MakeTheQueue vs Waitwhile
Waitwhile is a solid mid-market product with strong integrations, but its tiered, per-location pricing can be more than a small business needs. MakeTheQueue has a free plan and includes every core feature on flat-rate paid plans.
No credit card required. Free plan that stays free.
Our honest take
Waitwhile is a well-built queue management platform with genuinely impressive pre-built integrations (Slack, Zapier, Google Calendar, and more). If you are a mid-market company that needs those integrations out of the box, Waitwhile is worth considering. Small businesses, though, often find themselves on Waitwhile's Professional or Premium tiers just to unlock branding and API access that MakeTheQueue includes on every paid plan. MakeTheQueue's plans are flat-rate with no per-location fees and include analytics, and the Business tier adds CSV exports and white labeling. Current prices are on our pricing page.
| Feature | MakeTheQueue | Waitwhile |
|---|---|---|
| SMS notifications | Included | Included |
| Two-way messaging | Included | Professional+ |
| Appointment scheduling | Included | Included |
| Kiosk mode | Included | Included |
| Waiting room display | Included | Included |
| Multi-location support | Included on Business | Paid add-on |
| Custom branding | Included | Professional+ |
| API access | Included on paid plans | Premium+ |
| Analytics dashboard | Starter+ | Professional+ |
| CSV data exports | Business+ | Professional+ |
| White labeling | Business+ | Premium+ |
| Pre-built integrations | API only | 20+ native |
| Workflow automation | Not included | Included |
| QR code self-join | Included | Included |
| Free plan | Yes, stays free | Trial only |
| Setup time | Under 15 minutes | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Price | Free plan, flat monthly paid plans | From $59/mo, per location |
Competitor pricing and feature details checked July 2026, per the vendor's published pages. Verify current details with the vendor.
Sources: Waitwhile pricing page.
Why people switch from Waitwhile
Core features locked behind premium tiers
Custom branding and API access require Waitwhile's Professional or Premium plans. The entry plan leaves out branding, two-way messaging, and analytics, so most teams end up on a higher tier than they budgeted for.
Per-location pricing adds up fast
Multi-location businesses pay additional fees per location on Waitwhile. A three-location business can end up paying several times the entry price for features MakeTheQueue includes in one flat monthly plan.
Complex setup with a steep learning curve
Waitwhile has dozens of configuration screens and workflow builders. Great for power users, but small businesses often spend hours setting up what should take minutes.
A roadmap aimed at bigger companies
Waitwhile's roadmap centers on mid-market and enterprise workflow features. If you are a small business, you are paying for a platform that is increasingly built around someone else's needs.
Feature-by-feature breakdown
Pricing model
Free plan to start. Flat-rate paid plans include every core feature (texts, kiosk, display, appointments, analytics, API, branding), with CSV exports and white labeling on the Business tier. No per-location fees, and current prices are always on our pricing page.
$59/month entry plan with limited features. $99/month Professional for analytics and branding. $199+/month for API access and advanced features. Per-location add-ons on top.
Integrations
Full REST API included on every paid plan. Connect to any system you want, but you build the integration yourself or use Zapier.
Pre-built integrations with Slack, Zapier, Google Calendar, Salesforce, and more. This is a genuine Waitwhile strength. If you need out-of-the-box integrations, they deliver.
Setup and onboarding
Set up in under 15 minutes: create an account, name your queue, print the QR code. No onboarding call needed, and the help center walks through every screen.
15 to 30 minute setup depending on complexity. The workflow builder is powerful but takes time to configure. Onboarding calls are available on premium plans.
Customer notifications
Two-way texting included on every paid plan. Customers can reply to confirm, ask for more time, or cancel, and staff can message them directly. No per-message fees from MakeTheQueue.
SMS notifications available on all plans, but two-way messaging requires the Professional tier. SMS credits may have volume limits depending on plan.
Analytics and reporting
Full analytics dashboard on every paid plan: wait times, peak hours, service breakdowns, daily trends. CSV exports come with Business.
Basic stats on the entry plan. Detailed analytics with exportable reports require Professional or higher tiers.
Which one is right for you?
Choose MakeTheQueue if...
- You want simple, flat pricing instead of navigating four competitor tiers
- You are a small business that needs to be running today, not after an onboarding project
- You have multiple locations and do not want per-location fees
- You want two-way texting included without paying for a premium plan
- You prefer building custom integrations via API over pre-built connectors
Choose Waitwhile if...
- You need pre-built integrations with Slack, Salesforce, or other enterprise tools
- You are a mid-market company with budget for their Professional or Premium plans
- You need complex workflow automation with conditional logic
- You want a dedicated customer success manager (available on enterprise plans)
Frequently asked questions
You can start free with MakeTheQueue, and our paid plans are flat-rate with every core feature included and no per-location fees. To get analytics, branding, and API access on Waitwhile you would need their Professional or Premium tiers, roughly two to three times their entry price, plus per-location fees if you have more than one site. Current MakeTheQueue prices are on our pricing page.
Waitwhile has more pre-built integrations (Slack, Salesforce, Google Calendar, and others) and a workflow automation builder for complex queue routing. If those are must-haves, Waitwhile may be the better fit. MakeTheQueue offers a REST API for custom integrations instead.
Yes. MakeTheQueue takes under 15 minutes to set up, and you can run both side by side while you switch: recreate your queues and services, print the new QR code, then turn Waitwhile off once your line is flowing.
MakeTheQueue includes a full REST API on every paid plan, so you can integrate with any system. It does not have Waitwhile's pre-built connectors. You use the API directly or connect through Zapier.
MakeTheQueue. You can start on the Free plan, and every paid plan includes every core feature with a self-serve setup. Waitwhile's entry plan locks out analytics and branding, so you would likely need their next tier up for a comparable experience.
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