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Best Small Restaurant Waitlist Apps
Sixteen restaurant waitlist apps are self-serve: public pricing and a signup you can finish without a sales call. Prices start at $9.99 a month.
Apps on this page
Only confirmed features are shown.
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Waitlist and reservation app for restaurants and other businesses that texts guests when their table is ready.
- Starting price
- Free plan · From $39 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial
- POS
- Square
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Walk-in restaurants that want guests to join by QR code, text or your website and be texted when the table is ready
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Restaurant waitlist app with SMS alerts: guests add themselves or a host adds them, and the system estimates the wait automatically.
- Starting price
- From $39.99 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Low Market presence Small
Best for Walk-in spots that want texts to waiting guests plus a self check-in kiosk on an iPad at the door
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Browser-based waitlist and reservation system for restaurants that shows guests their place in line without an app download.
- Starting price
- Free plan · From $11.99 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Unknown Market presence Small
Best for Small walk-in spots that want a free queue with QR check-in and no hardware to buy
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Waitlist and reservation app for restaurants: staff add a guest's phone number, the guest gets a text, and it runs on any smartphone.
- Starting price
- Free plan · From $9.99 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Small walk-in restaurants that want a low-cost waitlist with QR join and texts to guests
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Restaurant reservation and table management software with a waitlist that sends custom SMS alerts and runs on iPad, mobile and desktop.
- Starting price
- From $99 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial
- POS
- Square
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Venues and small groups that want reservations, a live floor view and the guest database in one place, with the waitlist as one part
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Virtual waitlist and queue management app with SMS notifications and a virtual waiting room for walk-in businesses.
- Starting price
- Free plan · From $59.99 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Small walk-in spots that want to test a waitlist on a free plan before paying
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Host-stand system for restaurants: walk-ins, online waitlist joins and reservations in one list, plus two-way texting and table maps.
- Starting price
- From $39 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Low Market presence Small
Best for First-come, first-served restaurants that want a host-stand iPad app with a table map and two-way texting
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Virtual queue management system with a business app and customer app so walk-ins can join queues from their phones.
- Starting price
- From £14.99 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial
Update activity Low Market presence Small
Best for A single walk-in location, such as a counter or small cafe, that wants a QR queue and live wait estimates at a low flat price
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Text-message waitlist tool: staff add a customer's name and number, then send a text when it is their turn; runs in a web browser.
- Starting price
- From $49 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial
Update activity Unknown Market presence Small
Best for Small walk-in spots that want a text waitlist in a browser, with no app or hardware to buy
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Restaurant booking system with a table planner, guest profiles, booking reminders and a digital waitlist feature.
- Starting price
- From €45 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Active Market presence Growing
Best for Restaurants that run mostly on reservations and want a list to refill cancelled tables
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Cloud queue and waitlist system where customers join by QR code and are called by WhatsApp, SMS or voice alert.
- Starting price
- Free plan · From $49 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Square
Update activity Active Market presence Growing
Best for Counter-service and walk-in-only spots that want guests to scan a QR code and wait elsewhere
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Waitlist, check-in, reservation and appointment app for in-person businesses; customers join a waitlist by QR code.
- Starting price
- Free plan · From $199 per location / month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Active Market presence Small
Best for A small walk-in line that can live on a free plan with a link or QR code and no app for guests
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Waitlist and reservation app that texts or calls customers when their turn comes; used by restaurants, salons, clinics and other businesses.
- Starting price
- Free plan · From $34.99 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Square, Clover
Update activity Moderate Market presence Growing
Best for Single-location restaurants and other walk-in businesses that want self-serve signup and a low fixed monthly cost
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Restaurant waitlist and reservation software with two-way texting and Reserve with Google ($99 plan); also pitched to barbers and salons.
- Starting price
- Free plan · From $49 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Square
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Restaurants with one or two locations that like a flat monthly price and want a free plan to start on
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Cloud queue management system where customers join by QR code, kiosk or staff entry and are notified by SMS, WhatsApp, email or push.
