MakeTheQueue vs Waitlist Me
Waitlist Me offers a free tier and budget-friendly plans, but its dated interface and one-way texts leave growing businesses looking for more. MakeTheQueue is the modern upgrade: free to start, with flat-rate paid plans.
No credit card required. Free plan that stays free.
Our honest take
Waitlist Me deserves credit for being one of the original queue management tools and for offering a genuinely usable free tier (MakeTheQueue has a free plan too). If you are a very small business just starting out with minimal needs, either free plan will carry you for a while. But Waitlist Me has not kept up with modern expectations: the interface looks dated next to newer tools, texts are one-way, branding options are basic, and analytics are minimal. Once you outgrow the free tier, MakeTheQueue offers significantly more value, with flat-rate paid plans and a Business tier that adds CSV exports and white labeling. Current prices are on our pricing page.
| Feature | MakeTheQueue | Waitlist Me |
|---|---|---|
| SMS notifications | Included | Limited |
| Two-way messaging | Included | Not included |
| Appointment scheduling | Included | Not included |
| Kiosk mode | Included | Basic |
| Waiting room display | Included | Basic |
| Multi-location support | Included on Business | Premium only |
| Custom branding | Included | Very limited |
| API access | Included on paid plans | Premium only |
| Analytics dashboard | Starter+ | Bare-bones |
| CSV data exports | Business+ | Not included |
| Party size at join | Included | Included |
| Table map | Not included | Included |
| Free tier | Yes, stays free | Yes, one user |
| QR code self-join | Included | Not included |
| Modern UI | Included | Not included |
| Price | Free plan, flat monthly paid plans | Free tier; paid from about $25/mo |
Competitor pricing and feature details checked July 2026, per the vendor's published pages. Verify current details with the vendor.
Sources: Waitlist Me pricing page.
Why people switch from Waitlist Me
Dated user interface
Waitlist Me's interface looks dated next to newer tools. The staff dashboard and customer-facing pages do not reflect especially well on a modern brand.
One-way texts only
Waitlist Me's text notifications are basic one-way alerts. No two-way messaging, no customer replies, no staff chat. SMS credits may also be limited depending on your plan.
Minimal branding customization
Custom branding options on Waitlist Me are very basic: limited color changes and logo placement. You cannot create a fully branded customer experience like you can with MakeTheQueue.
Analytics are bare-bones
Even on paid plans, Waitlist Me's reporting is minimal: basic waitlist counts and simple averages. No peak hour analysis, no service breakdowns, no trend visualization.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Pricing
Free plan to start. Flat-rate paid plans include every core feature and the analytics dashboard, with CSV exports and white labeling on the Business tier. No per-location fees on any paid plan.
Free tier available (limited to one user, basic features). Paid plans at roughly $25 to $60 per month. Pro unlocks more SMS and basic analytics. Premium adds multi-wait and table management.
User interface and experience
Modern, clean interface built with current web technologies. Responsive design works well on phones, tablets, and desktops. Customer-facing pages are polished and brandable.
Functional but dated-looking interface. The product works, but the design feels behind current expectations, and customer-facing pages are basic.
SMS and notifications
Two-way texting included on every paid plan. Customers receive automatic updates and can reply to confirm, ask for more time, or cancel, and staff can message them back. No per-message fees from MakeTheQueue.
One-way SMS notifications. Customers receive texts but cannot reply. SMS credits may be limited on lower plans. No staff-to-customer chat.
Analytics
Full analytics dashboard on every paid plan: wait times, peak hours, service breakdowns, daily trends, no-show rates. CSV exports included on Business.
Basic stats on paid plans: average wait times and customer counts. No peak hour analysis, no service-level breakdowns, no trend visualization.
Restaurant-specific features
Party size is captured when a guest joins and drives the wait estimate, and per-service estimates handle different visit lengths. There is no floor plan or table map: MakeTheQueue runs the line, not the seating chart.
Waitlist Me has restaurant-specific features like table management and party size tracking, with a table map for assigning parties. If you want the seating chart inside the waitlist tool, these are nice touches.
Which one is right for you?
Choose MakeTheQueue if...
- You want a modern interface that reflects well on your business
- You need two-way texting so customers can actually communicate with staff
- You want real analytics and CSV exports to optimize your queue operations
- You need custom branding on customer-facing pages
- You want a free plan with a clear upgrade path to flat-rate paid plans
Choose Waitlist Me if...
- You are a restaurant that wants a table map inside the waitlist tool
- Your budget is at the very bottom of the paid range and you can live with limited features
- You just need a simple waitlist with basic one-way texts, nothing more
Frequently asked questions
For very basic needs, a single user managing a simple waitlist, yes, it works. But you will quickly hit limits: no analytics, no branding, no two-way messaging, no appointments. MakeTheQueue also has a free plan, and when you outgrow it, our flat paid plans add two-way texting, appointments, and full branding that Waitlist Me's paid tiers still lack.
Both tools have a free tier. On paid plans, Waitlist Me's entry tier is cheaper on paper, but it still lacks two-way texting, real analytics, appointment scheduling, and proper branding. MakeTheQueue's flat-rate plans include all of those, and Business adds CSV exports. Current prices are on our pricing page.
Waitlist Me has a table map for assigning parties to tables, which MakeTheQueue does not. If you want the seating chart inside the waitlist tool, Waitlist Me may fit better. MakeTheQueue captures party size at join, quotes the wait from it, and texts the guest when the table is ready, which is the part most host stands actually need.
Yes. MakeTheQueue takes under 15 minutes to set up, and you can run both side by side while you switch. You start fresh, but with a modern tool that has real analytics, two-way texting, and appointment scheduling from day one.
Waitlist Me offers API access on their premium plans. MakeTheQueue includes a full REST API on every paid plan, no further upgrade required.
Simple pricing. Start free, upgrade when you need more.
Start free and upgrade when you need texts, appointments, or more locations. Every new account includes a full Business trial.
Start free