# What is channel fallback?

> Channel fallback is automatically re-sending a message on a second channel when the first fails to deliver or is unavailable — for example WhatsApp or RCS first, then SMS. It maximizes the chance the message reaches the recipient by pairing a rich, preferred channel with a universal one underneath, and is the mechanism that lets omnichannel messaging combine richness with reliability.

- Canonical URL: https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-channel-fallback
- Language: en
- Last reviewed: 2026-09-30
- Publisher: BroadNet (https://www.broadnet.me)

## How it works

The platform checks channel eligibility per recipient, sends on the preferred channel, and falls back to the next on failure, timeout, or missing capability — usually ending at SMS for universal reach. See /answers/sms-fallback-strategy and /answers/what-is-omnichannel-orchestration.

## Why it matters

No single rich channel reaches everyone, so fallback is what prevents a preferred-channel gap from becoming an undelivered message. See /answers/rcs-vs-whatsapp.

## Tune the triggers

Balance speed and cost: critical messages fail over in seconds, non-urgent ones give the cheaper channel more time. See /answers/best-channel-for-otp.

## Related

- [All answers](https://www.broadnet.me/answers)
- [Glossary](https://www.broadnet.me/answers)
- [What is an SMS fallback strategy?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/sms-fallback-strategy)
- [What is omnichannel orchestration?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-omnichannel-orchestration)
- [RCS vs WhatsApp — compared](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/rcs-vs-whatsapp)
- [What is the best channel for OTP delivery?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/best-channel-for-otp)
- [Omnichannel](https://www.broadnet.me/products/omnichannel)