Best reservation systems for small restaurants 2026

The best reservation system for most small restaurants is Resos because it offers a free tier, paid plans from $24/month, and no per-cover fees that eat into tight margins. For small restaurants needing network exposure, OpenTable’s Basic plan works if you can budget for cover fees.

Key takeaways

• Best overall: Resos, free tier plus affordable paid plans with no cover fees
• Best value: Resos, transparent pricing that small restaurants can actually budget
• Best for Yelp traffic: Yelp Guest Manager, puts booking directly on your Yelp page
• Best for discovery: OpenTable, large network but cover fees add up quickly
• Avoid for small restaurants: Resy at $249/month, priced for upscale establishments

Best reservation systems for small restaurants at a glance 2026

How we evaluated

We focused on what matters specifically for small restaurants:

Affordability. Can a small restaurant actually afford it? We calculated total annual costs including per-cover fees.

Right-sized features. Does it provide what small restaurants need without charging for enterprise features they won’t use?

Ease of use. Can a small team implement and manage it without dedicated IT staff?

Flexibility. Month-to-month billing, ability to upgrade or downgrade, no long-term contracts.

1. Resos, best overall for small restaurants

Resos was designed with small restaurants in mind. The free tier lets you accept online reservations at zero cost, and paid plans stay affordable as you grow.

Key features:

• Free tier with 25 bookings/month (no credit card required)
• No per-cover fees on any plan
• Visual floor plan and table management
• Guest profiles with preferences and notes
• Mobile access for checking reservations anywhere

Pricing: Free (25/month), Basic $47/month ($24 promo), Plus $98/month ($49 promo), Unlimited $149/month ($75 promo). No contracts.

Pros:

• Start free, upgrade only when needed
• Predictable costs with no usage-based fees
• Quick setup under 30 minutes
• Modern interface requiring minimal training

Cons:

• Smaller diner network than OpenTable
• Newer platform with less brand recognition
• Basic free tier has feature limitations

Best for: Any small restaurant wanting affordable, straightforward reservation software.

2. Yelp Guest Manager, best for Yelp-dependent restaurants

If your restaurant gets significant traffic from Yelp reviews and listings, Guest Manager puts a booking button directly on your Yelp page. This reduces friction for diners discovering you through Yelp.

Key features:

• Reservations directly from your Yelp business page
• Waitlist management for walk-ins
• Guest messaging
• Integration with Yelp reviews

Pricing: Quote-based (contact for pricing). Visit Yelp Guest Manager for more information.

Pros:

• Seamless Yelp integration
• Good waitlist tools
• Leverages existing Yelp traffic

Cons:

• No public pricing transparency
• Value depends on how much Yelp traffic you get
• Less useful if Yelp isn’t a major traffic source

Best for: Small restaurants where Yelp drives substantial new customer discovery.

3. OpenTable, only if network exposure is critical

OpenTable’s Basic plan starts at $149/month. While more expensive than alternatives, the platform offers massive diner network exposure that can help new restaurants get discovered.

Key features:

• Access to millions of diners on OpenTable’s network
• Table management and guest profiles
• Strong brand recognition
• Marketing tools

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

Pros:

• Largest diner network for discovery
• Trusted brand diners recognize
• Good reporting and analytics

Cons:

• Per-cover fees can exceed the subscription cost
• 200 covers monthly could mean $200-400 in extra fees
• Complex pricing makes budgeting difficult

Best for: Small restaurants in competitive urban markets that genuinely need discovery help and can absorb the fees.

4. Resy, usually too expensive for small restaurants

Resy starts at $249/month with no free tier and no free trial. For most small restaurants, that’s too expensive for reservation software, especially when alternatives offer similar core features at a fraction of the cost.

Pricing: $249/month minimum. No free tier. No free trial. See Resy pricing for details (as of February 2026).

When it might make sense: If you’re a small fine dining restaurant where the average check is $150+ and Resy’s premium positioning aligns with your brand.

What small restaurants actually pay (annual comparison)

The math is clear: for small restaurants, platforms without cover fees offer dramatically better value.

What small restaurants need vs. don’t need

Must-have features

• Online booking: Accept reservations 24/7 through your website
• Confirmation emails: Automated booking confirmations and reminders
• Calendar view: See all reservations at a glance
• Basic table management: Know which tables are available
• Mobile access: Check reservations from anywhere

Nice-to-have features

• Guest profiles to track preferences and history
• Waitlist management for walk-ins during busy periods
• Reporting to understand booking patterns
• POS integration to connect with your payment system

Features you probably don’t need

• Multi-location management (you have one location)
• Enterprise CRM (sophisticated marketing automation)
• Advanced analytics (complex revenue optimization)
• API access (custom integrations and development)

Don’t pay for enterprise features you won’t use.

How to choose the right system

Choose Resos if you:

• Want to minimize costs with predictable pricing
• Are testing online reservations for the first time
• Need simple software without enterprise complexity
• Prefer month-to-month flexibility

Choose Yelp Guest Manager if you:

• Get significant traffic from Yelp
• Want reservations integrated with your Yelp presence
• Have strong waitlist needs

Choose OpenTable if you:

• Genuinely need network discovery
• Can budget for per-cover fees
• Operate in a market where OpenTable presence is expected

Setting up your first reservation system

Step 1: Choose your platform. Based on this guide, select what fits your budget and needs. We recommend starting with Resos free tier.

Step 2: Configure your restaurant. Set up restaurant name, address, contact info, operating hours, table inventory, and booking rules.

Step 3: Add to your website. Most platforms provide embed code for a booking widget, a link to a hosted booking page, or a button to add to your site.

Step 4: Update online presence. Add your booking link to Google Business Profile, Facebook page, Instagram bio, and other listings.

Step 5: Set up confirmations. Configure automated emails for booking confirmation, 24-hour reminder, and optional day-of reminder.

Step 6: Train your team. Show staff how to view the calendar, add walk-ins, handle modifications, and mark no-shows.

Common mistakes small restaurants make

Overpaying for features you don’t need. Don’t get sold on enterprise platforms. Start simple. Upgrade when you genuinely need more.

Ignoring cover fees. A subscription may seem manageable until you add $300-500/month in cover fees. Calculate total cost.

Not using the system consistently. A reservation system only works if you use it. Enter all bookings, including phone calls. Track walk-ins.

Skipping confirmation reminders. Automated reminders dramatically reduce no-shows. Turn them on. Most platforms include them.

Making it hard to book. Put your booking widget everywhere. Don’t bury it. Every barrier costs you customers.

The bottom line

Small restaurants don’t need enterprise reservation software. You need something that fits your budget (ideally free or under $50/month), does the basics well (online booking, confirmations, calendar), doesn’t charge per reservation (cover fees destroy margins), and is easy to set up and use.

For most small restaurants, Resos offers the best combination of features, simplicity, and value. Start with the free tier, see if it works for your operation, and upgrade only if you need more.

The goal isn’t to have the fanciest reservation system. It’s to stop missing bookings, reduce phone calls, and make it easy for guests to reserve a table.

Methodology

This guide was compiled using official pricing from each platform (February 2026), total cost calculations including per-cover fees, user reviews from restaurant operators, and direct platform testing. We focused specifically on small restaurant needs rather than enterprise requirements.

Pricing changes frequently. Verify current details with each provider.

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

Sources

• OpenTable pricing
• Resy for restaurants
• Yelp Guest Manager
• Resos pricing