16+ Best Online Restaurant Reservation Systems Compared (2024 Edition)

Today's guests have a few expectations when booking a table.

Not only do they want a seamless experience from the beginning of their reservation to its end with as few interactions as possible, but they also expect real-time waitlists, reviews and recommendations from other guests, and an option to make their preferences known.

Using an online restaurant reservation system or restaurant reservation software gives customers the freedom to make a booking whenever they like without having to call you.

The best restaurant reservation systems

A quick search on Google reveals there are several restaurant reservation systems in existence. How do you know which one is right for your restaurant? What are some popular options in the restaurant management space?

To help you discover the right reservation system for you, we've rounded up a list of the 16 best online restaurant reservation systems with an in-depth analysis of each.

Let's jump right in.

Eat App

Eat App is a cloud-based, cross-platform (you can use it on iPads, Desktops, and mobile phones), and a simple-to-use restaurant reservation system.

Eat App recognizes the importance of a restaurant reservation app and ensures that usability is as simple as possible across different devices. It also keeps in mind that other types of restaurants have different needs - for example, restaurants requiring prepaid reservations for high-end dining experiences.

In addition, Eat App also includes powerful table management,guest database and CRM features that help with day-to-day operations, reducing mistakes and improving revenue.

An all-in-one solution to help restaurants provide the best hospitality.

The reservation system enables easy floor plan setup and control over party sizes and availability directly through the app and also comes with an easy-to-install widget that shows real-time table availability for your guests to book directly from your website or social media profiles including capturing upfront online payments for events or booking deposits.

Eat App also enables your restaurant to access a global reservation network to attract guests through partners like Instagram, Facebook, Google, TripAdvisor, American Express, and more, helping you cast a wide net and build a direct connection with guests on their platform of choice, increasing covers and overall visibility.

Eat App offers a system that is the easiest way to take online restaurant reservations and seat walk-ins, without the headache of expensive software and complicated pricing structures.

This efficient system also helps restaurants with flexible and powerful shift management, credit card hold for reducing no-shows, restaurant automation, iOS, and Android manager apps for on-the-fly management, as well as cross-restaurant data sync if you have multiple branches or operate as a group.

Eat App’s various integration possibilities including POS, phone and payment integrations take your hospitality and marketing to the next level with guest-advanced data, like spend per guest, itemized menu items per guest and voided tickets, and improved customer service.

Simply put, Eat App puts you in control of the data and the reservation experience, allowing you to build direct relationships with your guests.

Pros

• Manage staff, bookings, and guest experiences all in one spot.
• Use automated emails to encourage return visits.
• Reduce no-shows and increase sales with waitlist and seating management.
• Utilize reports to identify trends and boost profits.
• Access excellent 24/7 customer support.
• Seamlessly integrate with popular POS systems.
• Connect with guests through SMS and WhatsApp.
• Gain insights into guest preferences with detailed profiles.
• Boost revenue with event ticket sales and pre-order options.
• Send booking confirmations via SMS and email.
• Integrate social media channels for direct bookings.
• Fully customize your booking widget to fit your brand. 

Cons

• These features are only available for Eat App customers. 

Want to explore what Eat App has to offer? Book a free Eat App consultation to learn more.

Eat App Pricing

Eat App offers simple pricing for their restaurant reservation system:

Free Plan - $0/month: Basic table management, access to online booking channels, and 30 cover limit.

Starter Plan - $49/month: Full table management, access to online booking channels, automated messaging, 300 cover limit, and 25 free SMS monthly.

Basic Plan - $129/month: Full table management, access to online booking channels, simple reports, guest surveys, automated messages, unlimited Covers, and 100 free SMS monthly.

Pro Plan - $229/month: Everything in the basic plan, 300 free SMS monthly, CRM and guest database, reporting and analytics, customizable design and messaging, auto guest tagging, and marketing campaigns.

For a fully integrated reservation system and table management with unlimited covers go for the $129/month plan or if you want more advanced restaurant management with rich analytics and full guest CRM the $229 plan is perfect. If you need help deciding which Eat App plan is right for you, take the quiz.

Resy

Resy offers a waitlist and restaurant reservation system with mobile bookings, POS integration, and table management features.

Like any other full-featured reservation system, it lets you create a custom floor plan including bar seats, dining room, and patio, for example. Guests can cancel or confirm through text and even inform you they're running late.

