OpenTable is the best restaurant reservation software for most restaurants in 2026, and Eat App is the best budget pick for small independents. OpenTable brings the largest pool of diners to your tables, which matters most when you need to fill seats.
The right system depends on your goals. Resy suits restaurants that want a flat monthly fee with no cover charges. SevenRooms fits groups that care about guest data and marketing. Yelp Guest Manager works well for casual spots that get found on Yelp, and Toast Tables makes sense if you already run Toast POS.
Read the contract before you sign. Cover fees, annual terms, auto-renewal, and prepayment fees can make a cheap-looking plan expensive on a busy Saturday.
Our top pick
OpenTable
The biggest diner network, with plans for every size of restaurant.
Quick picks
Best overall
Best flat-fee pricing
Best for restaurant groups
Best on a budget
Best for Toast POS users
How we ranked these tools
We scored each system on five criteria: fit for restaurants, depth of reservation, waitlist, and guest data features, pricing and value, ease of use for hosts, and support. We based the scores on vendor documentation, published pricing, and public user reviews. We did not accept payment for placement. Prices reflect published rates as of October 2026, so confirm the current price with the vendor.
The 6 best restaurant reservation systems
1. OpenTable
Best for filling seats through diner discovery
Our rating4.7 / 5
Starting price$149 / month + cover fees
Free planNo
OpenTable is the best-known reservation network, putting your tables in front of diners searching its app and website. Basic costs $149 a month, plus $1.50 per network cover and $0.25 per cover booked on your own site, or $49 a month flat for direct bookings. Core is $299 and Pro is $499, each with $1 network covers and free direct bookings. Contracts run one year and renew automatically. Cover fees add up quickly at busy restaurants.
Pros
- Largest diner network for discovery
- Plans for small and large restaurants
- No charge for phone bookings or no-shows
Cons
- Per-cover fees on network bookings
- One-year auto-renewing contract
Key features
- Online reservations and diner network
- Table and floor management
- Guest profiles and notes
- Experiences and events
2. Resy
Best for flat pricing with no cover fees
Our rating4.6 / 5
Starting price$289 / month
Free planNo
Resy is a reservation platform popular with chef-driven and in-demand restaurants, with a strong diner app behind it. Plans carry a flat monthly fee and no per-cover charges. Platform costs $289 a month and Platform 360 is $459. Resy now also sells Tock-powered Essential and Premium plans at the same prices, adding ticketing and prepaid experiences with a 2% to 3% prepayment fee. The starting price is high for a small neighborhood spot.
Pros
- No per-cover fees
- Strong diner app and brand
- Tock-powered plans for ticketed events
Cons
- High entry price
- Prepayment fees on Tock-powered plans
Key features
- Reservation and table management
- POS integrations
- Event ticketing and prepaid experiences
- Guest analytics
3. SevenRooms
Best for restaurant groups focused on guest data
Our rating4.5 / 5
Starting priceCustom pricing
Free planNo
SevenRooms, now a DoorDash company, pairs reservations and waitlist with a deep guest CRM and marketing automation. It takes bookings directly through Google, Instagram, DoorDash, and your website, and offers cover-free booking from integrated channels. Restaurants gain shared guest profiles across locations, two-way SMS, card holds, and post-dining surveys. Pricing is quote-based, starting with a Starter plan. It works best for groups that will actually use the guest data and marketing tools.
Pros
- Deep guest CRM across locations
- Direct booking without cover fees
- Strong marketing automation
Cons
- No published pricing
- More than a single small restaurant needs
Key features
- Reservations and virtual waitlist
- Guest CRM and profiles
- Email and SMS marketing
- Card holds and deposits
4. Yelp Guest Manager
Best for casual restaurants found on Yelp
Our rating4.3 / 5
Starting price$129 / month (billed yearly)
Free planNo
Yelp Guest Manager handles reservations and waitlist for restaurants that get much of their traffic from Yelp. Basic costs $129 a month billed yearly or $159 monthly and covers up to 500 covers a month. Plus is $279 billed yearly with unlimited covers and guest profiles. There are no cover fees on any plan. Yelp also sells Yelp Host, an AI phone answering add-on, from $249 a month. Fine dining rooms may want deeper guest tools.
