# NextMe vs. Waitwhile

> NextMe vs Waitwhile: current pricing, SMS costs, location limits, features and support, compared side by side so you can pick the right fit.

Source: https://nextmeapp.com/waitwhile/

Compare

NextMe and Waitwhile are two of the only truly industry-agnostic, flexible queuing tools, so they’re often compared side by side. Here's how they differ on pricing, features and support. This comparison comes from the NextMe team, so we’ve stuck to facts you can check, including where Waitwhile is the better fit.

## TL;DR

-   **Pricing transparency.** NextMe publishes one price per plan, with SMS included and no location limit. Waitwhile’s headline prices ($31 and $55 per location a month billed annually, against $49.99 and $79.99 for NextMe) cover a capped number of visits per location, and every text message is billed on top, so the real cost is hard to predict until you’re using it.
-   **Scale.** Waitwhile’s self-serve plans stop at 10 locations, after which teams need custom Enterprise pricing. NextMe’s plans have no location limit.
-   **Pricing history.** In June 2025 Waitwhile removed SMS credits from every plan, including existing customers’ plans at renewal. NextMe has never retroactively raised prices for existing customers.
-   **Ownership.** In July 2025 Waitwhile was [acquired by Allegion](https://waitwhile.com/press/), a security and access company.
-   **Support.** Businesses that move from Waitwhile to NextMe often cite a lack of human support as a reason for the switch.

## Overview

| [NextMe](https://nextmeapp.com/) | [Waitwhile](https://waitwhile.com) |
| --- | --- |
| NextMe is 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 Keep lines moving and create amazing first impressions, all while saving money on outdated technology. | Waitwhile is a customer journey management solution with virtual waitlists, appointment scheduling, event registration, messaging, analytics, and more. |

## Features

Both tools work across industries and offer a comparable feature set. Waitwhile gives guests a live status page and two-way chat, but not a branded **[virtual waiting room](https://nextmeapp.com/virtual-waiting-room/)** with your own content to engage them while they wait. Neither platform offers table management for restaurants at this time.

| Feature | NextMe | Waitwhile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Industry Agnostic | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise Friendly | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Messaging | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Queues and Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Appointment Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Self Check-in | Yes | Yes |
| Public Waitlist | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy Options | Yes | Yes |
| Repeat Guest Lookup | Yes | Yes |
| Team Management | 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 | No |

## 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)

**Waitwhile**

Ranks **4.7 out of 5** for ease of use based on [**Capterra**](https://www.capterra.com/p/152494/Waitwhile/) reviews. Waitwhile is sleek and usability is a core principle in the company’s values. Usability is commonly praised in reviews, with the exception of their iOS and Android apps which have received more critical feedback.

![The Waitwhile web app's Waiting list, showing each guest's name, party size, staff member, service and time waited](https://nextmeapp.com/_astro/waitwhile-interface.B0AutFVs_21f8vf.webp)

## Pricing

NextMe’s pricing is transparent: one published price per plan, with thousands of SMS a month included and no location limit. Waitwhile’s headline prices are lower at both self-serve tiers, but they’re rarely what a busy location ends up paying, because so much is billed or capped on top. Waitwhile includes no text messages in any plan and bills each one separately. Its Starter and Business plans also cap visits per location (250 and 500 a month) and stop at 10 locations, after which you need custom Enterprise pricing. NextMe has no location limit on any plan.

Waitwhile has changed its plans twice for existing customers. In 2022 it narrowed the number of locations its Starter plan allowed, and in June 2025 it removed the SMS credits included in every plan, applying to existing customers at renewal. NextMe has never retroactively increased pricing for its existing customers.

| Plan | NextMe | Waitwhile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free Trial | Yes 14 days | No Free plan instead |
| Free | Up to 100 SMS per month | 1 location, up to 50 visits per month, small one-time SMS credit |
| Starter | $49.99 per location per month billed annually, 3,000 SMS a month included, no location limit | $31 per location per month billed annually, up to 10 locations and 250 visits per location. SMS billed separately. |
| Business | $79.99 per location per month billed annually, 5,000 SMS a month included, no location limit | $55 per location per month billed annually, up to 10 locations and 500 visits per location. SMS billed separately. |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom, required above 10 locations or 5,000 visits a month |

## Support

Both platforms offer a help center, chat and demos, and both keep phone support for their largest plans. NextMe’s support is known for being personal and hands-on. Businesses that move from Waitwhile to NextMe often cite a lack of human support as a reason for the switch.

| Support | NextMe | Waitwhile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Help Center | Yes | Yes |
| Chat Support | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Custom plan | Enterprise plan |
| Personal Demos | Yes | Yes |

## Conclusion

Both **NextMe** and **Waitwhile** are excellent waitlist management solutions, each with its own strengths. **NextMe** is ideal for teams that need an easy to use, feature-rich solution at an affordable price with reliable human support. It’s great for teams of any size, from a single location to enterprise, that are looking to ramp up a solution quickly and/or anticipate scaling up in the future. **Waitwhile** is a strong contender for low-volume locations that send few text messages and stay under its visit caps, and for enterprises that need deep customization.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the main difference between NextMe and Waitwhile?

Both offer a comparable feature set, including SMS messaging, customizable notifications and queues, appointment scheduling, self check-in, and web, iOS and Android apps. The main difference is that NextMe includes a [virtual waiting room](https://nextmeapp.com/virtual-waiting-room/) to engage guests while they wait, which Waitwhile does not offer.

### Is NextMe cheaper than Waitwhile?

Not on the headline price, but often on what you actually pay, and NextMe’s pricing is easier to predict. Waitwhile Starter is listed at $31 and Business at $55 per location per month billed annually, against $49.99 and $79.99 for NextMe. Those prices cover 250 or 500 visits per location a month, and Waitwhile includes no text messages in any plan, billing each one separately, while NextMe Starter includes 3,000 SMS a month and Business 5,000. Waitwhile’s self-serve plans also stop at 10 locations, after which larger teams need custom Enterprise pricing; NextMe’s plans have no location limit.

### Do NextMe and Waitwhile offer a free trial?

NextMe offers a 14-day free trial of its paid features and a free plan with 100 SMS a month. Waitwhile offers a free plan for 1 location and 50 visits a month, with a small one-time SMS credit, in place of a timed trial.

### Do NextMe and Waitwhile work for enterprise teams?

Yes. Both are enterprise friendly, and both offer enterprise and event pricing through a chat with their sales team.

### How does support compare between NextMe and Waitwhile?

Both offer a help center, chat support and demos, and both reserve phone support for their largest plans (NextMe Custom, Waitwhile Enterprise). NextMe’s support is known for being personal and hands-on.

### Can I switch to NextMe from Waitwhile?

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.