Upon purchase, the reservation system will also let you share guest notes and preferences across all your restaurants on as many devices as you'd prefer.

Through the Resy mobile app, every guest writes their details, shares birthdays, and indicates food restrictions and allergies – so you don't have to ask. Fully adaptable to your customers, you can also attach notes for additional context.

Resy restaurant booking also directly integrates with Facebook, Trip Advisor, Airbnb, and other channels to help people discover and connect with your restaurant. 

Pros:

• Boost table turnover and earnings with Resy's seat management.
• Generate extra money by selling event tickets.
• Use reporting tools to monitor and improve performance.
• Text guests about bookings and offer touch-free payment.
• Get guest feedback through the Resy app.
• Resy’s team helps restaurants target the right customers.

Cons:

• The dining network is small with limited marketing help, making it less suitable for new restaurants without regular customers.

Resy Pricing

Resy offers three pricing tiers: Platform, Platform 360, and Full Stack.

Starting at $189 per month and POS integration, the Platform tier offers unlimited users, devices, and covers. The Platform 360 tier costs $399 per month and offers extra features for branding and hospitality, including customizable guest messaging and a data and analytics package. The Full Stack starts at $899 per month, offering features like high-volume network configuration and API access for restaurants looking for enterprise scale.

For ticketed events, Resy charges a 3% fee from Platform users, which goes down to 2% for those upgrading to or investing in the Platform 360 or Full Stack plan.

Wisely

Wisely bills itself as an operations and marketing system that includes reservations, waitlists, marketing features, table management, and more.

Like other providers you get a customizable floor plan - all it takes is a glance for your wait staff to know who's seated where, what time did they arrive, and what they like to order.

Like any other advanced restaurant reservation system, when it comes to anticipating your guests' needs, Wisely automatically integrates data from your point-of-sale, public reviews, and more.

This lets you see if they have a certain preference for the ambiance, food, serving style, etc. In addition, smart seating and booking algorithms allow you to create custom plans for one-off events, regular tasting experiences, or holidays.  

Simply put, Wisely puts you in control of the data and the table reservation experience, allowing you to build direct relationships with your guests.

Pros:

• Wisely’s booking system integrates with common POS systems to lessen the need for extra devices.
• Strong marketing tools using emails and texts.
• Advanced software for managing tables and analyzing to boost your restaurant’s results.
• Options for pick-up orders and touch-free payment.
• The Wisely app connects with Olo for delivery services.

Cons:

• No marketplace to advertise your restaurant to new customers.
• No tailored pricing plans for big restaurants.

Wisely Pricing

Wisely offers two main packages, in addition to custom software and branded apps. The Operations Software package is billed annually at $200 per location, per month. Customers can also pay monthly based on usage: free up to 300 tables, $150 per month for 301-800 tables, and $220 per month for more than 800.

The Growth Software package is billed annually at $215 or monthly at $260 per month. Branded apps range from $40,000 to $50,000. For custom software, customers must contact Wisely for a quote.

Tock

Tock is a table management system that aims at improving restaurant revenue by reducing no-shows through a ticketing system that allows restaurants to take table reservation deposits and prepayments. 

Automated notifications and waitlists allow you to fill last-minute cancellations with the right customers, and pre-visit questionnaires ensure you're aware of your guests' preferences before they walk through that front door. Also offered is an offline mode that keeps you and your restaurant up and running.

For restaurants aiming to take their customer experience to the next level, Tock offers fully configurable guest notes, tags, and automatic LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook profile integration.

In a nutshell, Tock provides you with everything you need to deliver a magical hospitality experience. 

Pros:

• Advanced table management increases profits.
• Includes high-profile clients and restaurant partners.
• Provides strong online marketing support.
• Offers advanced tools for customer relationships like rewards, VIP discounts, and post-visit surveys.
• Supports online take-out orders and touch-free payments.

Cons:

• Tock needs you to use your own devices for access and management, but it works with any laptop, iPad, or smartphone.

Tock Pricing

Tock is available in three plans: Intro, Plus, and Pro. Intro is a free monthly plan with a 3% prepaid fee. It's geared toward pop-ups and prepaid culinary events that don't need table management software.

