Comparisons
Outgrowing a free waitlist: signs it is time, and what moving looks like
A free waitlist is a fine way to stop using paper. thewaitlist has one: its Free plan is $0 a month with no card. This is not a reason to avoid it. It is a way to tell when a shop needs more than a list.
What thewaitlist offers
From its pricing page (checked October 2026): Free is $0 a month with 300 texts a month; Pro is $29 a month with 1,000 texts, then 2¢ each, and its first 10 shops get Pro free for a year. Its Pro line board is a browser screen on a tablet or a laptop plugged into a TV. The pages we checked do not mention appointments or taking payments.
Signs you have outgrown it
You want a real waiting-room screen with spoken call-ups on the web TV, or a native TV app. You want customers to book the busy hours and walk in the rest. You want a bill, tips and a close-out at the end of the visit. You have a second location, or you are tired of reading names off a list because no one can see the line from the door.
What moving costs
NextUp Walk-in is $29 a month for the first location with a 14-day trial of every Pro feature, and the TV, door tablet and QR code are on every plan. Texts are coming soon. Online booking is on the Pro plan at $59. A free plan wins on price, and that is a fair reason to stay; the comparison page has the table.
Your customers move by scanning a new QR code. Bring any client list you have with an import. The import guide covers it.
Questions
Is thewaitlist free?
Its Free plan is $0 a month with no card, as of October 2026. Check its pricing page for today’s terms.
Does NextUp Walk-in have a free plan?
No. There is a 14-day free trial with every Pro feature.