Best Restaurant Waitlist Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Waitwhile is ranked #1 of 24 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Carbonara App and NextMe. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Carbonara App. The lowest first paid tier on this page is TablesReady at $3.25/mo.
A queue’s check-in flow and guest updates matter both to staff and to diners waiting for a table. Waitwhile, Carbonara App and TablesReady are at the top of the 2026 ranking, followed by NextMe and bavoli. Compare guest check-in methods and online check-in with guest and location limits, then look at guest notifications, SMS notifications and the format of wait estimates. These details can help you assess how each option handles joining and communicating about a queue. Free-plan availability and paid starting prices add cost context. Match the listed capabilities to your restaurant’s expected guest volume and the ways you want guests to check in and receive updates.
24 restaurant waitlist software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Guest notifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waitwhile | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $31/mo | Yes | 31 /mo | Yes | View |
| 2 | Carbonara App | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $9.99/mo | Yes | 9.99 /mo | Yes | View |
| 3 |  NextMe | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $4.17/mo | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 4 | Waitlist Me | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $27.99/mo | Yes | 27.99 /mo | Yes | View |
| 5 | digiQueue | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 6 |  Shokken | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $19.99/mo | Yes | 200 /mo | Yes | View |
| 7 | TablesReady | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $3.25/mo | Yes | 39 /mo | Yes | View |
| 8 |  EazyQ | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 9 | QwikPass | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 10 | bavoli | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 11 |  queue1 | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 12 |  TableMASH | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 37 /mo | Yes | View |
| 13 | Waittable | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 14 | SpotOn Order | 5.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $55/mo | No | 100 /mo | Yes | View |
| 15 |  Qwaiting | 5.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | 249 /mo | Yes | View |
| 16 | RestaurantConnect | 5.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | 349 /mo | Yes | View |
| 17 | StoveOps | 5.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | 49 /mo | Yes | View |
| 18 |  TableStack | 5.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | Yes | View |
| 19 |  Union Waitlist | 5.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | Yes | View |
| 20 |  Waitflo | 5.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | 20 /mo | Yes | View |
| 21 |  WaitQ | 5.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | Yes | View |
| 22 | CoverManager | 4.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
| 23 | flock | 4.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | Yes | View |
| 24 | Entrybase | 4.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which restaurant waitlist software is ranked first on Inferse?
Waitwhile is ranked #1 of 24 with a score of 7.4. Carbonara App is second and NextMe third.
How many of these have a free plan?
8 of the 24 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, TablesReady has the lowest first paid tier we found: $3.25/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.