WordPress
The fastest way to add waitlists to WordPress
Install the official Waitlister plugin from WordPress.org or use custom HTML forms with POST actions. Both methods take under 10 minutes and work with any theme or page builder.
Trusted by 5,000+
businesses & entrepreneurs
"Waitlister has been amazing; honestly, I don't plan on changing to another provider. Being able to create beautiful landing pages for my waitlist has been amazing."
What you can build
Popular ways WordPress users implement waitlists
WooCommerce Product Waitlists
Perfect for out-of-stock products, pre-orders, and upcoming releases. Automatically notify customers when products are back in stock.
WordPress Blog Launch Pages
Build anticipation for new blogs, publications, or content platforms with beautiful coming soon pages and email capture.
Membership Site Beta Access
Collect interest for exclusive memberships, online courses, or communities before launch. Manage limited beta spots with overflow waitlists.
WordPress Event Registration
Manage registrations for webinars, workshops, conferences, or local events with capacity limits and automatic notifications.
Plugin & Theme Launches
Generate buzz for WordPress plugin or theme releases with early access waitlists and referral-powered viral growth.
Service-Based Business Bookings
Manage client waitlists for fully-booked services, consultations, or appointment slots. Collect leads even when your calendar is full.
Why Waitlister for WordPress?
Built to work seamlessly with WordPress's capabilities
Official WordPress Plugin
Native WordPress integration with shortcodes and a Gutenberg block. Install from the WordPress.org plugin directory in seconds.
Works With Any Theme
Compatible with every WordPress theme — Astra, GeneratePress, OceanWP, Hello Elementor, Kadence, and all custom themes. Zero conflicts guaranteed.
Page Builder Ready
Seamlessly works with Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, WPBakery, Oxygen, and Gutenberg. Use shortcodes or native blocks in any builder.
WooCommerce Compatible
Perfect for product waitlists, pre-orders, and back-in-stock notifications. Add a waitlist form to any product page with a simple shortcode.
Zero Database Impact
Creates no database tables and installs no cookies. All waitlist data is stored securely on Waitlister's servers with zero performance impact on your site.
Built-in Referral Tracking
Grow your waitlist virally with the built-in referral program. Track referrals, conversions, and top advocates from your Waitlister dashboard.
Lightning Fast Performance
The plugin loads asynchronously and weighs under 2KB. Works perfectly alongside caching plugins like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, and WP Super Cache.
Full Analytics Dashboard
Track signups, referrals, and conversion rates from your Waitlister dashboard. Export subscriber data to CSV anytime.
Which integration is
right for you?
Compare both methods to find the best fit for your WordPress project
| Feature | Form Action | WordPress Plugin |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | ~10 minutes | ~2 minutes |
| Design Control | Full WordPress control | Managed in Waitlister |
| Technical Skill | Basic HTML/CSS helpful | No coding needed |
| Page Builder Support | HTML/Form modules | Shortcode/Block support |
| Theme Compatibility | 100% compatible | 100% compatible |
| Updates Required | Manual form updates | Auto-updated via WordPress |
| Database Impact | Zero | Zero |
| WooCommerce Integration | Manual integration | Native support |
| Form Validation | Custom | Built-in |
Choose Form Action if...
- You need complete design control over the form HTML/CSS
- You want forms styled exactly like your WordPress theme
- You're comfortable editing HTML and CSS
- You need custom form validation or conditional logic
- You want everything version-controlled in your WordPress files
- You need fields beyond email, name, and phone
Choose WordPress Plugin if...
- You want the fastest setup (under 2 minutes)
- You prefer using shortcodes or Gutenberg blocks
- You're not comfortable with HTML/CSS
- You want automatic plugin updates via WordPress
- You're using multiple waitlists on one site
- You want the simplest ongoing maintenance
How to integrate
Follow these WordPress-specific instructions
Install the Waitlister plugin
In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New → search for "Waitlister". Click Install Now, then Activate.
The plugin is free and officially listed on WordPress.org.
Connect your Waitlister account
After activation, go to Settings → Waitlister in your WordPress admin. Enter your waitlist key from your Waitlister dashboard (Overview page).
New to Waitlister? Create your first waitlist (takes 30 seconds).
Your waitlist key format: wl_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAdd a waitlist form to any page
Gutenberg block: In the block editor, click + → search for "Waitlister Form" → add the block to your page.
Shortcode method: Add [waitlister] anywhere in posts, pages, or widgets.
[waitlister]Customize your form design
Go to Waitlister.me → Form → Editor to customize colors, typography, button styles, spacing, and layout. Changes sync instantly to all your WordPress forms.
Learn more about form customization options.
Add to WooCommerce products (optional)
To add waitlist forms to product pages, edit any product → scroll to the product description or short description → add the [waitlister] shortcode. Perfect for out-of-stock items and pre-order notifications.
[waitlister]Preview and publish
Publish your page and test the form on the front end → submit a test signup → verify it appears in your Waitlister dashboard under Subscribers.
