# How to create a registration form with limited spots in Makeform

Limit registration for free with a whole-form submission cap under **Settings** > **Access**, or limits on individual choice options. Use the whole-form limit for an overall response cap and option limits for sessions, classes, or time slots.

**Is it free?** Yes. Submission limits, option limits, scheduled closing, and duplicate prevention are free on every plan.

## Steps

1. Describe your registration form at [makeform.ai/create](https://www.makeform.ai/create), with no account needed to start. You can [adjust it with AI](/help/guides/create-a-form-with-ai) or build it manually with **+** (**Add form element**).
2. For a whole-form cap, go to **Settings** > **Access**. Turn on **Limit number of submissions** and enter **Maximum submissions**. The form automatically closes when the submission limit is reached.
3. Turn on **Show custom message on closed form**. Fill in **Title** and **Description** so people arriving after the limit know what to do next. The default closed message is “This form is now closed”.
4. For a session, class, or time-slot limit, add a choice field such as **Single Select** from **Input blocks**. Enable **Limit responses per option** and enter a number for each option. Options show **Full** when taken.
5. If registration also has a deadline, enable **Close on scheduled date** under **Settings** > **Access**. Set **Timezone**, **Date**, and **Time**.
6. To prevent one person from taking two spots, use **Prevent duplicate submissions** with the email field. This option is not available on forms with a **Payment** field.
7. Test the registration limits, then delete your test responses before sharing the form. Test submissions count toward the limits.

## Choose what the limit counts

The whole-form setting caps the number of submissions. The per-option setting limits responses to a particular session, class, or slot. Choose the limit that matches the registration you are collecting; use the option setting when each choice needs its own capacity.

## Offer a waitlist

Makeform does not have an automatic waitlist. As a workaround, create a second form for the waitlist and link to it in the closed-form message. The AI chat includes a **Create Waitlist** starter.

:::callout{type="info"}
Delete test responses before sharing a form with limits. Test submissions count toward those limits, just like other submissions.
:::

Makeform is a free AI form builder: describe what you want to collect and it builds the form for you, with unlimited forms and submissions on the free plan.

## FAQ

### Can I close registration after a fixed number of submissions?

Yes, enable **Limit number of submissions** and enter **Maximum submissions**. The form closes automatically when that limit is reached.

### Can each class have a different number of spots?

Yes, use **Limit responses per option** on the class choice field. Enter a number per option; a full option shows **Full**.

### Does Makeform automatically move people to a waitlist?

No, there is no automatic waitlist. Link to a separate waitlist form in your custom closed-form message.

### Can I prevent duplicate registrations on a paid ticket form?

**Prevent duplicate submissions** is not available on forms with a **Payment** field. On forms without that field, use duplicate prevention with the email field.

## Related

- [Limit responses per option](/help/guides/limit-responses-per-option)
- [Close form rules](/help/features/close-form)
- [Prevent duplicate submissions](/help/guides/prevent-duplicate-submissions)
- [Create an event RSVP form](/help/tutorials/common-tutorials/how-to-create-an-event-rsvp-form)