Best restaurant CRM software 2026

The best restaurant CRM for most restaurants is the guest management already built into your reservation system because dedicated CRM platforms are overkill unless you’re running multiple locations or sophisticated marketing campaigns. Resos, OpenTable, and Resy all include guest profiles that track preferences, visit history, and dietary restrictions at no extra cost.

For restaurants that do need more advanced capabilities, SevenRooms is the enterprise standard for restaurant groups, and Toast Marketing is the natural choice for Toast POS users.

Key takeaways

• Best overall: Resos, CRM features included free with no extra platform needed
• Best value: Resos, guest profiles on every tier including the free plan
• Best for enterprise: SevenRooms, industry-leading guest management for restaurant groups
• Best for Toast users: Toast Marketing Suite, deep POS integration with automatic spending data
• Best free option: Resos, track guest preferences, allergies, and visit history at no cost

Best restaurant CRM software at a glance 2026

How we evaluated

Our evaluation focused on what matters for restaurant CRM:

Guest profile depth. How much information can you store? Are custom fields available?

Staff accessibility. Can hosts and servers quickly access guest notes during service?

Marketing capabilities. Built-in email/SMS, or does it require external tools?

Integration quality. Does it connect with your POS to capture spending data?

Value for different segments. A feature-rich enterprise platform is wasted on a single-location cafe.

Total cost of ownership. Subscription fees plus per-guest charges, implementation costs, and training burden.

1. Resos, best value CRM for most restaurants

For most restaurants, Resos provides everything you need for guest management without adding another platform or monthly bill. Guest profiles are included at every pricing tier, capturing the data that actually matters: preferences, allergies, visit history, and staff notes.

Key features:

• Guest profiles with visit history and preferences
• Dietary restrictions and allergy tracking
• Guest notes visible during reservations and service
• Tag and segment guests for targeted outreach
• Export guest data for external marketing tools

Pricing: Free tier includes basic guest profiles. Paid plans ($24-149/month promo pricing) add advanced features. No per-cover fees.

Pros:

• CRM features included even on free tier
• Transparent, predictable pricing
• Modern interface staff actually want to use
• No hidden fees or per-guest charges

Cons:

• Marketing automation requires external email tools
• Smaller platform than OpenTable’s network
• Best for reservation data, not POS transaction data

Best for: Small to medium restaurants wanting guest management without adding complexity or cost.

2. SevenRooms, best enterprise CRM platform

SevenRooms is the gold standard for dedicated restaurant CRM. If you’re running multiple locations and need cross-property guest recognition, sophisticated marketing automation, and deep integrations, this is what hospitality groups choose.

Key features:

• Guest profiles with unlimited custom fields
• Advanced segmentation with behavioral filters
• Marketing automation with email, SMS, and in-app messaging
• Revenue attribution showing actual marketing ROI
• Multi-location guest recognition
• Direct POS integrations for spending data

Pricing: Custom quotes. Expect $300-500+/month per location. Enterprise contracts typically required. Visit SevenRooms for more information.

Pros:

• Most sophisticated guest data platform in hospitality
• Excellent multi-location guest recognition
• Strong marketing automation with ROI tools
• Deep integration ecosystem

Cons:

• Enterprise pricing excludes small restaurants
• Complex implementation requires significant training
• Overkill for single-location casual dining
• Long sales and onboarding process

Best for: Restaurant groups, hotels, and hospitality companies needing advanced guest management across multiple locations.

3. Toast Marketing Suite, best for Toast POS users

If you’re already on Toast POS, their Marketing Suite provides CRM capabilities that use your actual transaction data. Since Toast sees every order, guest profiles automatically include real spending, not just reservation data.

Key features:

• Guest profiles built from POS transaction data
• Email marketing with restaurant-specific templates
• Loyalty program integration
• Automated campaigns (birthday, win-back)
• Guest feedback collection
• Revenue tracking per campaign

Pricing: $75/month for Marketing add-on. Requires Toast POS. See Toast pricing for current rates (as of February 2026).

