TablesReady, one of the apps compared here, owns this site. How we make money
Best Walk-In Restaurant Waitlist Apps
Twenty-three restaurant waitlist apps are confirmed for both SMS notifications and wait-time estimates. Those two features cover quoting a wait and texting a party back.
Apps on this page
Only confirmed features are shown.
-
Ad · Our own app
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
-
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
-
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
-
Reservation system for restaurants and venues, with a virtual waitlist (OnTheGo) for walk-ins.
- Starting price
- Book a demo for pricing
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Moderate Market presence Established
Best for Restaurants that take bookings first and want a walk-in queue inside the same system
-
Host-stand software for restaurant brands with table management, wait-time tools and two-way SMS that tells guests their table is ready.
- Starting price
- Book a demo for pricing
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Toast
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Multi-unit restaurant brands that want the waitlist, reservations and tables in one host-stand tool
-
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
-
Restaurant reservation, table management and waitlist software with guestbook, event and marketing tools for single venues and groups.
- Starting price
- From $109 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial
- POS
- Square
Update activity Moderate Market presence Established
Best for Single restaurants and small groups that want reservations, a floor plan, waitlist and guest book on a flat monthly fee
-
Restaurant reservation and guest management platform, now part of OpenTable, with a digital waitlist and table optimization tools.
- Starting price
- Book a demo for pricing
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Low Market presence Growing
Best for Restaurants that want reservations, guest marketing, text campaigns and surveys in one system, especially in Canada
-
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
-
Reservation and waitlist management for high-volume restaurants from Olo, covering table assignment and guest preferences.
- Starting price
- Book a demo for pricing
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Low Market presence Established
Best for High-volume restaurants that want the waitlist, reservations and table assignments in one iPad app
-
Restaurant reservation platform with table management and an online waitlist that guests can join remotely and get SMS alerts from.
- Starting price
- From $299 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Toast
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Sit-down restaurants wanting reservations, table management and the waitlist together in one system
-
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
-
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
-
Reservation and guest management platform for restaurants, bars and wineries, with waitlists that can be managed from any device.
- Starting price
- From $289 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Toast, Square
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Full-service restaurants that want reservations, floor plans and a walk-in waitlist in one system
-
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
-
Reservation and waitlist system for restaurants that books through Google, DoorDash and social channels and includes table management.
- Starting price
- Book a demo for pricing
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Square, Toast
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Restaurant groups, hotels and bars that want a guest database and marketing alongside reservations and a waitlist
-
Restaurant waitlist and reservation system from SpotOn with predictive wait times, guest texting and a table map shared with the POS.
- Starting price
- From $100 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
Update activity Moderate Market presence Established
Best for Restaurants already on, or moving to, SpotOn POS that want the table map and servers shared with the host stand
-
Host-stand app from Toast for running a restaurant waitlist and reservations, assigning servers and seating parties on a floor plan.
- Starting price
- From $50 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Toast
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Restaurants already on Toast POS that want the host stand, waitlist and reservations in the same account
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Reservation, waitlist and table management system for restaurants, run from an iPad and listed on Yelp and other booking channels.
- Starting price
- From $159 per month
- Free plan
- No free plan listed
- Free trial
- No free trial listed
- POS
- Toast
Update activity Active Market presence Established
Best for Full-service restaurants that want bookings and a waitlist listed on Yelp, Google Search and Apple Maps
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 |
| 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 |
| CoverManagerReservation system for restaurants and venues, with a virtual waitlist (OnTheGo) for walk-ins. | Book a demo for pricing | No free plan listed | Unknown | Yes | None listed | Restaurants that take bookings first and want a walk-in queue inside the same system | Moderate | Visit website – CoverManager |
| Crunchtime HostHost-stand software for restaurant brands with table management, wait-time tools and two-way SMS that tells guests their table is ready. | Book a demo for pricing | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | Toast | Multi-unit restaurant brands that want the waitlist, reservations and tables in one host-stand tool | Active | Visit website – Crunchtime Host |
| 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 |
| HostmeRestaurant reservation, table management and waitlist software with guestbook, event and marketing tools for single venues and groups. | From $109 per month | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | Square | Single restaurants and small groups that want reservations, a floor plan, waitlist and guest book on a flat monthly fee | Moderate | Visit website – Hostme |
| LibroRestaurant reservation and guest management platform, now part of OpenTable, with a digital waitlist and table optimization tools. | Book a demo for pricing | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | None listed | Restaurants that want reservations, guest marketing, text campaigns and surveys in one system, especially in Canada | Low | Visit website – Libro |
| 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 |
| Olo HostReservation and waitlist management for high-volume restaurants from Olo, covering table assignment and guest preferences. | Book a demo for pricing | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | None listed | High-volume restaurants that want the waitlist, reservations and table assignments in one iPad app | Low | Visit website – Olo Host |
| OpenTableRestaurant reservation platform with table management and an online waitlist that guests can join remotely and get SMS alerts from. | From $299 per month | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | Toast | Sit-down restaurants wanting reservations, table management and the waitlist together in one system | Active | Visit website – OpenTable |
| 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 |
| Resy OSReservation and guest management platform for restaurants, bars and wineries, with waitlists that can be managed from any device. | From $289 per month | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | Toast, Square | Full-service restaurants that want reservations, floor plans and a walk-in waitlist in one system | Active | Visit website – Resy OS |
| 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 |
| SevenRoomsReservation and waitlist system for restaurants that books through Google, DoorDash and social channels and includes table management. | Book a demo for pricing | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | Square, Toast | Restaurant groups, hotels and bars that want a guest database and marketing alongside reservations and a waitlist | Active | Visit website – SevenRooms |
| SpotOn ReserveRestaurant waitlist and reservation system from SpotOn with predictive wait times, guest texting and a table map shared with the POS. | From $100 per month | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | None listed | Restaurants already on, or moving to, SpotOn POS that want the table map and servers shared with the host stand | Moderate | Visit website – SpotOn Reserve |
| 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 |
| Toast TablesHost-stand app from Toast for running a restaurant waitlist and reservations, assigning servers and seating parties on a floor plan. | From $50 per month | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | Toast | Restaurants already on Toast POS that want the host stand, waitlist and reservations in the same account | Active | Visit website – Toast Tables |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Yelp Guest ManagerReservation, waitlist and table management system for restaurants, run from an iPad and listed on Yelp and other booking channels. | From $159 per month | No free plan listed | Yes | Yes | Toast | Full-service restaurants that want bookings and a waitlist listed on Yelp, Google Search and Apple Maps | Active | Visit website – Yelp Guest Manager |
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 lands on this best-of list when its record confirms two features together: SMS notifications and wait-time estimates. Features are marked confirmed only when the vendor’s own site shows them. A feature that we could not find evidence for is left unconfirmed, and an app with only one of the two is left off this page.
