Best Tally Counter for Queue Tracking

What makes a great queue tracker?

Queue management with a counter is about tracking who's next and how many are waiting:

• Increment — new person joins the queue.
• Decrement — person is served, subtract from the waiting count.
• Sound effects — audible alert when the next number is called.
• Haptic feedback — tactile confirmation for the service desk operator.
• Undo last action — accidental taps need instant correction.
• Fullscreen display — big "now serving" number visible to waiting customers.
• Responsive design — works on the counter device, any size.
• Auto-save — the queue count must persist through device hiccups.

Queue tracking features — compared

We simulated a customer service queue in each app: rapid turnover, sound alerts, display visibility, and recovery from accidental taps.

The verdict

Two-counter queue management

The simplest queue setup uses two counters: "Waiting" (increment when someone arrives, decrement when served) and "Now Serving" (increment each time you call the next person). Display the "Now Serving" counter in fullscreen on a customer-facing screen, and manage the "Waiting" counter on the service desk phone.

Sound alerts as a calling system

Connecting a phone to a Bluetooth speaker and enabling sound effects creates a basic calling system. Each time you increment the "Now Serving" counter, the sound plays through the speaker — customers hear the alert and check the display number. Simple, effective, zero cost.