ResOS Alternatives for Smooth Restaurant Reservations

In today’s fast-paced world where clients make decisions on the go, having a table booking system is a must-have.

These tools pave the way for success by helping you streamline reservation management and enhance your guests’ experience.

There’s just one catch.

With an ever-growing number of reservation management solutions available on the market, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.

To keep things simple, many restaurants turn to trusted solutions like ResOS by default.

But are they the perfect match for your restaurant?

In this article, we’ll explore six alternatives, each offering robust features that may prove a better fit for your unique needs.

Let’s dive right in!

Tablein

We’ll start with our own reservation and table management system, Tablein.

Tablein is equipped with all the must-have reservation software features, from reservation and waitlist management to prepayment options and reporting features.

Simply put, Tablein is a comprehensive solution that prioritizes simplicity and a user-friendly design suitable for a range of restaurant businesses. 

Our intuitive booking widget, shown in the next image, is the prime example of this—just a few clicks, and your guests are all set.

Source: Tablein

Using this widget, you can connect with customers through your website, social media platforms, or Google Maps.

A booking widget that’s confusing to would-be diners does more harm than good and can result in lost reservations.

The same idea applies to the staff managing these systems, especially if they’re seasoned workers who aren’t tech-savvy or new hires just getting familiar with the workflows. 

With Tablein, your staff can seamlessly handle reservations because everyone is quickly up to speed with calendar view, floor plan setup, and ways to send reminders or deposit requests on different devices.

There isn’t a steep learning curve with Tablein.

Source: Tablein

A sleek and simple UI also makes it easier to manage your operations and handle bookings more efficiently. That’s why we made sure everything you need is just a few clicks away. 

While not as heavy on the features as some other solutions on the list, Tablein also provides critical behind-the-scenes insights from a single dashboard.

Source: Tablein

Your software of choice must have analytics and other features we mentioned, but one reason why people stick with solutions like ResOS is their fantastic customer support.

According to the user Gerald V, the same can be said about Tablein: 

[Tablein’s] customer support is surreal. A few minutes after a message is sent on their chat someone will already be there helping you out and solving any problems you face. To complement that even more, they have step-by-step tutorials on anything you may need. 

Finally, let’s talk pricing.

Starting at an affordable €47 ($48.36) for smaller businesses, choosing a pricing plan depends largely on the number of reservations you have monthly.

Source: Tablein

All three plans come with all the features, and there are no extra fees for setup or integration.

If Tablein sounds like a good fit for you, you can always try it for free! 

OpenTable

OpenTable is among the most popular solutions for restaurant reservation and management, doubling as a reputable guide on dining trends and top restaurants.

Although its global network is made up of restaurants of all sizes, the platform caters mostly to larger, high-volume establishments.

Forum discussions also point in this direction, highlighting OpenTable’s robust features in several areas such as: 

• Reservations and waitlists
• Operational management
• Guest engagement
• Marketing

Real-time table management features are especially relevant to high-volume restaurants. 

Features like turn and flow controls showcased in the video allow staff to manage both online reservations and walk-ins effectively.

Source: OpenTable Training on Youtube

You can easily define the minimum number of turns based on party size or specific tables ahead of time and for the duration of the shift. 

Furthermore, automatic availability updates enable businesses to capture new reservations in a way that maximizes availability while not overwhelming the staff.

Other software options on this list such as Tock and SevenRooms have similar features, but what sets OpenTable apart is its global reach, advanced analytics, and easy-to-use interface.

Another plus is that OpenTable offers a dedicated mobile app and numerous integrations, including different payment options.

However, more marketing-oriented users are still waiting on a smooth solution for tracking where the traffic is coming from, as discussed in the Reddit thread below.

Source: Reddit

Regardless of these hiccups, OpenTable’s main limitation is its hefty price tag. 

The monthly subscription fee for the basic plan—which doesn’t include advanced inventory controls or customizable flooring plans—is $149.

Source: OpenTable

Unlike Tablein, OpenTable has a per-cover pricing model, meaning that you’ll be charged a $1-1.5 fee for each guest who makes a reservation through OpenTable or its affiliate network.

Here’s one Quora user’s detailed breakdown of what the setup and additional fees will amount to in the long run.

All in all, if you’re willing to pay for it, OpenTable will give you access to a vast network of diners and powerful features.

Tock

Tock is a reservation and table management platform geared toward the hospitality industry.

It has distinct modules for handling reservations and online ordering, with standout options for fine-dining spots and ticketed events regardless of venue type.

Thanks to its unique ticket-based reservation feature, it’s also a great fit for independent restaurants that struggle with no-shows.

Source: Tock

Namely, the platform enables you to choose between free, deposit, and prepaid reservations, and charge higher prices during peak hours or for premium tables.

Dynamic pricing is just one notable feature among other highly customizable table and event management tools such as floorplan optimization, scheduled releases, and campaign tags.

Although its POS integrations are somewhat more limited, G2 reviewers praise the Tock team’s flexibility and overall attitude. 

Source: G2

When it comes to cons, a 2021 comparison video shows that Tock’s app had a slower response time compared to OpenTable and Resy. 

Some Capterra reviewers also noted a slight learning curve to Tock, which helps explain its lower ease-of-use rating.

A detailed comparison of pricing plans is available on Tock’s page, starting with the reservations module shown below.

Source: Tock

The Essential plan starts at $199 monthly with an additional 3% fee on prepayments, while the base plan is only available in the US and Canada at the moment.

