Keep every chair full with a free walk-in waitlist

When walk-ins pile up at the front desk, chairs sit empty and clients drift down the block. The free waitlist app puts your line on your phone: add a client in seconds, give each one a private link to a live page showing their place and estimated wait, and run a separate line for every stylist or a single "next available" queue. No signup, no per-person fees — the walk-in waitlist is free.

Try the free app →No signup. Works offline.

The salon-specific problems we solve

  • Walk-ins that clog the front desk Add each client to a live line from your phone and hand them a link so they can watch their spot instead of hovering at reception.
  • A line per stylist Run multiple lines — one for each chair or barber — plus a "next available" queue when a client will take whoever's free first.
  • Clients waiting on the sidewalk Each person gets a private live page with their place and estimated wait, so they can grab a coffee and come back when it's close.
  • The whole team out of sync Everyone at the shop sees the same line update in real time, so no one calls the same name twice.
  • Fade details lost between chairs Add a per-person note — "skin fade, #2 on the sides" or "toner, no bleach" — that rides along with the client's spot.
  • Nobody watching the front Put a public TV display board on a screen in the window or waiting area so clients see the line move without asking.

How it's different from Booksy, Fresha, Vagaro and the paper sheet

Booksy, Fresha and Vagaro are built around booked appointments and take a cut or a monthly fee to run your calendar. The free waitlist is the opposite starting point: it's for the walk-in reality of a busy shop — a live line you run from your phone with no signup and no per-client charge. You keep your existing booking setup or your paper sheet; this just fixes the chaos at the door.

The clipboard on the counter can't tell a client their place or estimated wait, and it can't show the whole team the same line at once. The free waitlist does both, and clients follow along on a link instead of asking "how much longer?" every few minutes.

When you're ready for more — a reservations calendar, memberships and packages, paid bookings, or texting that the app sends for you — those live on a paid plan. You grow into them; you don't have to start there.

Common setups

Barbershop with four chairs

Run one line per barber plus a "next available" queue for clients who'll take whoever's open. Each client gets a link with their place and wait; your TV board shows the room how fast it's moving.

Salon mixing walk-ins and regulars

Keep the walk-in line free on your phone. When you're ready to let regulars book ahead or buy packages, add reservations and memberships on a paid plan — the walk-in line keeps running exactly as it did.

Busy Saturday rush

Let clients self-add by scanning a QR code or tapping a link, so nobody's stuck at the desk. The team syncs in real time, and you text a client from your own phone when their chair opens.

Free vs paid — what you get

Here's the honest split. The walk-in waitlist is free: live lines from your phone, private client links with place and estimated wait, self-add by QR or link, multiple lines and "next available", real-time team sync, a public TV display board, per-person notes, offline support, and texting from your own phone (you tap, your messaging app opens).

  • On a paid plan Managed SMS, WhatsApp and email — the app sends messages for you from a business number.
  • On a paid plan A reservations calendar, online paid bookings, memberships and packages, waivers and documents to sign, and a storefront for products.

Frequently asked questions

Is the waitlist really free?

Yes. The walk-in waitlist is free with no signup and no per-person fees: live lines, private client links, self-add, multiple lines, real-time team sync, the TV board, notes and offline support are all part of the free app.

Is booking or reservations free?

No — the free app is a waitlist, not a booking system. A reservations calendar and paid online bookings are a paid feature on a paid plan. Start free with the walk-in line and add them when you want them.

Can the app text clients for me?

You can always text from your own phone for free — you tap a client and your messaging app opens. Managed texting, where the app sends SMS, WhatsApp or email for you from a business number, is on a paid plan.

Do clients need to download anything?

No. Clients just open the private link you send or scan a QR code — it opens in any browser and shows their place and estimated wait. Nothing to install.

Does it work without Wi-Fi?

Yes. The app works offline as a PWA, so you can keep running the line if the shop's Wi-Fi drops. It syncs back up when you're reconnected.

Try it on your next busy day

Try the free app →No signup. Works offline.

What setup actually looks like

  1. Open the free app on your phone — no signup — and create a line for each chair or a single "next available" queue.
  2. Add walk-ins as they arrive, or print a QR code so clients add themselves; each gets a private link with their place and wait.
  3. Put the public TV board on a screen in the window and share the line with your team so everyone sees the same updates.
  4. Text clients from your own phone when their chair opens — and when you want a calendar, memberships or managed texting, upgrade to a paid plan.