Twenty-three restaurant waitlist apps match: Allgood Waitlist, Carbonara, CoverManager, Crunchtime Host, Eat App, Hostme, Libro, NextMe, Olo Host, OpenTable, QueueAway, Ready Text, Resy OS, ScanQueue, SevenRooms, SpotOn Reserve, TablesReady, Toast Tables, Waitlist App, Waitlist Me, WaitQ, Waitwhile and Yelp Guest Manager. The order is alphabetical, not a ranking.
What to look for
On a Friday rush the host stand does two jobs at once. It quotes a wait to the party in front of you, and it manages the parties already waiting. The two filter features map to those jobs, but the list is wide, so use the points below to separate the apps.
- How texts are priced. Texting is where walk-in apps differ most. Some bundle a monthly number, some bill per message and some publish nothing. WaitQ caps SMS and WhatsApp credits per month (100 on Starter, 400 on Grow and 1,000 on Business). Waitwhile sells SMS as prepaid message credits. TablesReady pauses messaging at 100 percent of its quota with no overage fee.
- Pricing visibility. Of the twenty-three apps, five publish no pricing: CoverManager, Crunchtime Host, Libro, Olo Host and SevenRooms. You book a demo to get a number. The rest show a starting price on their pricing page. Two of those are worth a note. OpenTable lists the waitlist on its Core plan at $299 a month and on Pro, but not on Basic. Toast Tables is a $50 a month add-on to Toast POS.
- How guests join. A walk-in rush goes better if guests can join from their phone. Check the features table on each app’s page for QR check-in and remote join, because they aren’t part of this filter.
- Reservations alongside. If you run a mixed room, remember that a waitlist-only app might force you to keep a second system for the book.
How to choose
Match the app to the size of your rush. A counter-service spot with a line at lunch cares about cost per text and how fast staff can add a party. Allgood Waitlist, Ready Text, WaitQ and Waitlist Me publish their prices and plan limits openly. A full-service room that seats 150 covers on a Saturday may care more about table management, which the demo-led apps emphasize.
Next, count your texts. A restaurant that texts 60 parties a night, five nights a week, sends about 1,200 texts a month before any reminders. Compare that against the allowance on the plan you’re looking at, such as 1,000 on Waitlist Me Premium or 2,500 on Ready Text, and note what happens past it.
Then check POS. Twelve of the walk-in apps are also on the POS integration list.
Last, check whether you want to buy by yourself. Apps that publish pricing and a self-serve signup let you test on a slow Tuesday before you commit.
If none of these fit
If you want the broadest filter, the pager replacement best-of list only requires SMS. If wait estimates matter less than reservations, try waitlist and reservations. Operators who want to start at no cost can read the free plans list, and single-location owners who want to sign up alone can use small restaurants. To link the waitlist to a terminal, see POS integration.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a waitlist app suited to walk-ins?
On this page it means two confirmed features, SMS notifications and wait-time estimates. The first lets you text a party when their table is ready. The second gives the host a number to quote at the door.
Do I pay per text on these apps?
It varies. Waitlist Me includes 1,000 notifications a month on Premium and charges $0.02 for each extra one. Ready Text includes 2,500 texts for $49 a month and bills $0.015 for each text beyond that. Hostme lists unlimited SMS on paid plans, free in the US and Canada. Several demo-only apps do not publish their SMS limits.
Can guests reply to the text?
Some apps record two-way texting. Yelp Guest Manager lists it in every plan, and TablesReady counts both sent and received texts toward its quota. Check each app's page for how replies are handled before you promise guests they can text back to cancel.
Why are some SMS apps missing from this list?
The filter needs both features confirmed. Apps such as Waitly and QaTable have SMS, but their records do not confirm wait-time estimates, so they are not on this best-of list. They appear on the pager replacement list instead.