The Plus plan starts at $199 per month with a 2% prepaid fee. It offers a complete table management and reservation system, including prepaid experiences like a chef's counter or tasting menus.

The Pro plan is ideal for high volume or chef-driven restaurants, offering full features and 0% prepaid reservation fees. This plan starts at $699 per month.

OpenTable

OpenTable offers table reservation software that allows you to organize shift summaries, automate reservation reminders, optimize turn times, and more.

Once installed, customers can see real-time availability and book a table online through your website. Table categories allow you to get more covers by letting patrons book the patio, bar, and other seating areas.

Like any other restaurant reservation system, it also saves useful customer details such as guest history and visit notes to help you and your team deliver personalized service.

Besides all that, OpenTable offers integrations and access to 27m diners via its expensive diner network to help you fill more seats and effectively manage reservations.

Pros:

• Connects with 31 million diners.
• Guests can see your available bookings anytime via the app.
• Show off your restaurant with photos, menus, and safety info.
• Buy a boost to make your restaurant more visible on the app.
• Confirm reservations with guests via text messages.
• Core and Pro packages offer data collection and performance visualization.

Cons:

• OpenTable leads the industry, so there's a lot of competition for visibility.
• Bigger restaurants that can pay for more visibility tend to do better than smaller ones.

OpenTable Pricing

OpenTable offers a three-tiered system starting with the basic which gives you access to OpenTable's dining network for $39/month and a per-cover charge of $1.50. The Core package offers basic table management and waitlist features for $249 and a per-cover charge of $1.

The full stack, priced at $449/month gives you access to all of OpenTable's extensive table management systems, with a per-cover charge of $1.

Yelp Reservations

Yelp's reservation software has the standard features you would expect that enable you to reach more diners, give accurate wait times, assign servers, and accept bookings on your Yelp business page.

When it comes to booking, Yelp lets your prospective customers check availability and reserve places in just a couple of taps, directly from your Yelp page.

In addition, you can set up a booking widget to accept online reservations from your restaurant website. Special configurations allow you to keep track of your floor and service activity from any device, any place in the world to save time.

If you're already active on Yelp, this reservation system might be just what you need to turn your activity and presence into a profit.

Pros:

• Add your restaurant booking system to Yelp’s well-known business listing.
• Talk to guests via text messages.
• Promote your restaurant to Yelp’s large number of users.
• Manage your restaurant’s seating with Yelp’s Guest Manager.
• Give iPads to customers to manage their Yelp bookings.

Cons:

• Lacks advanced insights for managing guests and optimizing seating.
• Offers weaker marketing support compared to competitors.
• You must compete for attention with other restaurants and businesses on Yelp.

Yelp Pricing

Yelp charges a flat rate of $249 per month with no cover fees, setup fees, or web access fees. The iPad is included in the cost. Features include two-way diner messaging, table management, and waitlist management capabilities.

Table Agent

Table Agent aims to help restaurants save as much money as possible by offering an affordable and easy-to-use table reservation system. 

As Table Agent's main focus is reducing costs, it offers a rather simple restaurant reservation system that can be accessed via the web and has limited updates. 

Table Agent follows a slightly different approach to the other reservation management players with a "list" based approach for managing table reservations.

Think of a traditional restaurant reservation system or record book but in a digital form. Apart from the list system, Table Agent also offers an online booking widget for reservations.

If you're only looking for a simple system to help organize your reservations better, Table Agent can be the right fit for you, however, if you're looking for something more advanced, you might want to consider other options. 

Pros:

• Control your restaurant's waitlist, bookings, seating, and table status in one app.
• Send texts to communicate with guests.
• Send special offers and discounts to guests through the app.
• Use a digital guestbook and tools for managing guests.
• Reports and visuals help improve your restaurant's seating.

Cons:

• TableAgent doesn't have a marketplace to feature your restaurant.
• TableAgent offers limited customer support.

Table Agent Pricing

Table Agent offers a free-of-cost system without any monthly subscription or cover fee for the basic features.

However, for more advanced functionality, you will have to subscribe to add-ons at an added cost. For example, per transaction fee is priced at $1 or $29 for an unlimited per-month package, and SMS packages start at $20. 

Eveve

Eveve facilitates real-time bookings by combining live online booking pages with real-time availability. Table management and booking pages accommodate instant table reservations for guests, which maximizes floor efficiency as reservations are available 24/7.

