Top Alternatives to Resy: Which One Suits Your Restaurant

Resy is a well-known reservation management platform used by many restaurants to streamline bookings and improve the guest experience. 

But it’s not the perfect fit for everyone—whether due to pricing, features, or something else entirely. 

With so many alternatives, choosing the right system can feel overwhelming. 

That’s why we’ve done the research for you. 

In this article, we break down five top alternatives to Resy, covering their pricing, features, strengths, and weaknesses. 

By the end, you’ll have the insights you need to make the best choice for your restaurant.

Tablein

First on the list is our own solution, Tablein.

Tablein is an online table booking system that offers everything a restaurant needs to successfully manage reservations and grow its customer base. 

Some of Tablein’s features include:

The core of Tablein is its reservation management feature, which allows you to view and control your entire day's reservations and available tables at a glance. 

With its advanced yet user-friendly capabilities, you can easily add, edit, or remove online, phone, and group reservations, as well as walk-ins. 

Source: Tablein

Essentially, everything you need to know about your business is right there, available through a couple of clicks. 

It’s also worth noting that, unlike Resy, Tablein doesn’t require an app to access all these features. 

You can log in via any web browser on iOS, Android, or desktop—it’s completely up to you. 

Meanwhile, Resy's app is only available on iOS, which is an obvious downside for Android users. 

Another big difference between these two systems is their price. 

Tablein starts at just €47 per month ($49), while Resy’s pricing begins at $249 per month. 

Source: Tablein

Plus, all three Tablein plans include all features, whereas Resy charges extra for certain tools. 

For instance, if you need advanced analytics, post-meal guest surveys, or deposits, you’ll have to opt for Resy’s Platform 360 plan, which starts at $399/month. 

Source: Resy

So, which is actually better for you: Tablein or Resy? 

The short answer: it depends. 

Since Resy is partnered with American Express and serves as a discovery platform, it can help attract new, high-value guests. 

Therefore, if you run a large, high-end restaurant in a major city and want to bring in new diners who spend more, Resy may be the better option.

On the other hand, for small to mid-sized restaurants looking for an easy-to-use reservation and marketing solution without breaking the bank, Tablein is definitely the smarter choice. 

But don’t just take our word for it. 

Try our 14-day free trial to see Tablein in action for yourself. 

OpenTable

OpenTable is an online restaurant reservation service.

Similar to Resy, it offers a consumer app through which diners can discover and book restaurants. 

OpenTable has all the essential features, including:

• Reservation management
• Takeout management
• Restaurant marketing
• Event management
• Table management
• Analytics
• CRM

OpenTable’s analytics, in particular, seem to be quite advanced. 

For example, the solution enables users to compare performance against other local establishments using metrics like seated guest activity, spending, reviews, and no-shows. 

Source: OpenTable

This can be quite helpful for benchmarking success. 

Although Resy and OpenTable are very similar, there are still some significant differences that might impact your final decision. 

For one, OpenTable offers a mobile app for both Android and iOS, whereas Resy only supports iOS. 

Therefore, if your target audience primarily uses Android, Resy wouldn’t be a viable option for you. 

Secondly, OpenTable has a broader reach than Resy. 

In fact, with 1.7 billion reservations a year and 60,000+ restaurants, bars, and venues worldwide, its massive diner network (shown below) is its biggest selling point. 

Source: OpenTable

This, however, can be both a curse and a blessing. 

Yes, OpenTable gives you access to a much larger audience than Resy, but more restaurants on the app also mean more competition. 

Thirdly, although OpenTable has a larger diner network, Resy still seems to be a more popular choice in certain areas, like major US cities. 

This Reddit thread offers some interesting insights into both platforms’ strengths and weaknesses:

Source: Reddit

The last thing worth considering is the price. 

OpenTable, with its cover fees and costly subscription plans, is one of the most pricey solutions on this list. 

For instance, its Basic plan starts at $149/month, but it’s quite limited, lacking essential features like floor plans, waitlists, and automated email campaigns. 

Source: OpenTable

Compared to Tablein, which includes these features in all its plans, this turns out to be quite expensive. 

So, here’s the bottom line. 

If you’re new and want to unlock greater visibility through a discovery platform, both OpenTable and Resy can be a good choice. 

Just be sure to first evaluate your budget, their subscription plans, and which platform the diners in your area prefer. 

And if you’d like to test out OpenTable yourself, take advantage of their free 30-day trial (Basic plan only). 

TableAgent

TableAgent is a 100% free, cloud-based restaurant reservation system with many essential table and reservation management features, including the following: 

Source: TableAgent

As you can see, TableAgent’s capabilities are somewhat limited compared to the other solutions on this list. 

