AWS Virtual Waiting Room Discontinued: CrowdHandler Now Available on AWS Marketplace

AWS has officially ended support for its Virtual Waiting Room solution, with full retirement. Now, it’s time for stable, enterprise-ready alternatives. 

AWS now directs customers toward solutions available through AWS Marketplace, and CrowdHandler is now listed as a fully supported option built for AWS-hosted applications. Customers can purchase CrowdHandler through their existing AWS account, with billing consolidated into their standard AWS invoice.

Why AWS Retired the Virtual Waiting Room

AWS first launched its Virtual Waiting Room in February 2022 as a free, open-source tool designed to help businesses cope with sudden traffic spikes. Although useful, it placed the entire burden of deployment, updates, and long-term maintenance on customers. Once support ends in November 2025, organisations will be responsible for all code upkeep, API changes, and security patches.

AWS’s solution was extremely limited. Deploying and operating it required deep DevOps experience, and AWS offered only the source code rather than an actively supported product. Its feature set was minimal compared to enterprise platforms, and customers had to manage scaling and security independently. AWS now explicitly tells users to “explore enterprise-supported alternatives in AWS Marketplace,” acknowledging that mission-critical traffic control demands more than a DIY, unsupported system.

CrowdHandler Arrives on AWS Marketplace

CrowdHandler is now officially available on AWS Marketplace, giving AWS customers a robust, enterprise-grade virtual waiting room that slots directly into existing AWS environments. The Marketplace listing means an end to long procurement cycles: purchasing can be completed with a single click, and all costs roll into the organisation’s existing AWS billing structure.

This setup accelerates approval processes, keeps vendor management simple, and allows procurement teams to rely on their existing AWS commercial relationship. Teams that previously needed legal reviews or separate contracts can now deploy immediately with AWS-approved terms already in place.

Why CrowdHandler Is the Ideal AWS Alternative

CrowdHandler integrates natively with Amazon CloudFront using Lambda@Edge, controlling access at the network edge before excess users ever reach the origin. This prevents overloads and keeps applications responsive, while adding only around 20 milliseconds to page loads. Queued users are handled entirely at the edge, offloading strain from the customer’s infrastructure.

Unlike the minimal AWS solution, CrowdHandler brings a large suite of enterprise-grade capabilities: intelligent throughput controls with one-in-one-out logic, automated traffic optimisation powered by AutoTune, and a complete white-label design system that allows full branding control. Waiting rooms can be served from a customer’s own domain, and real-time queue updates, countdown timers, device fingerprinting, bot detection, and priority access codes ensure sophisticated control over user flows. Real-time stock and inventory syncing prevent overselling during high-demand events, and CAPTCHA options add further protection.

CrowdHandler’s architecture is built for AWS. It processes requests at CloudFront edge locations, reducing compute pressure on origin servers. Deployment requires no code changes thanks to CloudFormation templates that integrate directly with existing infrastructure.

How CrowdHandler Works Inside AWS

CrowdHandler deploys through Lambda@Edge on an AWS CloudFront distribution. When demand exceeds the capacity a customer has defined, traffic is intercepted at the nearest AWS edge location. Users who arrive first are allowed through as capacity permits, while excess users are redirected to a branded waiting room served from the customer’s own domain. Queue positions and expected wait times update automatically, and users enter seamlessly once capacity opens up.

Deployment is straightforward. CloudFormation templates allow installation within hours, using AWS-native IaC practices. No DNS changes are required, SSL certificates remain untouched, and customers retain full control over the waiting room experience. JavaScript, API-based, and fully edge-based integrations are all supported, and monitoring can be tied into CrowdHandler dashboards and Google Analytics.

Who Uses CrowdHandler

CrowdHandler is trusted globally by entertainment organisations, sports teams, government departments, e-commerce brands, and major enterprises. Typical uses include concert and sports ticket releases, high-pressure product drops, Black Friday retail events, government registration portals, and educational enrollment systems. These customers rely on CrowdHandler to maintain uptime, ensure fairness, and protect revenue during critical demand surges.

Migrating from AWS Virtual Waiting Room

Customers using the original AWS Virtual Waiting Room can move to CrowdHandler with minimal friction. Migration eliminates the maintenance burden of maintaining open-source code and replaces it with an enterprise platform supported 24/7. The transition brings access to advanced features such as AutoTune, priority queuing, white-label templates, and edge-level performance benefits.

The migration process follows a simple path: evaluate the existing AWS implementation, map requirements to CrowdHandler’s configuration, deploy via AWS Marketplace, test the integration, and cut over traffic. Because CrowdHandler can attach to an existing CloudFront distribution without code changes, the swap can be completed quickly, even during active operations.

Pour commencer

AWS customers can activate CrowdHandler immediately. Searching “CrowdHandler Virtual Waiting Room” on AWS Marketplace provides access to documentation, pricing, and deployment guides. A free trial allows testing for up to 100 concurrent users, and customers can book demos with CrowdHandler solution architects for tailored implementation support. Integration assistance covers CloudFront edge workers and API-based setups.

The Future of Virtual Waiting Rooms on AWS

AWS’s discontinuation of its Virtual Waiting Room underscores the need for specialised, supported solutions. Businesses now require reliability for high-scale events, richer feature sets, ongoing vendor support, and global scalability without having to self-manage infrastructure. CrowdHandler provides all of this natively within AWS Marketplace, combining AWS’s global infrastructure with a system designed specifically for traffic management at scale.

Ready to switch? Sign up to CrowdHandler today.