Another feature, called full availability, lets you offer alternative dates to guests when their desired ones are fully booked—all basic features of a good restaurant reservation system.

The customer database is auto-populated based on the day-to-day happenings, giving you insight into your guests' demographics. Furthermore, remote access allows you to monitor the restaurant from any place to make sure it's always operating efficiently.

Pros:

• Efficient table management tailored to your market with 24/7 booking for guests.
• Advanced tools to manage guests and send discounts and marketing to VIPs.
• Detailed analytics and reports help you make smart decisions for your restaurant.

Cons:

• Eveve lacks many marketing tools that competitors offer.
• There is no marketplace for advertising your restaurant on Eveve.

Eveve Pricing

Eveve's website doesn't disclose pricing, but other sources report that this system typically costs between $150-300 per month, with no additional fees per diner. To get a quote, restaurateurs should request a demo from Eveve's website.

Tablein

Tablein provides smaller restaurants with modern capabilities to attract customers, optimize guest capacity, control kitchen staff's workload, and more.

Once set up, the software automatically allocates tables and displays all reservations on an interactive calendar or plan. Also, you get the option to remind guests of their upcoming visits, which automatically reduces the number of no-shows.  

Plus, you get the added benefit of being able to access marketing features to fill empty hours, list events and increase restaurant sales. If you have a small restaurant, Tablein can help streamline all reservations with a basic booking tool.

It's important to note that Tablein doesn't offer table management of any kind or advanced features like POS integration and server management. This puts it in a slightly different category from all the other systems in this post. 

Pros:

• Easy to use.
• Low cost.
• Helps arrange floor plans.
• Manages table use to prevent empty spots.
• Sends reminders to guests to reduce no-shows.
• Collects guest feedback for more exposure.
• Manages waitlists.
• Provides reports and analytics.
• Processes pre-payments for bookings.

Cons:

• Fewer features than some competitors.
• May not be best for very large places needing comprehensive management tools.

Tablein Pricing

Tablein offers a free trial with free installation and live support, and two pricing plans: Standard & Premium. The Standard plan starts at $75 per month and includes 150 bookings per month, with a $0.25 charge for each additional booking. This plan includes all features, free live support, and free updates.

The Premium plan costs $115 per month and includes unlimited bookings and free installation, live support, and updates. 

ResOS

ResOS is a cloud-based restaurant reservation system that offers a range of features to streamline your operations and enhance guest experiences. This system allows you to set up your restaurant's floor plan, manage party sizes, and track availability. ResOS also offers a seamless widget integration for your website and social media profiles, enabling guests to book tables directly from those platforms.

Moreover, ResOS offers integration options such as POS, phone, and payment integrations, allowing you and your team to gather advanced guest data and insights for improved service and targeted marketing efforts. 

ResOS Pricing

The ResOs unlimited tier which has all the basics for managing reservations starts at $95 per month.

Sevenrooms

Sevenrooms is a reservation and guest management platform designed to elevate restaurant operations. Sevenrooms enables you to optimize table assignments, manage reservations, and maintain a detailed guest database.

Sevenrooms provides a mobile app for on-the-go management, allowing you to monitor and make adjustments to reservations and waitlists in real time. Its integration with various platforms like Facebook and TripAdvisor helps you reach a broader audience and boost reservations.

Pros 

• Easy to use with continuous improvements.
• Customizable features for managing guest interactions.
• Good for capturing detailed customer data.
• Integrates well with various POS systems.

Cons 

• Can be complex to navigate, especially during setup.
• Occasional glitches and some integration issues.
• No free version is available.
• Not the standard in the industry, which may lead to unfamiliarity and lost reservations.

Sevenrooms Pricing

Pricing for Sevenroom varies depending on your specific restaurant and team needs - but if you're looking for table management, reservation management, and basic integrations, it will set your restaurant back $700 per month.

Servme

Servme is a restaurant reservation system that offers an array of features to streamline the guest management processes. Servme assists you in managing reservations, optimizing table assignments, and providing excellent customer service.

Their platform facilitates direct communication between your restaurant and guests, enabling them to book tables seamlessly from your website or social media pages. Servme also offers waitlist management, ensuring that you can fill cancellations efficiently.