Separate pricing options apply for restaurants that aim to host regular events or offer takeout.

Tock doesn’t offer a free trial, but you can book a personalized demo to explore this software in more detail.

SevenRooms

SevenRooms is an all-in-one restaurant management tool that goes beyond reservations into guest experience and marketing.

While versatile solutions like Tablein cater to different audiences, SevenRooms is more niche—it focuses on hospitality groups and improves guest engagement through data-driven insights.

Features like robust CRM and advanced customer segmentation help facilitate marketing campaigns across several properties and create more targeted messaging.

For instance, detailed guest profiles enable users to personalize emails and send discount offers around the time of birthdays or anniversaries.

Source: Seven Rooms

The ability to assign specific filters and tags makes it easier to design and manage the entire guest journey.

Moreover, having access to a curated list of hospitality industry templates saves you time while increasing the chances you’ll nudge key audiences in the desired direction.

It works both ways—guests who receive highly relevant content are likely to stay and subscribe to loyalty programs.

Naturally, while guest engagement is good, too much attention can sometimes have the opposite effect.

One Trust Pilot user acknowledged the software’s efficiency but left a poor rating due to multiple unwanted emails.

Source: Trust Pilot

Unlike this diner, the restaurant owners largely praise the level of automation and the amount of customer data they’re collecting.

Nevertheless, some reviewers feel that the software could be improved by providing more tailored reporting and reducing manual data export.

These expectations shouldn’t be surprising given that SevenRooms falls on the pricier side. Their pricing isn’t listed on the website, but multiple sources indicate that prices start at about $499 monthly.

Source: G2

However, reservations appear to be commission-free.

Before you make any commitments, make sure that the available features align with what you need for your business to thrive.

ResDiary

ResDiary offers a simple, yet comprehensive diary and table management, with commission-free online reservations. 

Some users point out that this zero-commission angle makes ResDiary particularly appealing to smaller and mid-range establishments, but there are a couple of things to mention here.

Like Tablein, ResDiary prioritizes simplicity and easy booking for guests and staff alike.

It also comes with a customizable web widget to match branding, from logos and color schemes to fonts.

Source: ResDiary

However, ResDiary doesn’t have prepayment options. 

Instead, it offers plenty of integrations and enables establishments to easily branch out into online food orders for takeaway and delivery.

Businesses can also offer vouchers to foster customer loyalty and gain an additional revenue source. The video below explains more about the feature.

Source: ResDiary on Youtube

These vouchers can be sold directly on DishCult where you automatically get a listing along with other top dining experiences.

In this way, DishCult acts as a marketing channel for ResDiary which has more modest email marketing features compared to the likes of OpenTable.

Still, some users noted major downsides to this connection.

According to Faustina Finnerty, their guests didn’t go directly to the establishment’s listing and were required to create a DishCult account, which disrupted the booking process.

Source: ResDiary

With the original post published a few years ago, it remains unclear whether this issue was resolved in the meantime.

Nevertheless, ResDiary remains a strong, relatively affordable contender.

Thanks to its fixed monthly pricing, starting at £89 as per Capterra, the overall costs are more predictable than with per-cover solutions.

However, plenty of useful features are only available through add-ons.

Source: ResDiary

Given that the cheaper pricing option offers very limited features and no free trial, establishments considering ResDiary should take full advantage of its free personalized demo.

Eat App

Our final pick, Eat App, is another well-rounded restaurant reservation system you need to know about, especially if you’re focusing on analytics.

Eat App has all the integral features for online reservations and table management that small-to-medium-sized chains and fine dining establishments might need.

What sets it apart is its guest database and robust CRM features, as showcased below.

Source: Eat App on Youtube

Similar to Seven Rooms, Eat App’s platform offers extensive guest profiling capabilities, but it takes a more data-centric approach, combining:

• AI-driven analytics, 
• dynamic segmentation, and 
• high customizability.

While Eat App isn’t the best fit for large-scale or high-volume operations, it excels at optimizing individual guest experiences by analyzing specific behaviors and patterns. 

Automated guest surveys help collect feedback, but AI algorithms and real-time data integration play a key role in detailed segmentation and marketing campaign execution.

Eat App doesn’t have built-in marketing capabilities, but it comes with several third-party integrations that more than compensate for this.

These include popular POS systems and payment processors, although some users wrote that more options should be available.

Nevertheless, Eat App has been praised for its efficiency and ease of use, in no small part thanks to its AI capabilities. 

In addition to its role in data management and reporting, the solution leverages AI to enable real-time updates and streamline reservations and table management.

Source: Eat App

Of course, some of these features are exclusive to the automation suite, which brings us to pricing.

The general pricing scheme is divided into four plans, including a free one, based on the number of monthly reservations.

Source: Eat App

The pricing is competitive, especially for users who get a yearly subscription with notable discounts.

However, keep in mind that several advanced features are priced separately as add-ons, and included only in Eat App’s priciest $223 pro plan.

Fortunately, Eat App offers free trials and a personalized demo so you can find the best match more easily. 

Conclusion

Finding the perfect reservation system for your restaurant doesn’t have to be daunting. 

Each solution we highlighted offers unique features tailored to different types of establishments, from small bistros and high-volume restaurants to broader hospitality venues.

The key is understanding your specific needs—whether that’s specific CRM tools or versatility at an affordable price. 

Now it’s your turn: see if these systems match your priorities, and if they do, don’t hesitate to test them out. 

The right choice will simplify your operations and bring in profit, so take that first step toward optimizing your restaurant’s booking process today!