# NextMe vs. Waitlist Me

> NextMe vs Waitlist Me: pricing, free plans, table management, features and support, compared side by side so you can pick the right fit.

Source: https://nextmeapp.com/waitlistme/

Compare

Despite both having "Me" in their name, NextMe and Waitlist Me are quite different waitlist tools. Here's how they compare on pricing, features and support. This comparison comes from the NextMe team, so we’ve stuck to facts you can check, including where Waitlist Me is the better fit.

## TL;DR

-   **Pricing.** Waitlist Me's paid plans cost less, from $27.99 a month billed annually. It has no free trial, and its free plan sends no texts without a prepaid balance. NextMe offers a 14-day free trial and a free plan with 100 SMS a month.
-   **Features.** Waitlist Me covers basic waitlists and appointments, with few customization options or enterprise-friendly features. NextMe adds customizable queues and fields and a [virtual waiting room](https://nextmeapp.com/virtual-waiting-room/). Waitlist Me offers table management on its Pro plan and above, which NextMe does not.
-   **Usability.** NextMe ranks 4.9 out of 5 for ease of use on Capterra. Waitlist Me ranks 3.8 out of 5 on the App Store.
-   **Support.** NextMe offers live chat and personal demos. Waitlist Me is reached by email or an in-app issue report.

## Overview

| [NextMe](https://nextmeapp.com/) | [Waitlist Me](https://www.waitlist.me) |
| --- | --- |
| A modern virtual waiting room that makes it simple for teams to manage their waitlist and serve more customers. Keep lines moving and create amazing first impressions, all while saving money on outdated technology. | A waitlist management application for restaurants and other businesses that uses text and phone call notifications to alert customers when it is their turn. Waitlist Me is also commonly referred to as waitlist.me and WaitlistMe. |

## Features

Both platforms offer basic waitlist and appointment management tooling. However, Waitlist Me is built around a single queue per location, with few customization options or enterprise-friendly features for teams looking to scale. It also lacks a **[virtual waiting room](https://nextmeapp.com/virtual-waiting-room/)** to engage with guests while they wait. NextMe, on the other hand, does not offer table management, which Waitlist Me includes from its Pro plan.

| Feature | NextMe | Waitlist Me |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Industry Agnostic | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise Friendly | Yes | No |
| SMS Messaging | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Queues and Fields | Yes | No |
| Appointment Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Self Check-in | Yes | Yes |
| Public Waitlist | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy Options | Yes | No |
| Repeat Guest Lookup | Yes | Yes |
| Estimated Wait Times | Yes | Yes |
| Web App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Waiting Room | Yes | No |
| Table Management | No | Yes |

## Usability

**NextMe**

Ranks **4.9 out of 5** for ease of use based on [**Capterra**](https://www.capterra.com/p/165482/NextMe/) reviews. NextMe is easy to use and train and this is a common source of praise relative to other competing tools. Usability is a frequent theme in NextMe’s positive reviews.

![The NextMe waitlist on a tablet and a phone: guests grouped into queues such as 1 - 2 Top and Carry Out, each with wait times and buttons to message, check in or remove them](https://nextmeapp.com/_astro/nextme-interface-comparison.CmO31Xf8_Z2sFQwq.webp)

**Waitlist Me**

Ranks **3.8 out of 5** on the [**App Store**](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/waitlist-me/id573230074) and has no reviews on [**Capterra**](https://www.capterra.com/p/177811/Waitlist-Me/). Its interface is simpler and less polished than newer tools. If a modern interface isn’t a priority for your business, you may be fine with the experience it offers.

![The Waitlist Me web app in a browser, showing a salon's waitlist with each guest's status, party size, name, time waiting, quoted wait and notes](https://nextmeapp.com/_astro/waitlist-me-interface.CkPbQl1k_1YrTgF.webp)

## Pricing

NextMe offers a 14-day free trial of its paid features and a free plan that includes SMS notifications. Waitlist Me offers no trial, and its free plan sends no texts without a prepaid balance, but its paid plans are cheaper.

Overall, you’ll likely pay less for Waitlist Me, with fewer features and without a trial to try it first. Please note, Waitlist Me [**increased their pricing**](https://blog.waitlist.me/pricing-update-from-september/) in September 2024. The pricing below reflects their increased pricing model.

| Plan | NextMe | Waitlist Me |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free Trial | Yes 14 days | No |
| Free | Yes Up to 100 SMS per month | No text notifications without a prepaid balance |
| Entry plan | Starter: $49.99/mo when billed annually | Premium: $27.99/mo when billed annually |
| Mid plan | Business: $79.99/mo when billed annually | Pro: $47.99/mo when billed annually, adds table management |
| Top plan | Custom pricing | Platinum: $79.99/mo when billed annually, adds an API |

## Support

NextMe offers live chat and personal demos, with phone support on its Custom plan. Waitlist Me is reached by email or an in-app issue report. Both platforms have knowledge bases.

| Support | NextMe | Waitlist Me |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Help Center | Yes | Yes |
| Chat Support | Yes | No |
| Phone Support | Custom plan | No |
| Personal Demos | Yes | No |

## Conclusion

NextMe and Waitlist Me each have their own pros and cons as waitlist platforms. **NextMe** is ideal for teams that need an easy to use, feature-rich solution with reliable human support. Its paid plans cost more, and it does not offer table management.

**Waitlist Me** is the better fit for a restaurant that needs table management on a tight budget. It has cheaper paid plans, but no trial, a very limited free version and fewer ways to reach support.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the main difference between NextMe and Waitlist Me?

Both offer basic waitlist and appointment management. NextMe adds customizable queues and fields, privacy options, enterprise-friendly features and a [virtual waiting room](https://nextmeapp.com/virtual-waiting-room/) to engage guests while they wait. Waitlist Me offers table management, which NextMe does not.

### Is Waitlist Me cheaper than NextMe?

Yes, its paid plans are cheaper: $27.99 a month for Premium and $47.99 a month for Pro, billed annually, compared with $49.99 for NextMe Starter and $79.99 for Business. Its top plan, Platinum, is $79.99 a month. NextMe offers a 14-day free trial and a free plan with 100 SMS a month; Waitlist Me offers no trial, and its free plan sends no text notifications unless you add a prepaid balance.

### Does NextMe offer table management?

Not at this time. If table management is essential for your business, Waitlist Me offers it on its Pro plan and above.

### How does support compare between NextMe and Waitlist Me?

NextMe offers live chat and personal demos, with phone support on its Custom plan. Waitlist Me is reached by email or an in-app issue report. Both have knowledge bases.

### Can I switch to NextMe from Waitlist Me?

Yes. We support data migrations from existing vendors using CSV exports. Our team handles the transfer of key data and workflows into NextMe, with most migrations completed within 3 to 5 business days, including full setup and testing for a smooth transition.