Pros

• User-friendly reservation and table management accessible across devices.
• Integrates with social media for direct reservations.
• Features marketing tools and CRM for personalized guest experiences.
• Allows pre-payments to reduce no-shows.

Cons 

• Some users might find the features limited compared to larger, more established competitors.

Servme Pricing

Pricing for Servme is not publicized but we estimate a standard package to cost around $300 per month per restaurant.

The Fork

The Fork is an online table reservation system that enhances your restaurant's visibility and makes guest bookings easier. With a user-friendly interface, it allows diners to discover your restaurant, check availability, and make reservations online.

Integration with platforms like TripAdvisor and Google expands your reach, while the booking widget enables direct online reservations. The Fork also provides guest management tools, a detailed customer database, and reporting features to track table reservation trends and make data-driven decisions.

Pros

• User-friendly with promotions that attract diners.
• Increases restaurant visibility and helps fill quieter periods.

Cons

• Charges commissions, reducing restaurant earnings.
• This can impact profitability due to fees.

The Fork Pricing

Pricing for The Fork can vary depending on your restaurant's location and specific needs, but if your restaurant is located in the UK for example, you'll be spending $178 per month for The Fork's pro plan. In addition to the monthly subscription fee, The Fork also charges on a per-cover basis.

Hostme

Hostme is a versatile table reservation system designed to optimize your restaurant's operations and guest management. With its easy-to-use interface, Hostme offers features like table management, waitlist management, and online reservations to ensure a seamless dining experience.

Hostme's unique features include its SMS notification system, which allows you to keep guests informed about their table reservation status and waitlist updates. This contributes to a smooth guest experience and reduces no-shows.

Hostme provides insights and analytics to understand table reservation trends and improve table turnover. Integration options enable synchronization with POS and other systems for enhanced efficiency.

Pros:

• Easy to use interface, quick to set up and train staff.
• Includes waitlist, floor management, server rotation, digital guestbook, and online ordering.
• Sends booking confirmations via texts and emails.
• Offers detailed analytics and private guest data.
• Can sell event tickets and allow pre-orders to boost revenue.
• Can collect deposits or charge cancellation fees to lower no-shows.
• Provides premium chat and phone support.

Cons:

• Lacks a marketplace to find new customers.
• Limited options for POS integration.

Hostme Pricing

For Hostme's most complete package for restaurants, you'll be spending $169 per month. 

Resdiary

ResDiary is a user-friendly restaurant reservation and table management system that optimizes guest handling and operations in restaurants.

ResDiary's unique feature is its channel management capabilities, allowing you to connect with various online booking platforms and increase your restaurant's visibility across different channels. This feature ensures your restaurant can reach a broader audience and drive more reservations.

Resdiary offers customizable messaging and communication tools, as well as reporting and analytics features for data-driven business decisions to enhance client and guest satisfaction and revenue.

Pros 

• Effective booking management and table handling.
• Automation and customization features streamline the booking process.
• Flat-fee pricing model offers good value.
• Includes email marketing tools for customer relations and event promotion.

Cons 

• A complicated software interface leads to user frustration.
• Lack of effective customer support after initial setup.
• Limited flexibility in customization tools.

ResDiary Pricing

ResDiary offers three pricing options for restaurants.

ResDiary Connect will cost $89 per month and includes 150 free bookings, ResDiary Express will cost $139 per month and include 500 free bookings, and ResDiary Pro will cost $189 per month and include unlimited bookings per month.

Restaurants will also need to pay a $129 setup fee when proceeding with ResDiary. To get the full benefits of ResDiary at your restaurant, they offer a host of add-ons which will cost an average of $45 per month per add-on.

Toast Tables

Toast Tables is a highly efficient table reservation and guest management system that seamlessly integrates with your restaurant's operations. With its intuitive interface, Toast Tables provides a wide range of features including advanced table management, efficient reservation handling, and effective communication with guests.

One of Toast Tables' highlights is its integration with the Toast POS system, creating a cohesive experience for both your front-of-house and back-of-house teams. This integration ensures accurate order information and personalized service based on guest preferences.

Toast Tables also offers waitlist management and online booking capabilities, allowing diners to easily reserve tables from your restaurant, website, or social media account profiles. Additionally, its reporting and analytics tools provide insights into reservation trends and guest behavior.

