Waitlist Prelaunch · by Waitlist

Launch to a crowd, not to crickets.

A hosted pre-launch waitlist page for sites, apps, tools, drops, anything with a launch date. Referral mechanics that move fans up the line when they invite friends, WhatsApp + email capture, launch-day blast, and a free listing in the public Launches directory that sends you borrowed traffic on day one.

  • Live in under 5 minutes
  • WhatsApp capture, native
  • Paystack pre-orders on launch day

Prelaunch mockup — what your subscribers see on their phone and on a browser.

Pre-launch for sites, apps, tools, drops, anything with a launch date

🌐 Websites & SaaS 📱 Apps 🛠️ Tools & APIs 👟 Streetwear & sneakers 🍲 Cloud kitchens 🎟️ Events & ticketing 💄 Beauty drops 📚 Courses & cohorts
The honest problem

Your launch announcement should not die in an inbox.

Foreign waitlist tools collect emails nobody opens, bill you in dollars, and assume your audience is on Twitter. Three things always go wrong before launch day.

Email open rates are honest

Typical email open rates sit around 20% — your launch announcement lands in spam while your fans are busy in their WhatsApp groups. A waitlist only works if people see it.

~20% opened, fewer click

Foreign tools bill you in dollars

International WhatsApp + email routes to a +234 number can cost multiple local rates, billed in USD. Unit economics get harder before you've even launched.

Priced in FX, not naira

DND silently eats your reach

Many Nigerian numbers are on Do-Not-Disturb. Tools without DND-aware SMS routing can show a "delivered" dashboard while time-sensitive messages quietly fail to arrive.

"Delivered" ≠ seen
What you get

A waitlist that messages, ranks, and sells — in naira.

Everything a foreign tool does, plus the parts they struggle with locally: WhatsApp delivery, referral mechanics tuned for group sharing, and a built-in deposit so hype turns into cash on day one.

WhatsApp-first signups

One-tap join via a wa.me link, a no-code landing page, or a QR. Position updates, drop reminders and "you're in" messages go out on WhatsApp — where your buyers already are.

Referral leaderboard built to share

Every fan gets a unique link. Refer friends to jump the queue and unlock launch-day perks. Pre-written share copy for WhatsApp status, groups and Broadcast — where Nigerian word-of-mouth actually happens.

Paystack & Flutterwave pre-orders

Don't just collect interest — collect deposits. Convert your top fans into paid pre-orders the moment you drop, with cards, transfers, USSD and mobile money settled to your Nigerian account.

DND-aware delivery

SMS fallback designed to route across MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile — including DND-enabled numbers — so your countdown reaches the phone, with real delivery reports.

Drop analytics & fraud filter

Sign-ups, referral velocity, top sharers, conversion by source. Built-in fraud filtering keeps fake referrals off the leaderboard so rewards reach real fans.

No-code or embed anywhere

Spin up a branded waitlist page in minutes, or embed a form on your Selar, Paystack Storefront, Webflow, Carrd or WordPress site. CSV export and webhooks whenever you need them.

Built-in directory

A public list of what's launching in Nigeria.

Every Prelaunch waitlist gets a free listing in our public Upcoming Launches directory. Browse by category, join the ones you care about. The directory sends new waitlists traffic on day one.

"Being in the directory made our launch feel real. People we'd never paid for found us, joined, and referred friends. The first 200 signups were organic."

Goal — borrowed traffic

"Customers did the marketing for us. Our top referrer brought in 90 friends. We didn't run a single ad before launch day."

Goal — word-of-mouth growth

"Collecting deposits before we produced saved us from over-ordering. We knew exactly how many boxes to make."

Goal — demand you can plan around
Browse upcoming launches →
How it works

From idea to sold-out drop in three steps.

Create your drop

Name your product, set the drop date, define reward tiers (early access, discount, free gift), and pick your WhatsApp number. Get a shareable link and embeddable form — no developer, no code.

Let fans climb the queue

People join on WhatsApp, get a referral link, and share it in groups and status to move up. The leaderboard does the marketing for you while you sleep. Fraud filter keeps it honest.

Open the gate & get paid

On drop day, message the queue in order, take Paystack deposits, watch interest become revenue. Reward your top sharers and start the cycle again.

Pricing in ₦, not $

Start free. Pay when your list grows.

Naira pricing with no FX markup. WhatsApp & SMS credits billed transparently at local rates.

Hustle

Validate your first drop and prove the demand.
₦0 / forever
  • 1 active waitlist
  • Up to 150 subscribers
  • WhatsApp signup & landing page
  • Referral leaderboard
  • 100 WhatsApp credits/month
  • Free listing in launches directory
Start free
MOST POPULAR

Drop

For brands running real, recurring drops.
₦12,000 / month
  • 5 active waitlists
  • Up to 5,000 subscribers
  • Paystack & Flutterwave pre-orders
  • DND-aware SMS fallback
  • Custom domain & remove branding
  • 3,000 WhatsApp credits/month
Start free trial

Scale

High-volume launches, events & agencies.
₦45,000 / month
  • Unlimited waitlists
  • 50,000+ subscribers
  • API, webhooks & team seats
  • Advanced fraud detection
  • Priority WhatsApp BSP routing
  • Dedicated launch support
Talk to us
FAQ

Everything you'd ask before launching.

Why WhatsApp instead of email?
Because that's where most Nigerians already are. Industry estimates put WhatsApp open rates well above email — often within minutes — while typical email open rates sit around 20%. A waitlist only works if people see your launch, so Prelaunch is designed to reach buyers on the channel they actually check.
Do I need a WhatsApp Business API account?
No. On the free Hustle plan you can run a click-to-WhatsApp flow with your normal number. On Drop and Scale we provision verified WhatsApp Business messaging through local BSP partners so broadcasts and templates stay compliant.
How do referral rewards and the leaderboard work?
Each subscriber gets a unique link. Every friend who joins through it moves them up the queue. You set the reward tiers — discounts, early access, free items — and the platform tracks positions live, with fraud filtering designed to block fake and self-referrals so real fans win.
How are payments handled?
You connect your own Paystack or Flutterwave account, so deposits and pre-orders settle directly to your Nigerian bank account in naira. Buyers pay by card, bank transfer, USSD or mobile money. Waitlist never holds your money.
What about numbers on Do-Not-Disturb?
Our SMS fallback uses DND-aware routing across MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile, so time-sensitive drop alerts can still reach numbers that block ordinary promo SMS. Real delivery reports, not a dashboard that says "delivered" when nothing arrived.
Is the free plan really free?
Yes. The Hustle plan is free forever — one waitlist, up to 150 subscribers, a landing page, referral leaderboard, and 100 WhatsApp credits a month. No card required. Upgrade only when your list outgrows it.
Founding access

Be first to launch on Prelaunch.

Pilot is free for the first 50 brands. Drop your details and we'll set up your waitlist page, your referral mechanics, and your directory listing within 48 hours.

🎉 You're on the list! We'll WhatsApp you within 24 hours to set up your drop.

No card required. NDPA-aligned data. Built in Lagos.