The best Waitly alternative for restaurants: WaitQ
WaitQ gives you digital check-in, real-time queue control, and unlimited visits on a flat monthly rate, no guest-party caps and WhatsApp included alongside SMS.
5-minute setup • WhatsApp included • Unlimited guests
Waitly vs WaitQ
Waitly makes it easy to start a waitlist for free, and its Reserve with Google integration is useful for capturing reservations straight from search. Once volume grows, every plan through Professional caps monthly guest parties, and texting stops until the next cycle when you hit that limit. There's no WhatsApp option on any tier.
WaitQ runs on a flat monthly rate with unlimited visits and reservations (and to-go lists) built into every plan, including Starter. Floorplans and table management is also something WaitQ stands out. WhatsApp goes out alongside SMS and email from day one, and adding locations as you grow is more cost-effective.
How do WaitQ and Waitly compare?
When to choose WaitQ over Waitly?
You want to avoid caps on visits
Waitly's Free, Premium, and Professional plans all cap monthly guest parties, and texting stops once you hit the limit until the next billing cycle. WaitQ doesn't cap visits or reservations on any plan.
You want to use WhatsApp
Waitly sends only SMS. WaitQ includes WhatsApp alongside SMS and email in all plans, a channel with stronger open rates in markets where it's the default way people message.
You seek better value for money
Waitly's free tier is waitlist-only. Reservations and self check-in are locked behind the $49 Premium plan. WaitQ includes both waitlists and reservations, starting from the $27 Starter plan.
Manage reservations alongside waitlists for walk-ins and to-go orders, side-by-side with WaitQ
How does WaitQ and Waitly pricing compare?
WaitQ is more cost-effective as you grow your business and never caps your customer visits.
- WaitQStarts at $27/month with 100 SMS/WhatsApp credits included. Grow and Business add more credits plus 2 and 5 locations respectively. Waitlists, reservations, and customer visits stay unlimited on every plan.
- WaitlyPremium starts at $49/month for up to 1,000 guest parties, with texting turned off once you go over. Professional runs $99/month for 3,000 parties across two locations. Removing the cap entirely means moving to Waitly's Enterprise plan, priced from $249 a month.
All WaitQ plans include...
Unlimited queues and appointments
Every plan of WaitQ comes with unlimited bookings and waitlists. We don't cap your well-earned growth.
On-brand from the first hello
Your logo, colors, and check-in form, branded the moment a customer scans in your waitlist.
No app downloads, no entropy
Any phone, tablet, or laptop with a browser works. No downloads, no app management, no friction.
Valuable wait data
Real-time insights improve service and historical data informs long-term operations.
WhatsApp on top of SMS and email support
Reach customers on the channel with the best open rates in your market.
Choose the plan that fits your operation
Start a 7-day free trial today. No credit card required.
Starter
For small businesses looking to optimize their operation
- 1 business location
- Unlimited waitlists
- Unlimited reservations
- Unlimited customer visits
- 5 staff accounts
- Unlimited email notifications
- 100 SMS/WhatsApp credits included
- 30 days Analytics & customer history
- QR code self check-in & kiosk
Grow
RecommendedFor busier businesses that need more capacity and fewer headaches
- 2 business locations included
- Unlimited waitlists
- Unlimited reservations
- Unlimited customer visits
- 20 staff accounts
- Unlimited email notifications
- 400 SMS/WhatsApp credits included
- 60 days Analytics & customer history
- QR code self check-in & kiosk
- Floor plans
Business
For multi-location operators looking to run their business efficiently
- 5 business locations included
- Unlimited waitlists
- Unlimited reservations
- Unlimited customer visits
- Unlimited staff accounts
- Unlimited email notifications
- 1000 SMS/WhatsApp credits included
- 90 days Analytics & customer history
- QR code self check-in & kiosk
- Priority support
- Floor plans
Your busiest month shouldn't turn off your notifications
Waitly caps guest parties and cuts SMS when you hit the limit. WaitQ keeps every visit, reservation, and WhatsApp notification unlimited, on every plan.
5-minute setup • WhatsApp included • Unlimited guests