Startups Are Ditching Waitlists. Smart Move or Missed Opportunity?
Hello PHers :)
I’ve noticed a growing trend: more and more early-stage startups are skipping the classic "waitlist" launch and going straight to open access. Some argue it's more authentic and helps get traction faster. Others say waitlists build FOMO, gather valuable user data, and give time to polish the product.
Curious what the community thinks.
Did you use a waitlist when you launched?
What worked (or totally flopped)?
Would you do it again?
Also keen to hear if anyone found creative ways to replace the traditional waitlist and still build hype 👀
Replies
I’ve seen waitlists work well when they’re gamified, referral ladders, leaderboards, early adopter perks. It creates energy around the product. But they require work to maintain. If you're not actively engaging your waitlist, it might just become a list of people who forget why they signed up. We switched to a small beta program with live onboarding calls and never looked back.
Kalyxa
We debated this hard.
Went without a waitlist and instead launched a public beta + a Notion roadmap people could vote on.
Result:
→ Faster feedback loops
→ Less pressure to “perfect” before shipping
→ Still got word-of-mouth because we shipped weekly and showcased real user stories
Would I use a waitlist in the future? Maybe — but only if I had a strong community strategy baked in.
@parth_ahir this is gold! Thanks for your advice
Great topic, Borja! I’ve been part of startups on both sides of the fence. Waitlists definitely help build anticipation and create a sense of exclusivity, which can drive strong early engagement. They also give you valuable insights into your audience before full launch. However, they can sometimes slow down momentum and frustrate eager users who just want to try the product immediately.
Going straight to open access can accelerate feedback loops and growth, especially if your product is intuitive and doesn’t require much onboarding. That said, it might be harder to control initial user experience or create hype without that built-in scarcity.
A creative middle ground I’ve seen is using “soft waitlists” — allowing immediate access for some users (e.g., early adopters, referrals) while others wait, or gamifying the waitlist experience to keep users engaged. Ultimately, it depends on your product, market, and goals.
Would love to hear others’ experiences!