# NextMe vs. Toast Tables

> NextMe vs Toast Tables: POS lock-in, hardware, pricing, the guest experience and who each one is for, compared side by side so you can pick the right fit.

Source: https://nextmeapp.com/toast-tables/

Compare

NextMe and Toast Tables both run restaurant waitlists that text guests when their table is ready. The biggest difference is that Toast Tables comes with Toast’s point of sale, and NextMe works with any. Here’s how they compare. This comparison comes from the NextMe team, so we’ve stuck to facts you can check, including where Toast Tables is the better fit.

## TL;DR

-   **No lock-in.** NextMe works with any point of sale. Toast Tables is sold to Toast POS customers.
-   **Clear pricing.** NextMe publishes its prices, from a free plan to $99.99 a month with 5,000 SMS. Toast doesn’t publish current Toast Tables pricing.
-   **Any device.** NextMe runs on any browser, tablet or phone. Toast Tables needs a separate iPad or Android tablet, because it isn’t supported on Toast devices.
-   **Guest experience.** NextMe’s [virtual waiting room](https://nextmeapp.com/virtual-waiting-room/) runs your own content, offers and sponsor messages while guests wait. Toast’s guest page shows place in line.

## Overview

| [NextMe](https://nextmeapp.com/) | [Toast Tables](https://pos.toasttab.com/products/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](https://nextmeapp.com/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](https://nextmeapp.com/blog/restaurant-operations/toast-tables-alternative-do-you-need-a-standalone-waitlist-app/).

Weighing more than two apps? We compared [the best waitlist apps](https://nextmeapp.com/blog/waitlist-and-queue-management/best-waitlist-apps-compared/) 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](https://nextmeapp.com/contact-us/) to learn more.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I use Toast Tables without Toast POS?

Toast sells Tables to Toast customers, set up from your Toast POS, and its site doesn’t offer it on its own. NextMe is a standalone waitlist that works alongside any point of sale, so you can change your POS without losing your waitlist or guest history.

### How much does Toast Tables cost?

Toast doesn’t publish current Toast Tables pricing; you get a quote through Toast. At launch in April 2023, it was reported at $50 a month, or $199 for Tables Plus with unlimited reservations. NextMe publishes its prices: a free plan, and paid plans at $59.99 and $99.99 a month with 3,000 and 5,000 SMS included.

### Does Toast Tables run on Toast hardware?

No. Toast says the Tables app isn’t supported on Toast-branded devices, so you need a separate iPad or Android tablet at the host stand. NextMe runs in any web browser, on any tablet or phone, with native iOS and Android apps.

### Does Toast Tables have a virtual waiting room?

Toast’s guest page shows a guest’s place in line. NextMe’s [virtual waiting room](https://nextmeapp.com/virtual-waiting-room/) shows place in line alongside your own content, offers and sponsor messages while guests wait.

### Can I switch to NextMe from Toast Tables?

Yes. You can keep Toast as your point of sale and run your waitlist on NextMe. Our team moves your key data and workflows into NextMe, with most migrations done within 3 to 5 business days.