--- title: "Help and FAQ: Carbonara waitlist and reservations" description: "Answers about setting up Carbonara, the waitlist, reservations, messages, plans and your data, plus how-to videos and how to reach support." url: "https://www.carbonaraapp.com/help/" language: "en-GB" updated: "2026-11-11" --- # How can we help? Answers, how-to videos and setup guides for Carbonara. Can’t find it? Our team answers by email and WhatsApp. [Log in to the Manager Portal](https://portal.carbonaraapp.com/login) Contact support ## Browse by topic ### Getting started Set up in less than five minutes, and what you need. ### Waitlist Adding guests, QR codes, wait times and messages. ### Reservations Your booking link, tables, deposits and Reserve with Google. ### Messages Text and WhatsApp, what guests receive, and message prices. ### Plans and billing Changing plans, limits and the Manager Portal. ### Account and data Team logins, guest data and deleting your account. ## How-to videos ### [Add a customer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98I0LOHcoE) 1:10 ### [Join the waitlist with a QR code](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI5wI4DUXwY) 0:41 ### [Add a reservation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCnBXWVsqZg) 1:09 ### [Review your reservations](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjcxNj_n14E) 0:44 ### [Waitlist customer actions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FPG95quEmE) 0:45 ### [Reservation customer actions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHpYnjC2Zl8) 1:13 ### [Other reservation actions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQaILoHcEuo) 0:26 ## Step-by-step setup guides. Set up your online booking link, and your QR code and virtual queue, with a screenshot for every step. [Online reservations guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n16Np_QjEBbfjSNDWyyyM9L6e1V8aqolk2RFH94GU5w/edit) [Online waitlist guide](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vXEbI-gjoAp1-aLkPvpAtAFNkzHaZNEGLVHUM7II7PA/edit) ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does setup take? Less than five minutes. Create your account, add your tables and you can start adding guests straight away. ### Do I need a card to start? No. The Free plan covers 50 reservations and waitlist groups in any 30 days, with no card and no contract. ### What devices does Carbonara work on? Any iPhone, iPad or Android phone or tablet, and any computer through your browser. ### Which languages is Carbonara in? The Manager App is in English (US and UK), Spanish (Spain and Latin America), Italian, Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Catalan and Norwegian. Booking and join-the-line pages are also in Greek. Messages go out in the local language or in English. ### Where is Carbonara available? Venues in 30 countries use Carbonara, across Western and Central Europe, Scandinavia, Greece, the US, Canada, Central and South America, Australia and South Africa. Somewhere else? Ask us and we'll check it works where you are. ### Do guests need to download an app? No. Most guests give their name and number to your host. Guests who'd rather add themselves can join from a QR code, your website or Google, in their phone's browser. ### Does every waitlist message include the estimated wait time? Yes. Each message starts with your venue's name and includes the estimated wait time, because customers who know how long it will be are more likely to stay. ### How are wait times estimated? From your own service: how quickly tables turn over and the size of each group. Estimates get better as you use Carbonara. On every plan. ### How long should I hold a table for a guest I've notified? We recommend no more than 5 minutes. If they come back late, keep them at the top of the list for the next table that fits. ### What's the Rotating QR code? A QR code whose link changes every hour, so a saved photo of it can't be used to join from home. It works best on a screen at the door. On the VIP and PX plans. ### Can guests reserve online? Yes, on every plan. Add your booking link to your website, your Google profile and your social media. ### Can guests reserve for large groups online? Yes, as long as you have the tables for them. ### Can I merge tables? Yes, on every plan. In the floor plan, select the tables and tap Merge. You can also do it when you add a guest: type the table numbers with a comma, for example 3,4. ### Can I take deposits? Yes, on the VIP and PX plans. A deposit is a hold on the guest's card: no money is taken up front. ### Can guests reserve from Google? Yes, with Reserve with Google: an add-on on every plan, included in PX. ### What messages do guests get? On the waitlist: joined (with their place and wait time) and table ready. For reservations: confirmation, reminder and cancellation. Email confirmations and reminders are free and unlimited on every plan. ### Can guests reply? Yes. Messages are two-way, and you see replies in the app. ### Can I change the wording? You can edit most text messages. WhatsApp messages use fixed templates. ### How do I pay for messages? Text and WhatsApp messages are paid as you send them, from credits. Credits stay valid for two years. Prices by country are on the Pricing page. ### Where do I manage my plan? In the Manager Portal (portal.carbonaraapp.com), from a computer or your phone's browser. ### Is there a contract? No. Plans are month to month. If you stop, your plan runs to the end of the period you've paid for. ### What happens if I go over my plan's limit? We let you know as you get close. Once you reach it, you can't add more until you move up a plan or older entries drop out of the 30 days. We never move you to a bigger plan without asking. ### Can I change plans? Yes. Upgrades start straight away and you pay the difference for the rest of the period. Downgrades start at the end of the period. ### We're seasonal. What do we do in the off-season? Move to the Free plan and back when you reopen. Your setup stays as it is. ### Can my team have their own logins? Yes. Each member of your team can have their own login. ### I have several venues. Can I see them in one account? Not yet. For now, log out and log back in to switch between venues. A view of all your venues in one account is in development. ### Who owns guest data? You do. Your venue is the data controller and Carbonara processes guest details for you. You can export your data at any time. ### Does Carbonara use guests' phone numbers for marketing? No. Numbers are used only to send your venue's messages. Guests can choose to join your venue's marketing list when they book or join online. ### How do I delete my account? See Delete your Carbonara account. For more, see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. [Pricing page](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/pricing/) [portal.carbonaraapp.com](https://portal.carbonaraapp.com/login) [Delete your Carbonara account](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/delete-account/) [Privacy Policy](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/privacy-policy/) [Terms of Use](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/terms/)