Pros:

• Deep integration with Toast POS data
• Spending data automatically populates profiles
• Restaurant-specific marketing templates
• Simple setup for existing Toast users

Cons:

• Only works with Toast POS
• Limited compared to dedicated CRM platforms
• Basic segmentation capabilities
• Email-focused with limited SMS options

Best for: Restaurants already using Toast POS who want CRM and marketing without adding another platform.

4. OpenTable, best network plus guest data

OpenTable’s Guest Center provides CRM capabilities backed by data from millions of diners. The unique advantage: if a guest has dined at other OpenTable restaurants, you may see their broader dining preferences (with their permission).

Key features:

• Detailed guest profiles with cross-restaurant data
• Relationship management tools
• Automated guest recognition alerts
• Email marketing tools on higher plans
• Guest tags and custom fields

Pricing: Basic $149/month + $1.50 per network cover (website covers $0.25 each or $49/month flat). Core $299/month + $1 per network cover (website included). Pro $499/month + $1 per network cover (website included). See OpenTable pricing for current rates (as of February 2026).

Pros:

• Rich guest data from largest diner network
• Cross-restaurant insights when guests opt in
• Strong reporting and analytics

Cons:

• Per-cover fees make total cost unpredictable
• Best CRM features locked behind expensive plans
• Network data means you’re sharing customers
• Complex pricing structure

Best for: Restaurants already committed to OpenTable’s network who want to use the guest data that comes with it.

5. Resy, best for upscale guest recognition

Resy positions itself as the premium reservation platform, and its CRM features match that positioning. Guest profiles emphasize recognition and personalized service: knowing who your VIPs are and treating them accordingly.

Key features:

• Detailed guest profiles with preferences
• VIP tagging and recognition alerts
• American Express cardholder data integration
• Guest notes and service history
• Cross-location recognition on higher tiers

Pricing: Basic $249/month, Pro $399/month, Enterprise $899/month. No per-cover fees. See Resy pricing for details (as of February 2026).

Pros:

• No per-cover fees on flat subscription
• Strong VIP recognition features
• American Express partnership adds guest insights
• Premium brand attracts upscale diners

Cons:

• High entry price excludes casual restaurants
• Marketing automation limited without higher tiers
• Smaller network than OpenTable
• No free trial to evaluate

Best for: Upscale restaurants where guest recognition directly impacts service quality and return visits.

6. Eat App, best mid-market CRM focus

Eat App positions itself between basic reservation systems and enterprise platforms, with a strong emphasis on guest management. It’s particularly popular in the Middle East, Europe, and Australia.

Key features:

• Auto-tagging based on behavior
• Email and SMS marketing built-in
• Guest feedback integration
• Lifetime value tracking
• Multi-location guest recognition

Pricing: Essential $119/month, Pro $209/month, custom Enterprise pricing.

Pros:

• Guest management as core focus
• Built-in marketing tools included
• Good mid-market value
• Strong international presence

Cons:

• Less brand recognition in North America
• Smaller ecosystem than major platforms
• Interface can feel cluttered
• Limited POS integrations

Best for: Mid-market restaurants wanting more CRM than basic reservation systems offer, without enterprise complexity.

7. Tock, best for prepaid dining guest tracking

Tock’s CRM strength comes from prepaid dining. When guests purchase tickets for experiences, you capture richer data than standard reservations: exactly what they’re paying for and what they expect.

Key features:

• Guest profiles with complete purchase history
• Prepaid dining data (experiences they book)
• Email marketing to past guests
• Event-specific guest management
• Integration with hospitality groups

Pricing: Plus $199/month + 2% on prepaid transactions. Pro $699/month with no transaction fee. See Tock pricing for current rates (as of February 2026).

Pros:

• Rich data from prepaid experiences
• Strong for event and tasting menu tracking
• Pre-committed guests reduce uncertainty
• Excellent for special occasion tracking

Cons:

• 2% transaction fee on Plus plan (waived on Pro)
• Features designed primarily for ticketed dining
• Less relevant for traditional reservations
• High entry price for casual restaurants

Best for: Fine dining restaurants doing ticketed events, tasting menus, and special experiences.

