Best Free Queue Management Apps in 2026 (7 Tested)

The best free queue management app in 2026 is ScanQueue — it offers a permanent free tier with unlimited queue entries, QR code check-in, and a real-time dashboard. No credit card, no 14-day trial, no catch. But several other apps also offer genuinely free plans, and the right choice depends on your business type and which limitations you can live with.

We tested 7 free queue management apps on real businesses to find out which ones actually deliver on the "free" promise. Most queue management platforms advertise a free plan, but the limitations vary wildly — some cap you at 25 customers per day, others strip out SMS entirely, and a few are just 14-day trials disguised as free tiers.

Here is an honest breakdown of what you actually get for free.

Free Tier Comparison Table

1. ScanQueue — Best Free Queue App Overall

ScanQueue is purpose-built for walk-in businesses that need a queue running in minutes, not months. The free Starter plan includes unlimited queue entries, a QR code for customer check-in, and a real-time dashboard — with no credit card required and no expiry date.

Customers scan the QR code, join the queue on their phone (no app download), and see their position update in real time. Staff manage everything from a clean web dashboard on any device. The free plan is genuinely functional for a single-location business with moderate traffic.

What you get for free: Unlimited queue entries, QR code check-in, real-time dashboard, customer queue status page. What requires a paid plan: SMS notifications, analytics, multi-service queues, and voice call notifications start at the Growth plan ($99/mo).

• Pros: Unlimited entries on free plan, no app required for customers, 5-minute setup, works on any device
• Cons: No SMS on free plan, no hardware kiosk option
• Best for: Restaurants, barbershops, clinics, events — any walk-in business

2. Waitwhile — Best Free Plan for Appointments + Walk-Ins

Waitwhile combines queue management with appointment scheduling on a polished interface. The free plan covers one location with up to 100 visits per month, including basic SMS notifications — making it a solid choice for low-volume businesses that need both walk-in and booking support.

The guest experience is smooth: customers join via link, QR code, or online booking page. Staff see a unified view of walk-ins and appointments. Analytics are limited on the free tier but the core queue functionality works well.

• Pros: Appointment + walk-in combo, SMS included on free tier, polished UI
• Cons: 100 visits/mo cap on free plan, per-location pricing gets expensive ($59+/mo per location)
• Best for: Salons, clinics, and service businesses with mixed walk-in and appointment traffic

3. Waitlist Me — Best Free iPad Waitlist

Waitlist Me is one of the oldest waitlist apps on the market, primarily designed for iPad. The free plan supports up to 100 parties per month with basic waitlist management — add guests, track wait times, and manage the list from a tablet at the host stand.

The app-based approach means staff need an iPad or tablet to manage the queue. Customers do not get QR code self-check-in on the free plan — the host manually adds them. It works fine for traditional host-stand operations but feels dated compared to web-based alternatives.

• Pros: Simple and familiar iPad interface, party size and wait time tracking, long track record
• Cons: Requires iPad app for staff, no QR code check-in on free plan, no SMS on free tier, 100 party/mo cap
• Best for: Traditional restaurants with a dedicated host stand and iPad

4. NextMe — Best Free Minimal Waitlist

NextMe focuses on simplicity. The free plan covers one location with basic waitlist features: customers join via link or QR code, see their position, and get basic text notifications. The interface is clean and easy to learn — staff can be managing the queue within minutes.

The trade-off for that simplicity is limited functionality. Analytics are basic, there is no multi-service queue support on the free plan, and customisation options are minimal. For very small businesses that need a straightforward digital waitlist, it does the job.

• Pros: Clean and minimal, easy to learn, QR code check-in included
• Cons: Limited analytics, no multi-service queues on free plan, limited SMS
• Best for: Very small businesses that need the basics and nothing more

5. QueueBee — Best Free Trial for Multi-Channel Queuing

QueueBee supports physical kiosks, mobile check-in, and online booking in one platform. It does not have a permanent free tier — instead it offers a limited demo or trial period. The platform is designed for businesses that want both digital and physical queue touchpoints.

QueueBee is more enterprise-oriented, with custom pricing that typically starts at $200+/mo with hardware. For businesses that need kiosk integration, it is one of the few options. But the lack of a true free plan and opaque pricing make it a harder sell for budget-conscious businesses.

• Pros: Hardware kiosk options, multi-channel support, digital signage integration
• Cons: No permanent free tier, custom pricing only, requires hardware investment
• Best for: Businesses that need physical kiosks alongside digital queuing

6. SimpleQ — Best Free App-Based Queue

SimpleQ is a mobile app that provides basic queue management from your phone. The free version handles a single queue with basic features — add customers, call the next person, track wait times. It is straightforward and lightweight.

The main limitation is that SimpleQ is entirely app-based — both staff and customers need the app. There is no web dashboard, no QR code check-in, and no SMS notifications. It works more like a digital version of a paper sign-up sheet than a modern queue management platform.

• Pros: Completely free basic plan, simple to use, lightweight
• Cons: App required for staff and customers, no QR code, no SMS, no web dashboard
• Best for: Very basic queue tracking when budget is zero and simplicity is the priority

7. Yelp Waitlist (Guest Manager) — Best for Yelp-Heavy Restaurants

Yelp Waitlist (now Yelp Guest Manager) lets diners join your waitlist directly from your Yelp business listing. It is tightly integrated with the Yelp ecosystem — reviews, photos, and waitlist in one place. Diners already browsing Yelp can add themselves to your queue without leaving the app.

Important note: Yelp Waitlist does not have a free tier. Pricing starts at $99/mo. We included it in this roundup because it is frequently searched alongside free queue apps, and it is worth knowing the cost before you invest time evaluating it. The Yelp integration is powerful if your restaurant relies on Yelp for discovery, but the price tag puts it out of reach for businesses looking for a free solution.

• Pros: Direct Yelp integration, diners join from your listing, SMS included, reservation support
• Cons: No free tier ($99/mo minimum), Yelp-dependent, less useful outside the US
• Best for: US restaurants with strong Yelp presence that want a seamless discovery-to-waitlist pipeline

What to Look for in a Free Queue App

Not all free plans are created equal. Here is what separates a genuinely useful free tier from a glorified demo:

• No entry caps (or high caps) — A free plan that limits you to 25 customers per day is useless for most businesses. Look for unlimited entries or at least 100+ per month.
• No credit card required — If you need to enter payment details to start a "free" plan, it is a trial, not a free tier.
• No app requirement for customers — Asking customers to download an app kills adoption. QR code or web link check-in is essential for real-world usage.
• Real-time dashboard — Staff need to see the queue updating live. A queue app without real-time updates defeats the purpose.
• Permanent, not time-limited — A 14-day free trial is not a free plan. Make sure "free" means free forever.

Bottom Line

If you want a genuinely free queue management app with no catches, ScanQueue and NextMe are your best options. ScanQueue offers unlimited queue entries with QR code check-in, while NextMe provides a clean minimal waitlist. Waitwhile is ideal if you need both appointments and walk-in queuing, though the 100 visits/mo cap on the free plan is tight for busier locations.

For most walk-in businesses — restaurants, barbershops, clinics, events — ScanQueue's free plan provides everything you need to replace a paper sign-up sheet with a proper digital queue. When you are ready for SMS notifications and analytics, the Growth plan is a straightforward upgrade.

For a broader comparison that includes paid-only platforms, see our best queue management systems in 2026 roundup. And if you are specifically interested in how QR code check-in works, check out our guide on QR code queue management.