TablesReady Alternative for Walk-in Shops: NextUp vs TablesReady
Looking for a TablesReady alternative for a walk-in shop? Here's how NextUp compares on price, texts and what's included, and when TablesReady might suit you better.
| Feature | NextUp | TablesReady |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $29/month for your first location, $19 for each additional one | $39/month (Starter, billed annually) |
| Free plan or trial | No free plan: a 14-day free trial of everything, card required (not charged for 14 days) | Yes: 150 texts a month, up to 100 parties on the waitlist |
| Texts | 1,000 per location every month, then $0.05 each | Included in every plan; plans are tiered by monthly message volume |
| Built for | Walk-in shops: barbershops, salons, tattoo, auto service, repair, grooming | Restaurants, hotels, food trucks, salons, and other small businesses |
TablesReady figures are from TablesReady's pricing page, checked September 2026. Prices change, so check theirs for today's. TablesReady is a trademark of its owner; NextUp isn't affiliated with it.
Everything in every NextUp plan
- Customers join from a QR code or your link on their phone: no app, no account
- A text confirming their spot, and one when it's their turn
- A now-serving TV display for your waiting area
- A door tablet for walk-ins without a phone
- A staff screen to call, start and finish visits
- Your services and prices, and who each customer asks for
- Your trade's own words, your logo and colors
- Insights: busiest days and hours, waits, top services
When TablesReady might fit better
Honestly: TablesReady may suit you better if you want a simple text-when-ready waitlist with a free plan to start — TablesReady is built around hospitality and its free tier covers low-volume locations.
NextUp does one thing: the walk-in line at a shop, from the QR code at the door to the TV on the wall, at one price per location.
Compare other waitlist appsTry it on a Saturday
14 days free, every feature, card required (not charged until the trial ends). Set up a location in about two minutes.