Best OpenTable alternatives for restaurants 2026

The best OpenTable alternative for most restaurants is Resos because it offers the same core features without per-cover fees, saving typical restaurants $3,000-$9,000+ annually. Start free with 25 bookings/month, then scale to paid plans from $24/month with no variable costs.

Key takeaways

• Best overall alternative: Resos, free tier available, no cover fees, $24-149/month
• Best for upscale dining: Resy, no cover fees, $249/month minimum, American Express integration
• Best for ticketed events: Tock, prepaid reservations, $199/month (Plus with 2% fee) or $699/month (Pro with no fee)
• Best for Yelp integration: Yelp Guest Manager, quote-based pricing, Reserve button on listings

Best OpenTable alternatives at a glance

Why look for OpenTable alternatives?

OpenTable pioneered online restaurant reservations but their per-cover fee model has become a burden:

The cover fee problem:

• Network bookings (through OpenTable app): $1.50 per cover (Basic) or $1.00 per cover (Core/Pro)
• Website bookings: $0.25 each or $49/month flat on Basic; included on Core/Pro
• Monthly subscription: $149-499 on top of fees

Real cost example at 500 covers/month (OpenTable Basic):

• Monthly subscription: $149
• Network bookings (300 x $1.50): $450
• Website bookings (200 x $0.25): $50
• Total: $649/month or $7,788/year

See OpenTable pricing for current rates (as of February 2026).

Other concerns:

• OpenTable owns the customer relationship and may market other restaurants to your guests
• Annual contracts limit flexibility
• Costs scale with success, punishing growth

1. Resos: best overall alternative

Why Resos is our top pick:

Resos offers everything most restaurants need without per-cover fees. The free tier lets you start at zero cost, and paid plans deliver professional features at transparent prices.

Why choose Resos:

• Free tier with 25 bookings/month, no credit card required
• Zero cover fees on any plan
• Month-to-month billing, no annual contracts
• Modern interface, minimal training needed
• Full table management, guest profiles, reporting

Annual savings vs OpenTable: $3,000-$9,000+ depending on volume

Best for: Small to medium restaurants, casual dining, budget-conscious operators, anyone who wants predictable costs.

2. Resy: best for upscale dining

Why consider Resy:

Resy offers no cover fees like Resos but positions itself for premium dining. American Express acquired Resy in 2019, integrating cardholder benefits.

See Resy for restaurants for details (as of February 2026).

Why choose Resy:

• No cover fees, flat subscription
• Premium brand association with trendy restaurants
• American Express integration and cardholder perks
• Strong presence in NYC, LA, and major metros

Drawbacks:

• $249/month minimum with no free tier
• Often requires annual commitment
• Overkill for casual dining

Best for: Fine dining, upscale restaurants with budget for premium software, establishments wanting premium brand positioning.

3. Yelp Guest Manager: best for Yelp integration

Why consider Yelp Guest Manager:

If Yelp drives significant traffic to your restaurant, integrated booking reduces friction for diners. Visit Yelp Guest Manager for more information.

Why choose Yelp Guest Manager:

• Reserve button directly on your Yelp listing
• Unified review and reservation management
• Access to Yelp’s 100M+ monthly users
• Bundle deals if you buy Yelp advertising

Drawbacks:

• Quote-based pricing (no transparency)
• Platform lock-in to Yelp ecosystem
• You lose the Reserve button if you leave

Best for: Restaurants heavily dependent on Yelp for customer discovery.

4. Tock: best for ticketed and prepaid dining

Why consider Tock:

Tock specializes in prepaid reservations and ticketed experiences, dramatically reducing no-shows.

See Tock pricing for current rates (as of February 2026).

Why choose Tock:

• Prepaid reservations reduce no-shows to near zero
• Built for tasting menus and ticketed experiences
• Strong reputation in fine dining
• Special event management

Drawbacks:

• 2% transaction fee on Plus plan (waived on $699/month Pro plan)
• $199/month minimum
• Overkill for standard reservations

Best for: Fine dining with tasting menus, ticketed events, experiential dining, restaurants with significant no-show problems.

5. ResDiary: best for UK and European restaurants

Why consider ResDiary:

ResDiary has strong presence in the UK, Europe, and Australia with regional support.

Why choose ResDiary:

• Established since 2006 with long track record
• Strong European presence and local support
• Full feature set

Drawbacks:

• Quote-based pricing
• Less brand recognition in North America
• Interface can feel dated

Best for: European restaurants seeking a local platform with regional support.

How to choose the right OpenTable alternative

Choose Resos if:

• You want the best value with transparent pricing
• You need a free tier to start or test
• Cover fees have been eating your margins
• You prefer month-to-month flexibility

Choose Resy if:

• You operate fine dining with budget for premium software
• American Express integration matters to your clientele
• Premium brand positioning adds value
• You’re in a market where Resy presence is expected

Choose Yelp Guest Manager if:

• Yelp drives a significant portion of your customers
• You want unified review and reservation management
• You’re already invested in Yelp advertising

Choose Tock if:

• You offer tasting menus or ticketed experiences
• Prepaid reservations are important for reducing no-shows
• You run special events and pop-ups

Choose ResDiary if:

• You’re based in UK, Europe, or Australia
• You prefer regional platforms with local support

The bottom line

OpenTable built the restaurant reservation industry, but their per-cover pricing model increasingly feels outdated. When alternatives offer the same core functionality without charging you for each successful reservation, the math doesn’t favor OpenTable for most restaurants.

For the majority of restaurants, Resos offers the best alternative: transparent pricing, a free tier to start, no cover fees, and modern software at reasonable cost. The annual savings typically range from $3,000 to $9,000+.

For upscale dining specifically seeking premium positioning, Resy is worth considering despite the higher price point.

The key insight: you no longer need to pay $1+ per reservation to have professional booking software. The market has evolved.

Related: OpenTable vs Resos | OpenTable vs Resy | Resy alternatives

Sources

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