All signups will automatically flow into your dashboard with full analytics.
Need more details?
Check out the WordPress plugin page for more information.
View WordPress plugin pageCommon issues & solutions
Quick fixes for WordPress-specific problems
Search for "Waitlister" (not just "waitlist") in the WordPress plugin directory. The full name is "Waitlister – Waitlist & Pre-Launch Forms". If already installed, check that it's activated under Plugins → Installed Plugins.
Go to Settings → Waitlister and verify your waitlist key is entered correctly with no extra spaces. Copy it directly from your Waitlister dashboard (Overview page). If the key is correct and the shortcode still renders as text, try deactivating and reactivating the plugin.
In the block editor, click + and search for "Waitlister Form". If it doesn't appear, try deactivating and reactivating the plugin, then refresh the editor. Make sure you're running WordPress 5.0 or higher.
Check that your waitlist key is correct in plugin settings. Then verify your WordPress site domain is whitelisted in Waitlister (Configure → Whitelisted domains). Add both yourdomain.com and www.yourdomain.com if applicable.
The plugin's form design is managed in your Waitlister dashboard. Go to Waitlister.me → Form → Editor and adjust colors, typography, and button styles there. Changes sync automatically to all WordPress forms using the plugin.
The plugin works with all page builders. Add a Text or HTML widget and insert the [waitlister] shortcode. For Elementor specifically, use the Shortcode widget. For Divi, use the Code module.
Make sure you've added the [waitlister] shortcode or Gutenberg block to your page and that your waitlist key is entered in Settings → Waitlister. If you're using a caching plugin, clear all caches after installing Waitlister.
Each site in your multisite network needs the plugin installed separately. You can use the same waitlist key across all sites (shared waitlist) or different keys (separate waitlists per site).
Custom fields are configured in your Waitlister dashboard, not in WordPress. Go to Waitlister.me → Form → Editor → Fields to add custom fields. They'll appear automatically in your WordPress forms.
The plugin is language-agnostic. All form text and placeholders are customized in your Waitlister dashboard (Form → Editor). Change them to any language you need — Waitlister supports 30+ languages.
Configure your redirect URL in your Waitlister dashboard under Configure → Thank You Page settings. You can set a custom redirect URL or show an inline success message.
The Waitlister plugin is lightweight and rarely conflicts with caching. If you experience issues, clear all caches (WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache, etc.) after installing or updating the plugin. The form loads independently and shouldn't be affected by cached content.
Common questions
About WordPress integration
Both work great! The plugin is the fastest to set up (2 minutes with shortcodes or Gutenberg blocks), while the form action method gives you complete HTML/CSS design control. Choose based on your needs — see the comparison table above.
No! The plugin creates zero database tables, installs no cookies, and has no performance impact. All data is stored on Waitlister's servers. The form loads asynchronously and is under 2KB.
Absolutely! Works perfectly with WooCommerce. Use the [waitlister] shortcode on product pages for out-of-stock notifications, pre-orders, and "notify when available" functionality. See our dedicated WooCommerce integration guide for more details.
Yes! The plugin works with all page builders. Add the Waitlister block in Gutenberg, or use the [waitlister] shortcode in any page builder's text, HTML, or shortcode widget.
Yes, guaranteed! The plugin is compatible with every WordPress theme — free or premium. Tested up to WordPress 6.7.5. Form styling is managed in your Waitlister dashboard and syncs to your site automatically.
Log into Waitlister.me → Form → Editor. Customize colors, typography, button styles, spacing, and layout. Changes apply instantly to all your WordPress forms. Learn more about form customization options.
Yes! Each site in your multisite network can have its own waitlist (with separate keys), or you can use the same waitlist across multiple sites by sharing the same waitlist key.
Yes! Works perfectly with WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache, and all caching plugins. Forms load independently and don't interfere with cached content.
Absolutely! Add any custom fields in your Waitlister form editor — company, job title, phone, budget, project details, etc. All fields are automatically captured and stored.
Yes! Waitlister has a built-in referral program. Subscribers get a unique referral link to share. Track referrals, conversions, and top advocates from your dashboard.
You own your data. Export all signups to CSV anytime from your Waitlister dashboard. Import to any email tool, CRM, or spreadsheet. Simple and portable.
If enabled, subscribers automatically receive your welcome email, are added to your dashboard, and can be sent update emails via broadcasts. You can also enable a referral program for viral growth.
Yes! Waitlister has a free plan that's perfect for getting started. The WordPress plugin itself is completely free. Upgrade anytime for more features and higher subscriber limits. No credit card required.
The plugin does not track users without their consent, installs no cookies, and makes no database changes. All subscriber data is stored securely on Waitlister's servers. You can export or delete data anytime from your dashboard. Review our privacy policy for full details.
Get started with Waitlister
Integrate Waitlister with WordPress to get the most out of your waitlist