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WaitQ vs Waitly

WaitQ vs Waitly: the best Waitly alternative for restaurants

WaitQ gives you digital check-in, real-time queue control and unlimited visits on a flat monthly rate, with push notifications, SMS, WhatsApp and email included.

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5-minute setup · WhatsApp included · Unlimited guests

By Bruno B.Updated

Waitly is a waitlist and reservations app for restaurants. It makes it easy to start a waitlist for free, and its Reserve with Google integration captures reservations straight from search. Once volume grows, every plan below Enterprise caps monthly guest parties, and texting stops until the next billing cycle (Waitly pricing).

WaitQ is a queue management and reservations platform for restaurants and other busy businesses. It runs on a flat monthly rate with unlimited visits, reservations and to-go lists on every plan, including Starter. It adds floor plans and table management, and notifies guests by push, SMS, WhatsApp or email.

On this page
  1. Main differences
  2. Feature comparison
  3. Pricing compared
  4. Which one fits you
  5. How to switch
  6. FAQ

What are the main differences between WaitQ and Waitly?

WaitQ includes unlimited visits, WhatsApp and floor plans on a flat monthly rate. Waitly offers Reserve with Google and a free basic waitlist, but caps guest parties below its Enterprise plan and sends SMS only.

WaitQBest for restaurants that want unlimited visits and WhatsApp
WaitQ waitlist and reservations on one screen
Starting price
$27/month
Unlimited visits
✓ All plans
WaitlyBest for restaurants that rely on Reserve with Google
Starting price
Free; paid from $49/month
Unlimited visits
Enterprise only
Strength:
Unlimited visits on every planBusy nights never push you into a higher tier or stop your texts.
Limitation:
Guest parties capped below EnterpriseTexting stops once the monthly cap is reached, until the next billing cycle.
Strength:
WhatsApp, SMS, push and emailGuests get called on the channel they actually read (notifications).
Limitation:
SMS onlyNo WhatsApp on any plan, which matters where it's the default way people message.
Strength:
Floor plans and table managementTable status on a floor plan, on Grow and Business (table management).
Not available:
No floor plansSeating is managed outside the waitlist.
Limitation:
No Reserve with Google yetBookings come through your WaitQ booking page and links.
Strength:
Reserve with GoogleGuests book a table straight from Google search.

How do WaitQ and Waitly compare in features?

Both run digital queues and reservations. WaitQ adds unlimited visits, WhatsApp, guest lists, to-go lists and floor plans on its standard plans. Waitly adds Reserve with Google, which WaitQ doesn't offer, but caps visits and keeps custom branding for higher plans.

✓ IncludedPartial or with limits✕ Not available
WaitQ and Waitly compared on 13 features
FeatureWaitQWaitly
Core
Digital queue✓✓
Reservations✓✓
Guest lists for events✓✕
Takeaway / to-go lists✓✕
Capacity
Unlimited visits✓All plansEnterprise only (from $249/month) (Partial)
Multi-location✓1, 2 or 5 included✓1, 2 or unlimited
Features
Geofencing✓✓
Reserve with Google✕✓
Custom branding✓All plansProfessional and up (Partial)
Floor plans & tables✓Grow and Business✕
Queue display (TV)✓✕
Notifications
SMS✓✓
WhatsApp✓✕

How does WaitQ and Waitly pricing compare?

WaitQ starts at $27/month billed annually with unlimited visits on every plan. Waitly is free for up to 100 guests a month and starts at $49/month for reservations, but caps guest parties until its Enterprise plan, from $249/month. Prices come from WaitQ pricing and Waitly's pricing page.

WaitQ

Flat monthly rate. Unlimited visits, waitlists and reservations on every plan.

  • Free trial7 daysNo card needed
  • Starter$27/monthBilled annually, 1 location
  • Grow$49/month2 locations
  • Business$119/month5 locations
  • ✓ No visit cap on any plan
  • ✓ 100 to 1,000 SMS and WhatsApp credits a month

Waitly

Free basic waitlist. Paid plans priced by guest parties per month.

  • Free$0100 guest parties
  • Premium$49/month1,000 guest parties
  • Professional$99/month3,000 parties, 2 locations
  • EnterpriseFrom $249/monthNo party cap
  • Guest parties capped below Enterprise
  • ✕ Texting stops at the cap until the next billing cycle
  • SMS only, no WhatsApp
Switching from Waitly?Start a 7-day free trial, no card needed. Your first waitlist takes about 5 minutes.
Start WaitQ for free

Should you choose WaitQ or Waitly?