For instance, it doesn’t offer tools for marketing, takeaway management, CRM, and even some advanced booking features. 

But that’s not necessarily a downside. 

If you’re operating with a limited budget or still exploring your reservation system needs and don’t want to commit to a paid service just yet, TableAgent could be a great choice for you. 

In fact, many pop-up restaurants and special event venues use TableAgent for one-time events or occasional bookings precisely because of its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. 

It’s also important to mention that, while the core service is free, TableAgent does offer a few paid add-ons, such as:

Overall, TableAgent is a simple, no-frills solution best suited for those who aren’t looking to grow their business with marketing tools or connect with a diner network. 

It’s also a great starting point if you want to get familiar with reservation software without risk. 

And when you’re ready for more advanced features, you can always switch to a system that better fits your needs.

TouchBistro

TouchBistro is an iPad-based, all-in-one POS and restaurant management system available to venues in the U.S. and Canada. 

Its features are divided into four main categories:

In addition to software, TouchBistro offers hardware solutions such as kitchen display systems and POS-integrated customer display screens (CFDs). 

The latter, for example, allows guests to review their orders before they are sent to the kitchen, helping the staff reduce errors and boost overall guest satisfaction. 

Additionally, when it’s not in use, it doubles as a digital advertising screen:

Source: TouchBistro

For restaurants preparing to open soon and in need of both software and hardware, TouchBistro is a convenient one-stop shop.

Plus, like OpenTable and Resy, TouchBistro provides access to its discovery network, TouchBistro Dine.

You can customize your restaurant’s profile with a description, photos, and important details such as parking and accessibility. 

However, because the platform is still relatively new, it doesn’t have as broad of a reach as its competitors. 

Therefore, if brand awareness and attracting new guests are top priorities for you, OpenTable might still be a better alternative.

Another key consideration here is pricing. 

Unlike many solutions on this list, TouchBistro operates on a subscription-only model and doesn’t charge per-cover fees, making its cost more predictable. 

However, although its base price of $69/month is quite reasonable, be aware that add-ons and integrations are sold à la carte, which can add up quickly. 

Source: TouchBistro

Besides, TouchBistro requires a contract with no month-to-month option and, according to some former users, charges very high cancellation fees. 

Source: Reddit

So be sure to read the fine print before committing to the purchase. 

Overall, if you’re looking for a user-friendly, intuitive, and feature-rich POS system that comes with hardware options, TouchBistro is definitely worth considering. 

Those interested can book a demo to see the system in action and learn more. 

ResDiary

ResDiary is a cloud-based restaurant booking system offering:

• Commission-free bookings
• Table management tools
• Yield management capabilities
• Promotions and special events
• Credit card guarantees & payments
• Customizable diner booking notifications
• Advanced reporting
• Marketing tools

One standout feature that separates ResDiary from the rest of the tools on this list is ResPhone. 

ResPhone is an automated phone booking system that allows customers to book a table over the phone, with reservations automatically entered into ResDiary.

You can learn more about it here:

Source: ResDiary on Youtube 

So, here’s how it works.

Your restaurant receives a unique ResPhone reservation number that matches your local area code. 

You can then list this number on your website as your main reservation line or set your existing phone system to divert unanswered calls (e.g., after five rings). 

ResPhone integrates with your existing online reservation rules, including maximum party size and availability, so that diners can book a table without hassle and confusion. 

This feature is ideal for restaurants with a high volume of phone reservations, ensuring they never miss out on potential bookings.

ResDiary also partners with Dish Cult, a discovery platform serving approximately 9.7 million diners. 

Source: ResDiary

Compared to OpenTable, Dish Cult is still smaller, but it offers a major advantage: it doesn’t charge fees for reservations made through the platform. 

Speaking of pricing, ResDiary includes all the features we’ve listed above in its base price. 

However, additional services—such as gift vouchers, ResPhone, event management, and SMS marketing—incur extra fees, similar to TouchBistro. 

Source: ResDiary

This makes it a bit less cost-effective than solutions like Tablein or TableAgent. 

Still, its interesting and very robust suite of features are worth exploring. 

To do so, consider booking a demo through their website.

Conclusion

Now it’s your turn to take action. Think about what truly matters for your restaurant. 

Do you need to streamline operations, reduce no-shows, and prevent booking errors? 

Or is boosting visibility and attracting more diners your top priority? 

Once you’ve identified your priorities, you’ll be well on your way to finding that perfect reservation management solution. 

But don’t forget to take potential candidates for a test drive first.

Take advantage of those free trials and explore every feature thoroughly to ensure it's the right fit for you and your team. 

It’s time to say goodbye to clunky workflows and empty tables for good!