Overview
| NextMe | Toast Tables |
|---|---|
| NextMe is a virtual waiting room and queue platform for restaurants, clinics, retail, government and live events. Founded in Chicago in 2015. | Toast Tables is the waitlist, reservations and table management add-on for Toast’s restaurant point of sale. Toast launched it in 2023. |
Features
Both run a walk-in waitlist with texting and online joining. NextMe is a dedicated waitlist that works on its own, with a branded virtual waiting room. Toast Tables is built into Toast POS, which ties seating to orders and guest profiles for restaurants already on Toast.
| Feature | NextMe | Toast Tables |
|---|---|---|
| Waitlist | Yes | Yes |
| Online and QR Code Check-in | Yes | Yes |
| Two-Way Texting | Yes | Yes |
| WhatsApp Notifications | Yes Every plan | Not listed |
| Virtual Waiting Room With Your Own Content | Yes | Not listed (place in line) |
| Works With Any POS | Yes | No Toast POS |
| Works Beyond Restaurants | Yes | No |
| Runs on Toast Devices | Any device | No Separate tablet needed |
| Reservations and Bookings | Yes | Yes |
| Table Assignment | Yes | Yes |
| Visual Floor Plan | No | Yes |
Pricing
NextMe’s prices are per location per month, as published in October 2026, and $10 to $20 a month less when billed annually. Toast doesn’t publish current pricing for Toast Tables. The figures below were reported at launch in April 2023.
| Plan | NextMe | Toast Tables |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Yes 14 days | Not listed |
| Free | Yes 100 SMS a month | No |
| Entry | Starter: $59.99, 3,000 SMS a month | Toast Tables: $50 at launch, up to 25 reservations a month |
| Mid | Business: $99.99, 5,000 SMS a month | Tables Plus: $199 at launch, unlimited reservations |
| Requires Toast POS | No | Yes |
Support
NextMe offers live chat on every paid plan, phone support on Custom, and hands-on help for live events, including onsite technicians. Toast supports Tables through Toast Customer Care, by phone and chat.
Conclusion
NextMe is the stronger fit for restaurants that want a dedicated waitlist without being tied to one point of sale: clear pricing, any device, a virtual waiting room that turns the wait into engagement, and the freedom to change POS without losing your waitlist. Toast Tables suits restaurants already on Toast that want seating tied to orders and guest profiles in one system.
For more detail, read our post on whether you need a standalone waitlist app.
Weighing more than two apps? We compared the best waitlist apps side by side.
If you’re on Toast Tables today, you can keep Toast for payments and run your waitlist on NextMe. Reach out to us to learn more.