- Starting price
- From $27 per month, billed annually
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial
Update activity Unknown Market presence Growing
Best for Small restaurants that want a walk-in queue, bookings and a floor map at a flat price per location
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Waitlist, queue management and appointment scheduling software for walk-in and appointment-based businesses.
- Starting price
- Free plan · From $31 per month, billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Square
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Operations with several sites or regulatory requirements that want a walk-in queue plus bookings in one system
No apps match these filters.
Compare side by side
| App | Starting price | Free plan | Two-way SMS | Reservations | POS | Best for | Update activity | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allgood WaitlistRestaurant waitlist app with SMS alerts: guests add themselves or a host adds them, and the system estimates the wait automatically. | From $39.99 per month | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | None listed | Walk-in spots that want texts to waiting guests plus a self check-in kiosk on an iPad at the door | Low | Visit website – Allgood Waitlist |
| BzzBrowser-based waitlist and reservation system for restaurants that shows guests their place in line without an app download. | Free plan · From $11.99 per month | Yes | No | Yes | None listed | Small walk-in spots that want a free queue with QR check-in and no hardware to buy | Unknown | Visit website – Bzz |
| CarbonaraWaitlist and reservation app for restaurants: staff add a guest's phone number, the guest gets a text, and it runs on any smartphone. | Free plan · From $9.99 per month | Yes | Yes | Yes | None listed | Small walk-in restaurants that want a low-cost waitlist with QR join and texts to guests | Active | Visit website – Carbonara |
| Eat AppRestaurant reservation and table management software with a waitlist that sends custom SMS alerts and runs on iPad, mobile and desktop. | From $99 per month | No free plan listed | Unknown | Yes | Square | Venues and small groups that want reservations, a live floor view and the guest database in one place, with the waitlist as one part | Active | Visit website – Eat App |
| NextMeVirtual waitlist and queue management app with SMS notifications and a virtual waiting room for walk-in businesses. | Free plan · From $59.99 per month | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | None listed | Small walk-in spots that want to test a waitlist on a free plan before paying | Active | Visit website – NextMe |
| QaTableHost-stand system for restaurants: walk-ins, online waitlist joins and reservations in one list, plus two-way texting and table maps. | From $39 per month | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | None listed | First-come, first-served restaurants that want a host-stand iPad app with a table map and two-way texting | Low | Visit website – QaTable |
| QueueAwayVirtual queue management system with a business app and customer app so walk-ins can join queues from their phones. | From £14.99 per month | No free plan listed | Unknown | Unknown | None listed | A single walk-in location, such as a counter or small cafe, that wants a QR queue and live wait estimates at a low flat price | Low | Visit website – QueueAway |
| Ready TextText-message waitlist tool: staff add a customer's name and number, then send a text when it is their turn; runs in a web browser. | From $49 per month | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | None listed | Small walk-in spots that want a text waitlist in a browser, with no app or hardware to buy | Unknown | Visit website – Ready Text |
| resOSRestaurant booking system with a table planner, guest profiles, booking reminders and a digital waitlist feature. | From €45 per month | No free plan listed | Unknown | Yes | None listed | Restaurants that run mostly on reservations and want a list to refill cancelled tables | Active | Visit website – resOS |
| ScanQueueCloud queue and waitlist system where customers join by QR code and are called by WhatsApp, SMS or voice alert. | Free plan · From $49 per month | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Square | Counter-service and walk-in-only spots that want guests to scan a QR code and wait elsewhere | Active | Visit website – ScanQueue |
