The best restaurant reservation system for most independents is the one that sends the most bookings through channels you control at a cost you can predict. If you rely on being discovered by new diners, a marketplace like OpenTable earns its cover fees. If your guests already know you, a flat subscription such as Resy, or a direct-booking platform such as SevenRooms, usually fits better. In every case, your own website and Google Business Profile should do the heavy lifting.

How each restaurant reservation system makes money

Before comparing features, understand the business model. It decides what you pay as you get busier.

OpenTable: subscription plus network cover fees

OpenTable's US plans page lists three plans, all marked "Only available in the US": Basic at $149/month, Core at $299/month and Pro at $499/month. On Core and Pro, OpenTable charges $1 per network cover, meaning diners who discover you on OpenTable's website, app or affiliate network. Bookings from your own website, phone bookings and walk-ins carry no cover fee. Basic is different: after an initial 30 days, network covers cost $1.50 each, and bookings from your own website cost $0.25 per cover or a $49/month flat fee. OpenTable says you only pay for seated diners, so no-shows and cancellations aren't charged. The standard contract is one year and auto-renews unless you give 30 days' notice.

Outside the US, prices aren't published. OpenTable's Australian plans page shows Core and Pro without monthly prices, so UK and Australian restaurants should expect a quote.

Resy: flat monthly fee, no per-cover charges

Resy's plans and pricing page lists Platform at $289/month and Platform 360 at $459/month, alongside two Tock-powered plans, Essential ($289/month, 3% prepayment fee) and Premium ($459/month, 2% prepayment fee). Its FAQ says there are "no per-cover fees" and that it does not charge on a per-reservation basis, though standard payment processing fees apply. The page doesn't state a currency or region, so confirm what applies in your country.

SevenRooms: quote-based, built around direct booking

SevenRooms doesn't publish prices. Its pricing page names Starter, Growth and Premium plans with a "Get a quote" button and describes the platform as having no cover fees. Its reservation system page promotes branded booking widgets for your own website and integrations with Google, Instagram and others "without paying a cover fee per booking."

Booking on your own website

This isn't a separate vendor so much as a strategy. Nearly every system offers a widget or booking page you can embed on your site. The question is how much each booking costs when it comes through that widget, and the plans above answer that very differently.

Comparison table

Prices are as listed on each vendor's own pricing page in October 2026 and can change, so always confirm before signing.

Who owns the guest data?

This is where independents get anxious, and the honest answer is "it depends on who brought the guest." OpenTable's guest data page says "Restaurants own their data, and guests own their data," describes OpenTable as a data processor, and notes that guests who book through OpenTable can opt out of some data sharing. In practice, a diner who found you on a marketplace has a relationship with that platform as well as with you.

When a guest books through your own website, the data comes straight into your system, and you can ask clearly for marketing consent at that point. That's the strongest argument for pushing direct bookings, whichever vendor you use. Before you sign, ask any vendor three questions: can we export our full guest list, what happens to it if we leave, and what can we email to diners who booked through the marketplace?

No-shows, deposits and cancellation fees

All three platforms offer ways to protect high-demand slots. SevenRooms says you can set credit card holds and cancellation fees and send reminders and two-way SMS confirmations. Resy's Tock-powered plans and OpenTable's prepaid experiences handle prepayments, each with the fees listed above. A sensible approach for most independents:

• Use card holds or deposits only for peak times, large parties and special events, not every Tuesday lunch.
• State the policy in plain words beside the booking button, not only in the confirmation email.
• Send a reminder with a one-tap way to cancel. A released table can be rebooked; a silent no-show can't.
• Check that payment and refund steps work for guests using screen readers and keyboards.

Reserve with Google and your Business Profile

Many guests will try to book straight from Google Search or Maps. Google's help article on setting up bookings through a provider explains that you choose a supported provider in the Bookings section of your Business Profile, and that providers appear on your profile within a week. Google also warns that "your provider might charge you" for bookings made through Google, so check whether those count as network covers.

You can also add your own reservation links. Google's local business links guide allows up to 10 links per category and lets you set a "Business preferred" link that appears at the top. Google's provider ordering page says that when several providers link to the same business they are listed in random order, but a preferred provider shows first. Setting your direct booking link as preferred is a quick job worth doing today.

Making reservations work on your own website

Your website is the one booking channel no platform can reprice. Our guide to restaurant website must-haves for 2026 covers menus and local SEO; here is the reservation-specific checklist.

• One clear "Book a table" button in the header on every page, plus a sticky button on mobile. Don't bury it under "Contact."
• Embed, don't redirect, where you can. Keeping guests on your site preserves your branding and your analytics.
• Show the key facts beside the button: party size limits, deposit policy, dress code and how to book larger groups.
• Test on a real phone. Date pickers and time slots must be easy to tap. WCAG 2.2 sets a minimum target size of 24 by 24 CSS pixels at Level AA, and bigger is kinder.
• Make it accessible. The booking widget must work with a keyboard and a screen reader, with labeled fields and clear error messages. Third-party widgets often fail here, so test them. Our website accessibility service can audit the full booking flow.
• Keep a phone number visible for guests who would rather call.
• Use the same link everywhere: website, Google, Instagram bio and email signature.

If you also take takeaway orders, the same logic applies to delivery apps. See our guide to commission-free online ordering.

How to choose

Start with where your diners come from. If most are new visitors, tourists or people searching an app for "tonight," a marketplace earns its fees. If most are regulars, locals and people who already search your name, pay a predictable subscription and push every booking through your own website and Google profile. Then add up a realistic month, including prepayment fees and contract length, rather than comparing headline prices alone.

Frequently asked questions