digiQueue

digiQueue is a restaurant queue and check-in service that lets guests pay a restaurant-set fee for priority access. It suits venues looking to add paid queue-jumping without requiring guests to install an app or create an account. The trade-off is that the free plan gives the restaurant just 25% of priority payments.

Overview

Guests join from a mobile browser, while staff manage standard and priority queues through a real-time dashboard. This keeps guest entry simple and gives restaurants a way to offer ordinary and paid access side by side. QR codes and SMS notifications support check-in and guest updates; staff can scan QR passes with a phone or tablet.

Restaurants connect Stripe to receive priority payments, which digiQueue says are deposited automatically and secured through Stripe. Paid priority is therefore part of the queue service, but the free plan's revenue share is a significant cost if guests use it often: the restaurant keeps only 25% of those payments.

Key features

• Standard and priority queues: Both are included in the free plan, letting a venue offer paid access without paying a monthly subscription. The restaurant's 25% share, however, may be a poor fit if priority fees become a meaningful revenue stream.
• Browser check-in and QR codes: Guests can join without an app or account, and staff can scan passes using a phone or tablet. This suits restaurants seeking a low-friction check-in process rather than requiring guests to adopt a dedicated app.
• SMS notifications and dashboard: SMS updates accompany a real-time dashboard, giving staff a digital view of queue activity and a way to notify guests. On the Priority Plan, each outgoing notification costs $0.01, so messaging volume affects operating cost.
• Reservations and multi-queue management: These are Priority Plan features, alongside priority support. They make the paid plan more relevant to restaurants that need reservations in addition to queue management or need to manage multiple queues.
• Stripe payments: Restaurants connect Stripe for priority payments; digiQueue says the payments are automatically deposited and Stripe-secured. That provides a built-in payment route, but the revenue share still differs sharply by plan.

Pricing

digiQueue uses a freemium model, with no free trial. Its free plan is genuinely ongoing, and setup is described as taking under 10 minutes with no credit card required.

• Free Forever — free, billed $0/month, always: Includes full queue management, standard and priority queues, QR codes, SMS notifications, and a real-time dashboard. The restaurant keeps 25% of priority payments. It is the sensible starting point for a venue that wants to try digital queue management at no monthly charge, but the revenue share is the key concession.
• Priority Plan — $0.01, paid once, billed per outgoing notification: Includes everything in Starter, plus a reservation system, 75% of priority payments retained by the restaurant, priority support, and multi-queue management. There is no monthly fee, but each outgoing notification costs $0.01. This is better suited to restaurants that need reservations or multiple queues, or expect priority revenue to justify the higher share retained; venues sending many notifications should account for the per-message charge.

The plan description calls the free tier “Free Forever,” while the Priority Plan refers to “everything in Starter”; the free tier is otherwise named “Free Forever.”

Platforms

digiQueue is available on Android, iOS, and the web. The restaurant page says it works on any phone or tablet, and staff can scan QR passes from either device type. Guests can check in through a mobile browser without downloading an app.

Who it's for

digiQueue is a strong fit for restaurants that want online queue entry, SMS notifications, and optional paid priority in one service, especially when avoiding guest app installs matters. The free plan keeps fixed monthly cost at zero, while the Priority Plan adds reservations and multi-queue management. It is less compelling for a restaurant focused on retaining most priority revenue without paying a share, or one whose notification volume would make per-message charges a concern.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Guests can join by mobile browser without an app or account, reducing friction at check-in; the free plan includes standard and priority queues with QR codes, SMS, and a live dashboard; the Priority Plan raises the restaurant's share of priority payments to 75% and adds reservations and multi-queue management.
• Cons: The free plan leaves the restaurant only 25% of priority payments; Priority Plan notifications cost $0.01 each, so message volume adds variable cost; its listed plan features do not establish a fixed monthly price for the Priority Plan.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Restaurant Waitlist Software.

• Carbonara App is worth comparing if a booking allowance is central: its free plan includes 50 bookings per month, and it offers a free trial.
• NextMe may suit venues that prefer an explicit SMS allowance: its free plan includes 100 SMS per month for one user, and it offers a free trial.
• Waitlist Me is an option for a basic guest list and same-day reservations, though its free plan has no notifications and limited customization.
• Waitwhile is worth considering when a stated location and visit cap is useful: its free plan covers one location and 50 visits per month, with two-way customer messages and team notifications by email and push.
• EazyQ may fit a venue with modest concurrent demand: its free plan caps the queue at five concurrent customers and includes one staff seat.
• queue1 offers a free demo capped at 100 tickets and set up using two Android devices; consider it if those terms suit your needs.
• Shokken is another freemium option, with a free plan that includes QR self-join, browser tracking, core waitlist tools, and public menus.
• TablesReady may be preferable for a defined free messaging allowance: its free plan covers 150 messages per month and up to 100 parties, and it offers a free trial.

Verdict

Choose digiQueue if your restaurant wants browser-based check-in and paid priority, with QR codes, SMS, and a real-time dashboard and no monthly fee on the free tier. The Priority Plan is the better fit when reservations, multiple queues, or a larger retained share of priority payments matter. Look elsewhere if keeping more priority revenue without a per-notification charge is the priority.