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 👀
35 views
Replies
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
Pokecut
Hey there! 👋
Totally agree with your observations — the waitlist vs. open launch debate is definitely heating up. We actually experimented with a waitlist for our last product launch. It helped us build some early buzz and collect emails, but honestly, the FOMO effect was a bit overhyped in our case. Some people signed up just to see what it was about and then disappeared.
What really worked better was creating a small, exclusive beta group with active engagement — giving them sneak peeks, gathering feedback, and making them feel like insiders. That community vibe created more authentic hype than a generic waitlist ever did. 🚀
Would we do a waitlist again? Maybe, but only if paired with real value and interaction, not just a “sign up and wait” page. Open access can be awesome too if your product is polished enough to wow users immediately.
Also, some startups are getting creative by launching on invite-only Discord servers or leveraging social challenges to build hype — definitely worth exploring! 🔥
Curious to hear what others have tried! 😊
Pokecut
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!