Choosing a queue management system shouldn't require a PhD in software procurement. But with dozens of options ranging from free QR-code tools to $10,000+ enterprise kiosks, it's genuinely hard to know what's worth your money.
We reviewed the most popular queue management systems available in 2026, comparing them on the things that actually matter: pricing, ease of setup, customer experience, and the features you'll use daily — not just the ones that look good on a features page.
Here's what we found.
Quick Comparison Table
| System | Best For | Starting Price | Setup Time | App Required? | Free Plan? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScanQueue | SMBs, restaurants, salons, clinics | $0/mo | 5 minutes | No (QR code) | Yes |
| Qminder | Mid-size offices, service centers | ~$429/mo | 1–2 weeks | No (iPad kiosk) | No |
| Waitwhile | Restaurants, appointments | $0/mo (limited) | 30 minutes | Optional | Yes (limited) |
| QLess | Enterprise, government | Custom pricing | 4–8 weeks | Yes | No |
| NextMe | Restaurants, barbershops | $0/mo (limited) | 15 minutes | Yes (customers) | Yes (limited) |
| Qmatic | Banks, healthcare, government | Custom pricing | 6–12 weeks | No (kiosk) | No |
| Waitlist Me | Small restaurants, salons | $0/mo (limited) | 10 minutes | Optional | Yes (limited) |
Detailed Reviews
1. ScanQueue
What it does: QR code-based virtual queue system. Customers scan a QR code with their phone camera, join a virtual queue through a mobile web page, and get SMS or WhatsApp notifications when it's their turn.
What makes it different: Zero friction for customers — no app download, no account creation, no special hardware. The entire check-in process takes about 15 seconds. Staff manage everything from a real-time dashboard that works on any device.
Pricing:
- Starter (Free): Up to 10 customers/day, QR check-in, real-time dashboard
- Growth ($99/mo): SMS notifications, analytics, custom branding
- Pro ($249/mo): Multi-location, advanced analytics, priority support
Best for: Restaurants, barbershops, salons, clinics, retail stores, and events. Particularly strong for businesses with walk-in traffic where customers won't download an app for a one-time visit.
Pros:
- Genuinely free starter plan (not a 7-day trial)
- 5-minute setup — print a QR code and go
- No hardware to buy or maintain
- Works on any smartphone without downloads
- Clean, modern dashboard
Cons:
- Newer platform with a smaller user base than enterprise competitors
- No kiosk/ticket dispenser option (fully digital)
- Advanced features require paid plans
Our take: ScanQueue is built for the 90% of businesses that don't need enterprise complexity. If you're a restaurant, salon, clinic, or retail store that serves walk-in customers, the QR code approach removes the biggest adoption barrier — getting customers to actually use the system. The free plan is legitimately usable, not a stripped-down teaser.
2. Qminder
What it does: iPad-based check-in system for service locations. Customers sign in on a tablet at the entrance, and staff manage the queue from a desktop dashboard.
What makes it different: Strong focus on visitor management and service analytics. Popular with government offices, telecom stores, and mid-size service centers.
Pricing: Starts around $429/month. No free plan. Hardware (iPad + stand) is additional.
Best for: Mid-size service centers, telecom retail, government offices — businesses with dedicated reception areas and budget for hardware.
Pros:
- Polished iPad check-in experience
- Detailed service analytics and reporting
- Strong visitor management features
- Good for multi-service-point locations
Cons:
- Expensive starting point ($429+/mo)
- Requires iPad hardware at each location
- No free tier to test before committing
- Less suited for quick-service environments like restaurants
Our take: Qminder is a solid product for the right use case — structured service environments where customers walk in, check in on a tablet, and wait for a specific service type. But the pricing puts it out of reach for most small businesses, and the iPad dependency adds setup complexity.
3. Waitwhile
What it does: Queue and appointment management with both virtual waitlist and scheduled booking functionality.
What makes it different: Combines walk-in queue management with appointment scheduling in one platform. Offers both app-based and web-based check-in options.
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 100 visits/month (limited features)
- Business: Starting around $59/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Best for: Businesses that handle both walk-ins and appointments — salons, clinics, some restaurants.
Pros:
- Combined waitlist + appointment scheduling
- Free plan available (with limits)
- Modern interface
- Good notification options
Cons:
- Free plan is quite restrictive (100 visits/month)
- Can be complex to configure for simple use cases
- Pricing jumps quickly at scale
- Customer check-in can require multiple steps
Our take: Waitwhile is a capable platform that tries to do a lot of things well. If you need both appointment scheduling and walk-in queue management in one tool, it's worth considering. But for businesses that are primarily walk-in (restaurants, barbershops), the added complexity of the appointment features can feel like overhead.
4. QLess
What it does: Enterprise-grade virtual queuing platform for large organizations. Customers join queues via mobile app, website, or on-site kiosks.
What makes it different: Built for scale — government agencies, universities, healthcare systems, and large retail chains. Heavy on customization and integration capabilities.
Pricing: Custom only. Typically starts in the thousands per month.