Pros
- No cover fees
- Waitlist and reservations in one tool
- Visibility to Yelp users
Cons
- Basic plan capped at 500 covers
- AI phone answering costs extra
Key features
- Online waitlist
- Reservations from Yelp
- Table management
- Guest profiles on Plus
5. Eat App
Best for small restaurants on a budget
Our rating4.2 / 5
Starting price$69 / month (billed yearly)
Free planYes (100 covers / month)
Eat App is a reservation and table management system with a free plan and low-cost paid tiers. The free plan covers 100 covers a month. Lite is $69 a month billed yearly or $99 monthly, Core is $159 billed yearly, and Pro is $299 with POS and payments included. Bookings carry no per-booking or per-cover fees, and every paid plan has a 14-day free trial. It has a smaller diner audience than OpenTable or Resy, so it works best for direct bookings.
Pros
- Free plan to start
- No per-cover fees
- 14-day trial without a card
Cons
- Small consumer diner network
- POS integration costs extra below Pro
Key features
- Reservations and table management
- SMS and WhatsApp messaging
- Guest profiles
- Marketing tools
6. Toast Tables
Best for restaurants already on Toast POS
Our rating4.1 / 5
Starting priceFrom $50 / month (add-on)
Free planNo
Toast Tables is the reservation and waitlist add-on for Toast POS. Because it shares data with the POS, hosts see which tables have ordered and which checks are closing, and server rotations update automatically. Toast lists Toast Tables from about $50 a month for up to 25 reservations with unlimited waitlist, and Toast Tables Plus at $199 a month for unlimited reservations and experiences. There are no per-cover fees on direct bookings. It requires an active Toast POS subscription.
Pros
- Live table status from Toast POS
- No per-cover fees on direct bookings
- Bookable prepaid experiences
Cons
- Requires Toast POS
- Base tier caps reservations at 25 a month
Key features
- Waitlist and reservations
- Live floor plan
- Server rotations
- Two-way SMS
Compare the top restaurant reservation software
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenTable | Filling seats through diner discovery | $149 / month + cover fees | No | 4.7 |
| Resy | Flat pricing with no cover fees | $289 / month | No | 4.6 |
| SevenRooms | Restaurant groups focused on guest data | Custom pricing | No | 4.5 |
| Yelp Guest Manager | Casual restaurants found on Yelp | $129 / month (billed yearly) | No | 4.3 |
| Eat App | Small restaurants on a budget | $69 / month (billed yearly) | Yes (100 covers / month) | 4.2 |
| Toast Tables | Restaurants already on Toast POS | From $50 / month (add-on) | No | 4.1 |
How to choose restaurant reservation software
Run the numbers on cover fees
Multiply your monthly network bookings by the per-cover fee and add the subscription. OpenTable Basic charges $1.50 per network cover on top of $149 a month, while Resy, Yelp Guest Manager, and Eat App use flat fees with no per-cover charges. A busy room can save hundreds a month on flat pricing.
Decide how much you need diner discovery
A new or hard-to-find restaurant gains the most from a large consumer network like OpenTable or Resy. An established spot with steady regulars may get most bookings from its own website and Google, where direct-booking tools cost less.
Check your POS integration
When reservations talk to your POS, hosts see table status and spend history, and you learn who your best guests are. Toast Tables runs inside Toast POS. Confirm that any other system you consider integrates with your POS before you sign.
Plan for deposits and no-shows
Card holds, deposits, and prepaid experiences cut no-shows for large parties and special nights. Ask what each system charges to process prepayments, since Resy’s Tock-powered plans add a percentage fee on prepaid bookings.
Frequently asked questions
How much does restaurant reservation software cost?
Restaurant reservation software ranges from free to about $500 a month. Eat App has a free plan and paid plans from $69 a month billed yearly. Yelp Guest Manager starts at $129 a month billed yearly, OpenTable Basic is $149 plus cover fees, and Resy starts at $289. SevenRooms quotes prices on request.
Does OpenTable charge per cover?
Yes. OpenTable charges a fee for each diner seated from its network, $1.50 on Basic and $1 on Core and Pro. Basic also charges $0.25 per cover booked on your own website, or a $49 monthly flat fee. Phone and walk-in reservations are free, and no-shows are not charged.
What is the difference between Resy and Tock?
Resy and Tock are now sold together. Resy’s Platform plans focus on reservations and table management, while its Essential and Premium plans run on Tock and add ticketing, prepaid experiences, and event tools. All Resy plans use a flat monthly fee with no per-cover charges.
Do small restaurants need reservation software?
Not always. A small walk-in spot can run a free waitlist tool or a free plan such as Eat App’s. Reservation software pays off once you take bookings by phone often, deal with no-shows, or want guest notes and repeat-visit data that a paper book cannot track.
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