8. Fishbowl, best dedicated marketing automation

Fishbowl focuses specifically on restaurant marketing automation rather than reservations. If you already have a reservation system and need sophisticated marketing capabilities, Fishbowl adds that layer on top.

Key features:

• Marketing automation engine
• Guest segmentation for campaigns
• Email, SMS, and direct mail
• Loyalty program management
• POS integration for spending data
• Multi-location campaign management

Pricing: Custom quotes. Typically $200-500+/month.

Pros:

• Focused purely on marketing automation
• Works alongside any reservation system
• Strong segmentation and targeting
• Multi-channel campaign management

Cons:

• Requires separate reservation system
• Enterprise-focused pricing
• Implementation complexity
• Not a standalone solution

Best for: Restaurant groups that have outgrown their reservation system’s marketing features and need dedicated automation.

How to choose the right restaurant CRM

By restaurant type

Single-location casual or fast-casual. Start with the built-in CRM in your reservation system. Resos or similar gives you guest profiles without extra cost. Graduate to dedicated CRM only if marketing becomes a major strategic focus.

Single-location fine dining. Guest recognition matters more here. Invest in better CRM capabilities. Resy or OpenTable (higher tiers) provide solid functionality. Consider SevenRooms if guest data is core to your service model.

Multi-location restaurant group. Cross-location guest recognition is essential. SevenRooms is the market leader for this use case. Ensure POS integration to capture spending data across all properties.

Toast POS users. Toast Marketing Suite is the natural add-on. It already has your transaction data. Don’t add another platform if this meets your needs.

Ticketed or experience dining. Tock captures unique data from prepaid experiences that standard reservations miss. Guest profiles include what they purchased, not just when they visited.

Key questions to answer

1. What problem are you solving? Basic guest notes? Marketing automation? Multi-location recognition?
2. What data do you already have? POS integration matters more than creating another data silo.
3. What’s your marketing sophistication? Simple birthday emails vs. segmented automated campaigns?
4. Single location or multiple? Multi-location changes everything.
5. What’s your budget? Free (Resos) to $500+/month (SevenRooms) is a wide range.

What to look for in restaurant CRM software

Essential features

Guest profile basics: contact information storage, visit history tracking, preference and allergy documentation, notes field for staff observations.

Staff accessibility: information visible when guests book, mobile access for floor managers, quick note entry during or after service, search and lookup capabilities.

Data export: ability to export your guest data, integration with email marketing tools, ownership of your customer relationships.

Nice-to-have features

Marketing automation: automated birthday/anniversary emails, win-back campaigns for lapsed guests, segment-based targeting.

Analytics: guest lifetime value calculation, visit frequency tracking, spend pattern analysis.

Red flags to avoid

Data lock-in: Can you export your guest database? What happens to your data if you leave?

Hidden costs: Per-guest fees for large databases, marketing emails priced by volume, integration fees for POS connection.

Complexity creep: Features you’ll never use, training burden for staff, implementation measured in months.

The bottom line

Most restaurants don’t need dedicated CRM software. The guest profiles built into modern reservation systems handle the essentials: tracking who’s coming, what they prefer, and how to serve them better.

Start with what’s included in your reservation platform. For most restaurants, that means Resos (free tier available), OpenTable (if you’re already in their network), or Resy (for upscale establishments). Only upgrade to a dedicated platform like SevenRooms when you’re running multiple locations or your marketing sophistication demands it.

The best CRM is one your staff actually uses. A simple guest notes field that gets filled out consistently beats a sophisticated platform that sits unused.

Methodology

This guide was compiled using official documentation and pricing from each platform (February 2026), user reviews from G2, Capterra, and restaurant industry forums, interviews with restaurant operators using CRM software, and direct testing where demos or trials were available.

Pricing and features change frequently. Verify current details directly with each provider before making decisions.

Related guides: Best restaurant booking systems 2026 | Best free restaurant booking software | Best table management software

Sources

• OpenTable pricing
• Resy for restaurants
• SevenRooms
• Toast POS
• Tock for restaurants
• Yelp Guest Manager
• Resos pricing