only! No code needed."
      }
    },
    "limitedTimeOffer": {
      "type": "limited-time-offer",
      "limitedTimeOffer": {
        "text": "Free Shipping"
      }
    },
    "linkAction": {
      "type": "link-action",
      "linkAction": {
        "text": "Shop now",
        "url": "https://example.com/free-shipping"
      }
    }
  }
}

---

Related

• Coupon Template Blocks -- Coupon codes without time pressure

• Text Template Blocks -- Standard text templates

• Creating WhatsApp Message Templates -- Full template creation workflow