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.

WordPress + Waitlister

Trusted by 3,000+
businesses & entrepreneurs

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PagePal logo
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ChatAce.io logo
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Instanote logo
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DirectoryDeck logo
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landman® logo
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datapro logo
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Aspire logo
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"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."
Data Hokage logo
Sinazo Bogicevic
Founder, Data Hokage
Use Cases

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.

Example: "Notify me when available" on sold-out product pages

WordPress Blog Launch Pages

Build anticipation for new blogs, publications, or content platforms with beautiful coming soon pages.

Example: Pre-launch teaser page with email capture

Membership Site Beta Access

Collect interest for exclusive memberships, courses, or communities before launch.

Example: Limited beta spots for online course with overflow waitlist

WordPress Event Registration

Manage registrations for webinars, workshops, conferences, or local events with capacity limits.

Example: Workshop with limited seats and waitlist management

Plugin & Theme Launches

Generate buzz for WordPress plugin or theme releases with early access waitlists.

Example: Plugin showcase page collecting launch day notifications

Service-Based Business Bookings

Manage client waitlists for fully-booked services, consultations, or appointment slots.

Example: Agency collecting leads when consultation calendar is full
Benefits

Why Waitlister for WordPress?

Built to work seamlessly with WordPress's capabilities

Official WordPress Plugin

Native WordPress integration with shortcodes and Gutenberg blocks. 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.

Page Builder Ready

Seamlessly works with Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder, WPBakery, Oxygen, and Gutenberg. Use shortcodes or native blocks.

WooCommerce Compatible

Perfect for product waitlists, pre-orders, and back-in-stock notifications. Add to any product page with a simple shortcode.

Zero Database Impact

Creates zero database tables. All waitlist data stored on Waitlister's secure servers. No performance impact on your WordPress site.

External Data Management

Manage subscribers, send emails, and track analytics from your Waitlister dashboard. Export data to CSV anytime.

Choose Your Method

Which integration is
right for you?

Compare both methods to find the best fit for your WordPress project

FeatureForm ActionWordPress Plugin
Setup Time~10 minutes~2 minutes
Design ControlFull WordPress controlManaged in Waitlister
Technical SkillBasic HTML/CSS helpfulNo coding needed
Page Builder SupportHTML/Form modulesShortcode/Block support
Theme Compatibility100% compatible100% compatible
Updates RequiredManual form updatesAuto-updated via WordPress
Database ImpactZeroZero
WooCommerce IntegrationManual integrationNative support

Choose Form Action if...

  • You need complete design control in WordPress
  • You want forms styled exactly like your theme
  • You're comfortable editing HTML forms
  • You want to use your theme's exact button styles
  • You need custom form validation logic
  • You want everything version-controlled in WordPress

Choose WordPress Plugin if...

  • You want the fastest setup (under 2 minutes)
  • You prefer using shortcodes or blocks
  • You're not comfortable with HTML/CSS
  • You want automatic form updates
  • You're using multiple waitlists on one site
  • You want the simplest maintenance
Step-by-Step Guide

How to integrate

Follow these WordPress-specific instructions

1

Install the Waitlister plugin

In your WordPress admin, go to PluginsAdd New → search for "Waitlister". Click Install Now, then Activate.

Pro tip
Alternative: Download from WordPress.org and upload via Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
2

Connect your Waitlister account

After activation, go to SettingsWaitlister in your WordPress admin. Enter your waitlist key from your Waitlister dashboard (Overview page).

Your waitlist key format: wl_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pro tip
Don't have a Waitlister account yet? Sign up free at waitlister.me
3

Add a waitlist form using shortcode or block

Shortcode method: Add [waitlister] anywhere in posts, pages, or widgets.

Gutenberg block: In the block editor, click + → search for "Waitlister Form" → add the block.

[waitlister]
Pro tip
The shortcode and block will automatically use your connected waitlist key
4

Customize your form design

Go to Waitlister.meFormEditor to customize colors, typography, button styles, spacing, and layout. Changes sync instantly to your WordPress forms.

5

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.

[waitlister]
6

Test and publish

Publish your page and test the form on the front-end. Submit a test signup and verify it appears in your Waitlister dashboard under Subscribers.

Need more details?

Check out the WordPress plugin page for more information.

View WordPress plugin page
Troubleshooting

Common issues & solutions

Quick fixes for WordPress-specific problems

Search for "Waitlister" (not "waitlist") in the WordPress plugin directory. If already installed, check that it's activated under PluginsInstalled Plugins.

Go to SettingsWaitlister and verify your waitlist key is entered correctly. Copy it directly from your Waitlister dashboard (Overview page) with no extra spaces.

Ensure you're using the Waitlister Form block (search for it in the block inserter). If it's not appearing, try deactivating and reactivating the plugin, then refresh the editor.

Check your waitlist key is correct in plugin settings. Verify your WordPress site domain is whitelisted in Waitlister (SettingsConfigureWhitelisted domains). Add both www and non-www versions.

Log into Waitlister.me → FormEditor and adjust the form design there. Changes sync automatically to all WordPress forms using the plugin.

The plugin works with all page builders. Add a Text/HTML widget and insert the [waitlister] shortcode. For Elementor specifically, use the Shortcode widget.

The plugin creates zero database tables and has no caching. However, if you're using a caching plugin, clear all caches after installing Waitlister. The form should work with all caching plugins.

Each site 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 → FormEditorFields to add custom fields. They'll appear automatically in your WordPress forms.

The plugin is language-agnostic. Form text and placeholders are customized in your Waitlister dashboard (FormEditor). Change them to any language you need.

FAQ

Common questions

About WordPress integration

Both work great! The plugin is fastest to set up (2 minutes with shortcodes), while the form action method gives you complete design control. Choose based on your needs - see the comparison table above.

No! The plugin creates zero database tables 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 widget.

Yes, guaranteed! The plugin is compatible with every WordPress theme - free or premium. Form styling is managed in your Waitlister dashboard and syncs to your site automatically.

Log into Waitlister.meFormEditor. Customize colors, typography, button styles, spacing, and layout. Changes apply instantly to all your WordPress forms.

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 using 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.

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.

Yes! Perfect for membership beta access, course launches, or exclusive content waitlists. Works with MemberPress, Restrict Content Pro, Paid Memberships Pro, and all membership plugins.

Yes! Waitlister has a free plan that's perfect for getting started. Upgrade anytime for more features and higher subscriber limits. No credit card required to start.

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