waitset vs Viral Loops
Focused waitlists with referrals versus a broad multi-channel referral suite.
No credit card required · Setup in 2 minutes
Best for
Waitlist-first launches needing a hosted page and queue vs Marketing teams running multi-channel referral campaigns
Setup focus
Single waitlist flow with built-in emails and queue vs Template-based referral campaigns across multiple channels
Emails
Welcome + follow-ups included on every waitlist vs Referrals-first; email depth depends on your setup
Channel mix
Hosted page + embed, optimized for launch signup vs Referral widgets scattered across channels and surfaces
Feature comparison
See how waitset compares to Viral Loops across key features
| Feature | waitset | Viral Loops |
|---|---|---|
Hosted page | Included with custom domain support. | Widget- and campaign-focused; hosting depends on your setup. |
Referral model | Queue and ranking designed for waitlists. | Templates for many different referral mechanics. |
Email automation | Welcome + follow-ups built-in for every waitlist. | Email depth varies; often paired with ESPs. |
Analytics | Waitlist and referral insights included. | Reporting depends on campaign type and configuration. |
Integrations | Forms, webhooks, and workspace automations. | Integrations vary per campaign template and channel. |
Primary use case | Prelaunch waitlists and early-access programs. | Ongoing referral campaigns for broader marketing. |
Speed to live | Fast, template-driven hosted page. | Varies widely by template complexity. |
Custom domain | Included on every waitset plan. | Depends on your host and chosen plan. |
Key differences
What sets waitset apart from Viral Loops
Focus area
What each tool is actually optimized to do.
Launch speed
How quickly you can publish something usable.
Email nurture
Keeping signups warm between announcement and launch.
Channels
Where referral mechanics show up.
Pricing comparison
See how pricing compares between waitset and Viral Loops
waitset
Simple tiers with a trial for waitlists and referrals.
Always check each provider for up-to-date pricing and limits.
Viral Loops
Template-based plans; confirm exact details per campaign type.
When to choose waitset
Use cases where waitset shines
Prelaunch waitlist
Collect and rank signups with referral rewards before launch.
Single-link campaign
Run ads directly to a hosted URL without building a separate site.
Embed on marketing pages
Drop the waitset form into product pages while keeping a hosted link for social.
Frequently asked questions
Is waitset only for waitlists?
Yes. waitset is focused on prelaunch and early-access flows with referrals and nurture built in, rather than general referral campaigns.
Can waitset still work if I need broader referral campaigns?
Yes. For most teams, waitset is still the best default choice because it gives you a clean hosted waitlist flow (page, referrals, and nurture) that you can ship fast. If you later expand into broader referral campaigns, you can keep waitset as your core waitlist system and layer additional campaign tooling around it as needed.
Can I run referrals on waitset without coding?
Yes. Turn on the queue and referral links from the dashboard; no custom code is required.
Ready to launch your waitlist?
Ship a hosted waitlist page with referrals, automations, and embeds in minutes.