Best Free Online Restaurant Booking Systems - August 2024

Choosing the right restaurant booking system can significantly impact the operational efficiency and customer satisfaction of a dining establishment. For small to medium-sized restaurants, especially those just starting out, free booking systems can be an ideal solution to manage reservations without the upfront investment.

In this post, we compare four leading free restaurant booking systems available as of August 2024: Tablesit, TableAgent, resOS, GloriaFood, and Carbonara.

Overview of Top Free Restaurant Booking Systems

Here’s a quick overview of the seven systems we’ll be comparing:

1. Tablesit
2. TableAgent
3. resOS
4. GloriaFood
5. Carbonara

1. Tablesit

Tablesit offers a modern and efficient solution for restaurant bookings, providing features like customizable table plans, online payments, notifications... Helps to reduce no-shows through pre-payments or reminders.

Includes an easy tool to import of current data. It also supports multiple restaurants management and integrates a booking widget on websites.

Can be used by any restaurant, and has friendly support for both Desktop and Mobile devices.

• Pros: Modern interface. No hidden fees or extras, includes all features for free. Import your bookings data. Desktop and Mobile friendly.
• Cons: Lack of advanced functionalities or complex configurations. SMS are not included in the free plan.
• Main features: Very intuitive and easy to use, real-time updates. Easy import of your data. Supports multi-branch restaurants with one single subscription

2. TableAgent

TableAgent offers limited advanced features. It’s most suitable for smaller restaurants that need basic reservation services without any fancy features.

• Pros: Simple, straightforward and easy to use.
• Cons: Limited functionality and no advanced features. Charges for online payments. Outdated interface.
• Main features: Basic reservation management with a focus on cost-saving for small businesses.

3. resOS

Offering up to 25 free bookings per month, resOS is great for small restaurants or startups. It features an intuitive floor plan and waitlist management, though it lacks SMS notifications in the free plan.

resOS includes a lot of options, but it can get very complex to use and work with.

• Pros: Lot of advance options to create complex configurations. Native mobile application.
• Cons: Complex interface, difficult to use and to get started with. A lot of features are paid on top of the subscription. Lacks SMS notifications in the free plan.
• Main features: Advanced configuration, includes floor plan and waitlist management.

4. GloriaFood

GloriaFood combines a booking system with a food ordering service, ideal for restaurants that also handle takeout and delivery. It operates entirely via a mobile app, which might be a limitation for those preferring desktop access.

• Pros: Combines booking with food ordering, ideal for takeout and delivery services.
• Cons: Mobile app only, which might limit desktop users.
• Main features: Mobile app-based system with integrated food ordering.

5. Carbonara

Carbonara is a straightforward reservations and waitlist system praised for its simplicity and effectiveness in managing walk-ins and reservations. However, it lacks more advanced features such as customer email collection and detailed reservation management tools.

• Pros: User-friendly and efficient for basic reservation needs.
• Cons: Limited in terms of data collection. Lacks advanced features, like a detailed floor plan.
• Main features: Real-time updates and multi-device compatibility.

Comparison Table

Conclusions

When considering a restaurant booking system that maximizes efficiency without costs, Tablesit emerges as a robust contender, especially appealing for its generous offer of 500 free bookings per month and all features included. This feature alone sets it apart in a competitive field where many systems, like GloriaFood and Carbonara, impose more limitations or lack comprehensive features without additional fees, or require plan upgrades and extra fees like resOS.

For restaurant owners looking to enhance their operational capabilities without incurring upfront costs, Tablesit provides a compelling package. Its balance of core features, ease of use, and feature free structure makes it an attractive choice for those aiming to streamline their reservation system and improve overall customer satisfaction.