> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uplifter.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What's the difference between a waitlist and the queue?

> How a program waitlist differs from the registration waiting room (queue), and when to use each.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * A waitlist lines families up for a specific program that has **already** reached capacity.
  * The registration queue is a temporary waiting room that limits how many people can register **at once** when a busy registration window opens.
  * The two are independent: a program can use a waitlist, the queue, both, or neither.
</Note>

These two features both involve "waiting," but they solve different problems and are set up in different places.

**A waitlist is per program, for when it's full.** Once a program hits its capacity, families can join that program's waitlist instead of being turned away. They line up in join order, and when a spot opens they're promoted into it — automatically or by hand. You turn it on in each program's Waitlist settings and manage it from the program's Waitlist tab.

**The queue is a waiting room, for when it's busy.** The registration queue (a virtual waiting room) throttles how many people reach the registration page at the same time, so a rush at open doesn't overwhelm the system. Everyone gets a fair spot in line and is let through in batches. It's configured separately under **Settings → Registration → Queues**, where you set things like the maximum number of concurrent registrants and when the queue activates.

**Different timing, different scope.** The queue matters in the minutes around a popular registration opening — it's about controlling traffic. A waitlist matters after a program is full — it's about capturing demand you can't fill yet. One is a short-lived crowd-control tool; the other is an ongoing list tied to a single program.

Because they're independent, you can run both: a busy signup can use the queue to manage the initial rush, and any program that fills can still offer a waitlist afterward.

**Related:** [What is a program waitlist?](/club/waitlists/what-is-a-program-waitlist) · [How do I set up a registration waiting room (queue)?](/club/registration-enrollment/set-up-registration-waiting-room-queue) · [How do I turn on a waitlist for a program?](/club/waitlists/how-do-i-turn-on-a-waitlist-for-a-program)