| TablesReadyWaitlist and reservation app for restaurants and other businesses that texts guests when their table is ready. | Free plan · From $39 per month | Yes | Yes | Yes | Square | Walk-in restaurants that want guests to join by QR code, text or your website and be texted when the table is ready | Active | Visit website – TablesReady |
| Waitlist AppWaitlist, check-in, reservation and appointment app for in-person businesses; customers join a waitlist by QR code. | Free plan · From $199 per location / month | Yes | Unknown | Yes | None listed | A small walk-in line that can live on a free plan with a link or QR code and no app for guests | Active | Visit website – Waitlist App |
| Waitlist MeWaitlist and reservation app that texts or calls customers when their turn comes; used by restaurants, salons, clinics and other businesses. | Free plan · From $34.99 per month | Yes | Yes | Yes | Square, Clover | Single-location restaurants and other walk-in businesses that want self-serve signup and a low fixed monthly cost | Moderate | Visit website – Waitlist Me |
| WaitlyRestaurant waitlist and reservation software with two-way texting and Reserve with Google ($99 plan); also pitched to barbers and salons. | Free plan · From $49 per month | Yes | Yes | Yes | Square | Restaurants with one or two locations that like a flat monthly price and want a free plan to start on | Active | Visit website – Waitly |
| WaitQCloud queue management system where customers join by QR code, kiosk or staff entry and are notified by SMS, WhatsApp, email or push. | From $27 per month, billed annually | No free plan listed | Unknown | Yes | None listed | Small restaurants that want a walk-in queue, bookings and a floor map at a flat price per location | Unknown | Visit website – WaitQ |
| WaitwhileWaitlist, queue management and appointment scheduling software for walk-in and appointment-based businesses. | Free plan · From $31 per month, billed annually | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Square | Operations with several sites or regulatory requirements that want a walk-in queue plus bookings in one system | Active | Visit website – Waitwhile |
Yes and No come from each vendor's own website. Unknown means it could not be confirmed there. "No free plan listed" means the vendor's pricing page shows no free plan. How we compare
How we picked these apps
An app is on this best-of list when its buying style is self-serve. We compute that label from the vendor’s pricing page with two conditions, and an app needs both.
- Public pricing. The prices are shown on the vendor’s own site. Apps that say “book a demo for pricing” don’t pass.
- Self-serve signup. You can create an account without talking to sales.
A custom or enterprise plan through sales doesn’t keep an app off the list. If you can start on a priced plan yourself, the app counts as self-serve, and the sales plan is noted as a detail. Apps with public prices but no confirmed self-serve signup carry the sales-assisted label instead, and apps without public prices carry sales-led.
Sixteen restaurant-relevant apps meet both: Allgood Waitlist, Bzz, Carbonara, Eat App, NextMe, QaTable, QueueAway, Ready Text, resOS, ScanQueue, TablesReady, Waitlist App, Waitlist Me, Waitly, WaitQ and Waitwhile. They are listed alphabetically. This describes how the app is bought, not how large a restaurant it suits.
What to look for
A self-serve app is one you can sign up for on a slow Tuesday, but the sixteen still differ a lot.
- Price and billing. Carbonara’s Starter is $9.99 a month, or $8.99 billed annually. Bzz’s lowest paid plan, Light, is $11.99. QueueAway’s Solo Site is 14.99 pounds a month in the UK. WaitQ shows $27 a month, billed annually, priced per location. Waitlist Me’s Premium is $34.99 a month, and each location needs its own subscription. QaTable’s plans are $39, $139 and $199, and TablesReady’s Starter is $39 at the 1,000-message tier. Allgood Waitlist’s Premium is $39.99 with 4,000 messages. Ready Text and ScanQueue’s Essential are $49, Waitly’s Premium is $49, and NextMe’s Starter is $59.99. Waitwhile’s Starter is from $31 billed annually. Eat App starts at $99 a month on Lite, and Waitlist App’s Pro is $199 per location. resOS lists a regular price of EUR 45 a month.
- Free plans. Nine apps have a free plan that comes with the waitlist. Bzz, Carbonara and NextMe are three, and ScanQueue, TablesReady, Waitlist App, Waitlist Me, Waitly and Waitwhile are the rest. resOS has a free plan too, but it can’t add the waitlist, which costs EUR 7.99 a month more on paid plans. Eat App’s pricing page shows a free tier, but the data doesn’t confirm it includes the waitlist.