Pros 

• Quick setup.
• Automatically updates table status.
• Manages server rotations and waitlist status.
• Creates guest profiles and supports 2-way SMS.
• Allows loyalty sign-ups and data-driven marketing.
• Imports floor plans.
• Compatible with iOS 12 and Android 11 or later.
• Provides accurate wait times.
• Specifically designed for restaurants.

Cons 

• Limited compatibility with non-Toast systems.
• Extra costs for advanced features.
• Reliance on internet connection.
• Fewer customization options.
• Staff will need time to learn how to use it.

Toast Tables Pricing

Unlimited access to Toast Tables will cost $199 per month per restaurant.

Considerations for choosing a restaurant reservation system

To create this review we had a look at each restaurant reservation system in this list by signing up for each product, (where possible) and assessing the ease of use and the available features.

We also looked at current reviews on sites like G2, as well as reviewed the pricing pages of each site to get up-to-date information on the price of each service.

To help get you and your team started, let’s first establish the criteria we used to evaluate the best online restaurant reservation systems.

As you do your research, there are some key considerations to look at to ensure that you’re getting your dollars’ worth when choosing a restaurant reservation system. Finding the best restaurant reservation software is crucial for meeting specific business needs amidst a variety of options available in the market.

Selecting the best restaurant reservation app is important for any restaurant owner. It's crucial to compare features and suitability for different types of restaurants, including high-end restaurants and wineries that may benefit from features like prepaid reservations. Platforms like Tock and OpenTable stand out for their ability to cater to high-volume restaurants with extensive features, integrations, and digital marketing solutions.

Features

Is the restaurant reservation system intuitive and easy to use? Does it help reduce no-shows through features like SMS notifications, emails, push notifications, and tags for previous no-show guests? Does it offer booking widgets to help increase your online restaurant reservations too?

Does it help you manage capacity by offering table management, customer service, and waitlisting features? 

Does the restaurant reservation system streamline your front-of-house operations? Can it manage walk-ins as easily as it manages online reservations?

Cost

While cost shouldn't be the only thing you're considering, you might find that two or three of the best online restaurant reservation software are so similar that price will be the defining consideration.

Make sure there are no hidden or exorbitant fees, like installation, setup, restaurant reservation, or SMS fees. This is especially true for restaurants with high numbers of reservations. 

The takeaway

There are a lot of restaurant reservation systems out there, catering to the full range of budgets and needs.

Hopefully this lowdown on some of the best online restaurant reservation systems has helped you to identify which ones are within your budget while still offering all the features you're looking for in your shiny new restaurant reservation system.

While it may seem costly, these systems can offer much more value than they may seem on the surface.

Ultimately, the right one will pay for itself – and more – by organizing and streamlining your internal operations while creating meaningful customer experiences that consistently keep them coming back for more.

Frequently asked questions about restaurant reservation software (FAQs)

What is restaurant reservation software?

Restaurant reservation software is a helpful tool that allows customers to book tables at restaurants online, while also helping restaurant staff manage reservations and walk-ins, seating arrangements, and customer information efficiently.

How do restaurants keep track of restaurant reservations?

Conventionally, traditional restaurants would use a reservation book to keep track of reservations. As restaurant technology advanced, operators could adopt new industry-leading tools to help with the process. Rather than relying on pen and paper, a restaurant reservation system could be employed to track every single reservation, provide insightful analytics about performance, and even notify staff if a reservation is canceled. A good reservation system should be able to track both walk-ins and online reservations.

What software is used for booking?

Restaurant booking software like Eat App can be used to allow guests to make online bookings at their favorite restaurants. With easy-to-use booking widgets that integrate across all online channels, this makes it easier than ever for guests to discover and book tables at their favorite restaurant.

What is online reservations software?

Online restaurant reservation software is reservation software that is both cloud-based and makes it possible for guests to make restaurant reservations online.

What is a restaurant reservation system?

A restaurant reservation system is a type of restaurant software that enables both customers and restaurant staff to manage table reservations efficiently. It allows customers to book tables at their favorite restaurant online or through other channels (such as Google or Instagram), and it assists restaurant staff in organizing reservations and walk-ins, managing seating arrangements, and keeping track of customer information. This reservation system also helps streamline the reservation process and enhance dining experiences for all parties involved.