Choose WaitQ if visit caps, WhatsApp or table management matter to your restaurant. Choose Waitly if most of your bookings come through Reserve with Google, or if a free waitlist covers your volume.

Best pick for each situation
Your businessWhat to look forBest fit
Busy nights that would hit a visit capLook for unlimited visits, so texting never stops mid-service. Waitly caps guest parties below Enterprise; WaitQ doesn't cap any plan.WaitQ
Guests who expect WhatsAppLook for WhatsApp alongside SMS. Waitly sends SMS only; WaitQ includes WhatsApp on every plan.WaitQ
Seating by floor plan and tableLook for floor plans with table status. WaitQ includes them on Grow and Business; Waitly doesn't offer them.WaitQ
Most bookings come from GoogleLook for Reserve with Google, so guests book straight from search. Waitly integrates it; WaitQ doesn't yet.Waitly
Low volume, no budgetLook for a free plan that covers your volume. Waitly's free tier runs a basic waitlist for up to 100 guests a month; WaitQ starts with a 7-day trial.Waitly

Do more with WaitQ

Unlimited queues and appointments

Every plan comes with unlimited bookings and waitlists. We don't cap your growth.

Unlimited queues and appointments

On-brand from the first hello

Your logo, colors and check-in form, the moment a customer scans in.

On-brand from the first hello

No app downloads

Any phone, tablet or laptop with a browser works.

No app downloads

Valuable wait data

Real-time insights improve service, and history informs long-term operations.

Valuable wait data

Push, SMS, WhatsApp and email

Reach customers on the channel with the best open rates in your market.

Push, SMS, WhatsApp and email

How do you switch from Waitly to WaitQ?

Switching from Waitly to WaitQ takes about an afternoon: set up your restaurant, brand your check-in page, then run both tools side by side for one service before you move over.

  1. Start a free trial and add your restaurant.Sign up for a 7-day trial with no card, then add your location and opening hours.
  2. Set up your waitlist, reservations and floor plan.Add your tables and party sizes, and brand your check-in page with your logo and colors.
  3. Share your QR code and booking link.Print the QR code for the door and add the link to your website and social profiles.
  4. Run both for one service, then switch.Keep Waitly running for one service while your team gets used to WaitQ, then point guests to WaitQ only.

Choose the plan that fits your operation

Start a 7-day free trial today. No credit card required.

Annual saves up to 23%

Starter

For small businesses looking to optimize their operation

$27/month billed annually
  • 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
Start a 7-day trial for free

Grow

Recommended

For busier businesses that need more capacity and fewer headaches

$49/month billed annually
  • 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
Start a 7-day trial for free

Business

For multi-location operators looking to run their business efficiently

$119/month billed annually
  • 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
Start a 7-day trial for free

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Waitly alternative for restaurants?

WaitQ is the most practical Waitly alternative for restaurants that need WhatsApp notifications or flat, predictable pricing. It starts at $27/month billed annually, with unlimited guests, waitlists and reservations.

Does Waitly support WhatsApp notifications?

No. Waitly sends notifications by SMS only, with no WhatsApp on any plan. WaitQ includes WhatsApp alongside SMS, push and email on every plan.

How many guest parties does Waitly's Premium plan include?

1,000 a month. Professional raises that to 3,000 across two locations, and removing the cap means moving to Enterprise, from $249/month.

Is WaitQ cheaper than Waitly?

For most restaurants, yes. WaitQ starts at $27/month billed annually with unlimited visits, while Waitly's paid plans start at $49/month and cap guest parties until Enterprise, from $249/month. Waitly's free plan costs less if 100 guests a month covers your volume.

Does WaitQ support Reserve with Google?

No, not yet. Guests book through your WaitQ booking page or link. If most of your bookings come from Google search, Waitly's Reserve with Google integration is the better fit.

What's the cheapest way to remove Waitly's guest cap?

Waitly's Enterprise plan, from $249/month. WaitQ's Business plan includes unlimited visits at $119/month, with five locations included.

For busy businesses

Smarter queue management starts here

Let customers join from their phone, wait wherever they like and come back when it's their turn. Unlimited visits on every plan.

Start WaitQ for free

Free 7-day trial · No credit card required

WaitQ

About the author

Bruno B.LinkedIn

Bruno is one of the co-founders of WaitQ, currently the Marketing & Growth Lead. He has spent over a decade leading marketing strategies for SaaS companies across Europe, the US, and Asia.