Best for: Enterprise organizations with IT teams, complex queue routing needs, and large budgets.
Pros:
- Handles extremely high volumes
- Deep customization and integration options
- Strong reporting and business intelligence
- Proven in government and healthcare
Cons:
- No published pricing (sales process required)
- Long implementation timelines (4–8 weeks+)
- Overkill for small businesses
- Requires customer app download for mobile features
Our take: QLess is the enterprise option. If you're a university registrar, a government agency, or a healthcare network with 50+ locations, it's worth a conversation. For a restaurant or retail store, it's like using a bulldozer to dig a garden bed.
5. NextMe
What it does: Virtual waitlist app focused on restaurants and barbershops. Customers join via a mobile app and receive notifications when it's their turn.
What makes it different: Simple, restaurant-focused interface with a consumer app that lets diners find and join waitlists at nearby participating businesses.
Pricing:
- Free: Basic waitlist (limited)
- Pro: Around $60–80/month
- Premium: Higher tiers available
Best for: Restaurants and barbershops that want a consumer-facing app ecosystem.
Pros:
- Consumer app can drive discovery (new customers find you)
- Simple, focused interface
- Decent free plan for testing
- Restaurant-specific features
Cons:
- Requires customers to download an app — significant friction
- Less versatile outside restaurant/barbershop use case
- Smaller market presence
- Limited analytics compared to alternatives
Our take: NextMe's consumer app concept is interesting — the idea that diners can discover your restaurant through the waitlist app. But the fundamental requirement for customers to download an app remains the biggest barrier. In a world where people won't download apps for airlines they fly monthly, expecting them to download one for a restaurant visit is a tough ask.
6. Qmatic
What it does: Full-scale queue management with hardware kiosks, ticket dispensers, digital signage, and enterprise software.
What makes it different: The most hardware-heavy option on this list. Qmatic provides the physical infrastructure (kiosks, screens, printers) alongside the software.
Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing. Hardware + software + installation can run $5,000–$20,000+ per location.
Best for: Banks, large healthcare facilities, government offices — organizations that need physical queue infrastructure.
Pros:
- Comprehensive hardware + software solution
- Proven in banking and government
- Sophisticated queue routing and management
- Strong in regions where digital literacy varies
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Long implementation timelines
- Hardware maintenance requirements
- Not viable for small businesses
Our take: Qmatic is the legacy leader in queue management hardware. If you're fitting out a new bank branch or government service center and need ticket dispensers, digital displays, and the whole physical infrastructure, Qmatic delivers. For everyone else, it's overbuilt and overpriced.
7. Waitlist Me
What it does: Simple waitlist and reservation management for restaurants and small service businesses.
What makes it different: Focused on simplicity. No-frills waitlist management with optional customer-facing features.
Pricing:
- Free: Basic waitlist (limited)
- Pro: Around $20–25/month
- Premium: Higher tiers for additional features
Best for: Small restaurants and service businesses that want the simplest possible waitlist tool.
Pros:
- Very affordable paid plans
- Easy to learn and use
- Adequate for basic waitlist needs
- Both free and low-cost options
Cons:
- Limited features compared to competitors
- Basic analytics
- Less polished customer-facing experience
- Fewer notification options
Our take: Waitlist Me is the budget option. If you literally just need a digital version of the clipboard — add names, check them off, maybe send a text — it gets the job done cheaply. But you'll outgrow it fast if you want analytics, multi-location support, or a polished customer experience.
How to Choose: Decision Framework
Your budget is under $100/month and you serve walk-in customers?
ScanQueue (free plan) or Waitlist Me (free/low-cost). ScanQueue if you want QR code check-in and SMS; Waitlist Me if you want the absolute simplest tool.
You need both appointments and walk-in management?
Waitwhile. It handles both, though the complexity is higher.
You're a mid-size service center with reception staff?
Qminder. The iPad check-in experience is polished, and the service analytics are strong.
You're an enterprise organization (government, university, hospital chain)?
QLess or Qmatic. QLess for virtual/digital-first; Qmatic if you need physical hardware.
You're a restaurant wanting a consumer-facing app ecosystem?
NextMe. But weigh the app-download friction carefully.
The Bottom Line
The queue management market has matured significantly. You no longer need to spend thousands on hardware or lock into enterprise contracts to give your customers a modern waiting experience.
For most small-to-medium businesses, the decision comes down to: how much friction are you willing to put between your customer and your queue?
An app download is friction. A kiosk sign-in is friction. A QR code scan is the lowest-friction digital option available today — and that's why the market is moving in that direction.
Whatever you choose, the worst option is no system at all. Every business that serves walk-in customers loses revenue to the "line looks too long, let's go somewhere else" problem. A queue management system — any of them — makes that line invisible.
Try ScanQueue Free
No credit card, no contracts, 5-minute setup. See why businesses are switching to QR code queuing.
Create Your Free Account →ScanQueue Team
Queue Management Experts
Helping businesses reduce wait times and improve customer experience with smart queue management solutions.