- Plans through sales. Bzz asks you to contact the vendor above 25 waiting parties at once. Carbonara’s Enterprise is for 10 or more locations, Eat App’s for 8 or more venues, and Waitlist App’s starts at $749 a month plus $199 per location. NextMe, TablesReady, Waitly and Waitwhile also list a custom or enterprise plan, and QueueAway prices Multi Site and Custom App on request.
- Text limits. TablesReady’s free plan includes 150 messages a month, and paid plans run from 1,000 to 30,000. NextMe’s free plan includes 100 SMS a month. Ready Text bills $0.015 per text over 2,500. WaitQ caps credits at 100 a month on Starter. resOS charges EUR 0.10 per SMS confirmation. Bzz sends no SMS at all: guests are alerted by browser push and device vibration, so there are no per-text fees.
- Reservations. Twelve are confirmed for reservations: Allgood Waitlist, Bzz, Carbonara, Eat App, QaTable, Ready Text, resOS, TablesReady, Waitlist App, Waitlist Me, Waitly and WaitQ. NextMe, QueueAway, ScanQueue and Waitwhile are not confirmed.
- Contract. Allgood Waitlist has no contract and lets you cancel or restore at any time. Ready Text is month to month, as are Bzz and QueueAway. QaTable’s pricing page states no contract term, and its terms allow 12-month contracts.
How to choose
If your first question is cost, compare the monthly numbers above, then check your text volume against the allowance. At 60 texted parties a night, a plan with a few hundred credits runs out within a week.
If you want to test before you pay, start with the nine free plans, or pick one of the apps with a trial. QueueAway and TablesReady record a trial with no card needed. Waitlist App lists no trial, and its paid plans bill from day one.
If a reservation book matters, take the twelve confirmed apps. If wait-time quotes matter, Allgood Waitlist, Bzz, Carbonara, Eat App, NextMe, QueueAway, Ready Text, ScanQueue, TablesReady, Waitlist App, Waitlist Me, WaitQ and Waitwhile are confirmed for them, while QaTable, resOS and Waitly aren’t. If you run Square, Eat App, ScanQueue, TablesReady, Waitlist Me, Waitly and Waitwhile list it, and Waitlist Me also lists Clover.
Next, think about growth. If you may open more locations, check the sales-plan details above first, because that is where multi-site pricing lives for Bzz, Carbonara, QueueAway and Waitlist App. WaitQ and Waitlist Me price per location, so multiply before you compare.
If none of these fit
Self-serve is a narrow filter, and a small restaurant can be well served by an app outside it. Try the free plans best-of list if cost is the issue, walk-ins if the door is busy, and pager replacement if you just want texts instead of pagers. To pair the waitlist with bookings, see waitlist and reservations, and for a register link, see POS integration.
Frequently asked questions
What does self-serve mean on this page?
It means two things on the vendor's own pricing page. The prices are public, and you can sign up without talking to sales. An app can also have a custom or enterprise plan that goes through sales and still be on this best-of list, because the plan you start on is self-serve.
Why are only sixteen apps on this list?
The other restaurant-relevant apps fail one of the two conditions. Six publish no prices and make you book a demo. Seven show prices but don't confirm that you can sign up on your own.
Can I try these before I pay?
Many let you start for free. Nine list a free plan that comes with the waitlist, and Bzz leads that alphabetical group. Carbonara, Eat App, QueueAway, Ready Text, TablesReady and WaitQ list a trial of 7 or 14 days.
Which of these also have a plan that goes through sales?
Nine do. Bzz, Carbonara, Eat App, NextMe, QueueAway, TablesReady, Waitlist App, Waitly and Waitwhile each list a custom, enterprise or multi-site plan that you arrange with the vendor. The other seven, Allgood Waitlist, QaTable, Ready Text, resOS, ScanQueue, Waitlist Me and WaitQ, show no such plan.
Is a small restaurant limited to these sixteen?
No. The label only describes how an app is sold. Other apps can suit a small restaurant, for example one that books you onto a demo and includes setup, and the other best-of lists cover those cases.