Updated: 19 July 2024
Restaurant reservation systems can help you to manage bookings, reduce no-shows, and attract more customers. But which platform is best for your small business?
From big-network partnerships with Google and Tripadvisor to smaller booking apps with cutting-edge tech, here’s an overview of some of the best online booking systems for restaurant owners.
8 of the best restaurant booking systems for small businesses
We’ve based our online booking system round-up on standard features like real-time bookings management, restaurant reservation waitlist options, and booking widgets, along with added tools, including:
- social media and Google integration
- brand reach
- your access to their diner network
In no particular order, here’s a quick look at eight of the best online booking systems for small business. It’s followed by a more detailed look at the features, pricing, and support for each, along with any watch-points to factor in.
Restaurant reservation system | Pricing | Free trial? |
|---|---|---|
From £179 a month + £2 per network cover | No | |
Prices not listed | No | |
From £39 a month + £3.90 per network cover | Yes | |
From free | Yes (3 months) | |
From $49 a month | Yes (14 days) | |
From £95 a month | No | |
From £45 a month | Yes (14 days) | |
From free | No |
OpenTable
It’s a huge brand, supporting over 50,000 restaurants worldwide, with the network and customer reach you’d expect.
Top features
- brand reach, with over 31 million diners using the service each month
- access a global diner network through the OpenTable guest centre
- paid digital marketing features
- ability to manage reviews and surveys
- customisable website widget
- SMS/email communication
- custom tagging for specific guests
Things to watch out for
OpenTable is famous for its customer feedback tools, but this means any bad reviews get a very public platform, fast.
Pricing
From £179 a month, with a £2 per network cover charge.
ResDiary
ResDiary is set up for online order and takeaway integration, pre-orders, and online payments, and you won’t pay any booking commission.
Top features
- brand reach, with millions of diners each year
- cross-device booking widget
- Google and social media integration (Google Reserve partner)
- reservation deposit and credit card imprint options (to reduce no-shows)
- branded emails and SMS marketing
Things to watch out for
ResDiary has a lot of add-ons, so the overall cost may be higher than you expect.
Pricing
Monthly or annual pricing isn’t listed on ResDiary’s website. However, prices for add-ons are listed and range from £10 a month to £50 a month.
Quandoo
Quandoo focuses on digital expertise and cutting-edge software to help restaurants secure more bookings and build a diner community.
Top features
- access to Google and Instagram partnerships
- direct bookings through social media
- SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and social advertising support
- digital tools for shift planning and floor plan management
- 1,000+ affiliates to drive more bookings
- interactive table management
- smart diner preferences
Things to watch out for
Quandoo’s basic package has a setup fee of £249 so you’ll need to factor that into your budget.
Pricing
The Pro package costs £39 a month, while the Premium package costs £59 a month. There are setup fees and network cover fees too.
TheFork
A Tripadvisor company, TheFork promises to manage your restaurant diary, with smart revenue boost functions, maximum visibility, and an ultra-efficient system.
Top features
- 20 million monthly visits across all devices
- part of the Tripadvisor family, with impressive network access
- Google, Facebook, Instagram, Apple, and Bing integration
- anti-no-show feature
- special offers feature to increase bookings
Things to watch out for
TheFork features a pay-per-use model, with fees based on your average meal prices. Along with booking fees, the Pro+ plan comes with an additional subscription fee.
Pricing
Free for the basic package, with a three-month free trial available for the Pro+ package (which usually costs £139 a month).
Eat App
Eat puts the focus on a central, one-stop-shop for all your operational needs, from managing restaurant table bookings and guests to increasing revenue and customer loyalty.
Top features
- real-time website and social media bookings
- partnerships with Google and Tripadvisor
- tools to help manage capacity
- table blocking flexibility (keeping you free for walk-ins etc.)
- custom tagging for specific guests
- auto-suggest to help you see quieter gaps
- extra POS (point of sale) options
- syncing of reservations across devices every three seconds
Things to watch out for
The extra POS functions come with an extra monthly fee. There are other add-on features too, which may bump the pricing.
Pricing
$49 a month, with a 14-day free trial available.
Hostme
With multiple package and price options, plus online ordering for takeaway, Hostme is a restaurant booking app which focuses on customisable software.
Top features
- waitlist and food ordering functionality
- CRM help and support
- Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Tripadvisor integration
- staff rotation and performance management
- advanced analytics
- POS (point of sale) integration options
- reservation deposit options (to reduce no-shows)
Things to watch out for
If you choose to pay annually, you’ll receive a 10 per cent discount on the monthly prices.
Pricing
From £95 a month for the basic Mezzo package.
Tablein
Tablein is online booking software which aims to stop restaurants wasting time on paper or email reservations, phone calls, and social media chats.
Top features
- 10 minute set-up
- cross-device widget
- automatic confirmation and reminder notifications
- multiple language options
- automatic guest feedback
- Google and Facebook integration
- reporting dashboard and guest search
Things to watch out for
On the Starter plan you’ll be limited to 50 bookings a month, whereas the Success package is unlimited. If you’re over the limit, Tablein will charge up to €0.67 for each extra booking.
Pricing
From £45 a month, with a 14-day free trial available.
favouritetable
The big sell here is on flexibility, and favouritetable promise no booking fees whatsoever for the restaurants in their network.
Top features
- unlimited free bookings
- 10-minute set-up
- cross-device booking widget
- branded emails and SMS marketing
- floor plan to help manage bookings
- Facebook integration
- allergen management
Things to watch out for
With five different packages, you’ll need to do your research to work out which option is best for your business.
Pricing
There’s a free package, with a limit of 30 monthly bookings, a flex package that charges £2 per cover, while the basic package pricing starts at £69 a month.
What is the biggest benefit of using an online restaurant reservation system? Let us know in the comments below.
More useful guides for restaurant owners
- 7 of the best business loans compared
- What is a cash flow forecast? A guide for small businesses
- How to get Google reviews for business: 7 practical tips
- 23 ways to advertise your business for free
Photo: pressmaster/stock.adobe.com
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