The short answer
There’s no single best restaurant booking system for every UK venue. The right choice depends on two questions: do you want the platform to send you new diners, and do you want bookings in the same system as ordering, guest data and marketing?
| System | Published UK price (checked 3 Nov 2026) | Per-cover fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenTable | Quote for the UK. US plans $149 to $499 a month | Yes, on network bookings | Venues that want diners from a large booking network |
| ResDiary | Quote, based on booking volume. Add-ons £10 to £35 a month | None listed | Venues that want a dedicated booking system with optional add-ons |
| SevenRooms | Quote | Not published | Groups that want deep guest profiles and marketing |
| Access Collins (with DesignMyNight) | From £149 a month per site, plus setup and add-ons | None mentioned | Venues that want DesignMyNight’s discovery platform |
| TableCheck | Quote | Not published | Hotel restaurants, fine dining and enterprise groups |
| Tablein | £60 to £157 a month | No, extra reservations on lower plans | Small venues that want simple, low-cost bookings |
| resOS | Free for 25 bookings a month, paid plans €45 to €125 | No | Very small or seasonal venues |
| Growtality | £29 or £119 a month, plus 1% on deposits and online orders | No | Independents that want bookings, ordering, CRM and loyalty in one system |
Growtality publishes this guide, so we’ve included ourselves as one option and said where we’re not the right fit. Every other price comes from the vendor’s own pricing page on 3 November 2026, apart from OpenTable, whose plans we last checked on 5 October 2026. Check whether any quote includes VAT.
How to choose a booking system
Decide whether you want a diner network
Some systems come with a consumer app or website where diners discover restaurants. OpenTable runs a large diner network, and Access Collins pairs with DesignMyNight. The network can bring new guests, but you usually pay for the covers it sends, including regulars who would have booked anyway. If most of your bookings already come from Google, your own website and repeat guests, a system without a network usually costs less.
Compare the total monthly cost
A low headline price can grow quickly. Check four things:
- Fees per cover or per booking, and whether they apply to bookings from your own website.
- The fee on deposits and prepayments, on top of card processing.
- Paid add-ons you’ll need, such as SMS reminders, a waitlist, events or Reserve with Google.
- Setup, training and integration fees, and the contract length.
Then price it twice: at last month’s covers and at your December numbers.
Check what it connects to
A booking system that doesn’t share guest records with your ordering, till and marketing leaves you with the same guest in three places. If you also take online orders or run a loyalty scheme, check whether the booking system covers those or connects to the tools that do. Our guide to online table booking covers what a good booking setup needs and how UK diners prefer to book.
The systems compared
OpenTable
OpenTable’s main draw is its diner network, which sends bookings from its app and website. On its US price list, plans run from $149 to $499 a month, plus $1.50 or $1.00 for each diner seated through the network, and a 2% service fee on deposits and prepayments introduced in early 2026. Online and table ordering aren’t part of its plans. UK pricing is by quote, so ask for it in pounds and at your expected network covers. See our Growtality vs OpenTable comparison for the full breakdown.
ResDiary
ResDiary’s pricing page doesn’t list prices: you get a quote based on your size and monthly booking volume, and its plans (Connect, Express, Pro and Ultimate) differ only in the number of bookings. It lists no per-cover fee, but charges a 1.2% surcharge on deposits and payments and 3% on gift vouchers, with Stripe fees possibly on top. Add-ons cost £10 to £35 a month plus VAT, including SMS at £10, CRM and marketing at £10, pre-orders at £35 and gift vouchers at £35.
SevenRooms
SevenRooms is known for detailed guest profiles and is built for restaurant groups and hospitality brands. It doesn’t publish prices: its Starter, Growth and Premium plans are sold by quote, with email marketing, text marketing, event management and voice AI as add-ons. It also offers delivery, pickup and order-and-pay. DoorDash has owned SevenRooms since June 2025. More detail is in our Growtality vs SevenRooms comparison.
Access Collins with DesignMyNight
Access Collins is The Access Group’s booking system, paired with DesignMyNight’s discovery platform. It’s priced from £149 a month per site, and The Access Group says training, setup, integrations and add-on features cost extra.
TableCheck
TableCheck focuses on hotel restaurants, fine dining and enterprise groups, with card guarantees, prepayment and support for 23 languages. Prices are by quote. See our Growtality vs TableCheck comparison.
Tablein
Tablein publishes simple per-restaurant prices: Starter at £60 a month with 50 reservations, Growth at £105 with 150, and Success at £157 with unlimited reservations. Extra reservations on the lower plans cost €0.67 (Starter) or €0.37 (Growth) each. There’s a 14-day free trial, no setup fee and no minimum term, and no commission on bookings through Reserve with Google.
resOS
resOS has a free plan for 25 bookings a month, then Basic at €45 a month for 350 bookings, Plus at €85 for 750 and Unlimited at €125. Prices are shown in euros. It says it never charges per booking, per cover or commission. Several features are paid add-ons, such as Reserve with Google at €7.99 a month, online payments at €11.99 and a waitlist at €7.99. Paid plans can be paused or cancelled at any time and come with a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Growtality
Growtality is a booking system and an ordering system in one, with a guest CRM, loyalty and email and SMS marketing included. Standard is £29 a month per location and Pro is £119, which adds an AI voice assistant that answers the phone and takes bookings. Both charge 1% on booking deposits and online orders and no per-cover fees, and there’s a 14-day free trial with no card required. It has no diner marketplace, so new guests come from your own website, Google and social media. If you mainly want a network to fill tables, a network-led system will suit you better. See the restaurant reservation system features or plans and pricing.
Before you sign
- Get the total cost in writing at your current covers and at your December peak.
- Ask what you pay for bookings from your own website and Google, as well as from the vendor’s network.
- Ask which add-ons you’ll actually need, and what they cost.
- Check the contract length and the cost of leaving.
- Ask whether you can export your full guest list, with visit history.
- Run a free trial against your real bookings for two weeks.
Questions owners ask
What is the best restaurant booking system in the UK?
It depends on what you need beyond bookings. OpenTable and Access Collins with DesignMyNight bring diners from their own discovery networks. ResDiary, SevenRooms and TableCheck suit larger operators who want a quoted package. Tablein and resOS are low-cost booking-only tools with published prices. Growtality combines bookings with direct ordering, a guest CRM and loyalty for a flat monthly fee.
How much does a restaurant booking system cost in the UK?
From nothing to several hundred pounds a month per site. resOS has a free plan for 25 bookings a month and paid plans from €45. Tablein runs from £60 to £157 a month. Access Collins starts from £149 a month per site plus setup and add-ons. Growtality is £29 or £119 a month plus 1% on deposits and online orders. OpenTable, ResDiary, SevenRooms and TableCheck quote UK prices on request.
Which UK booking systems have no per-cover fees?
On their own pricing pages, resOS says it never charges per booking, per cover or commission, Tablein charges no commission on Reserve with Google bookings, and ResDiary lists no per-cover fee. Growtality has no per-cover fees. On its published US price list, OpenTable charges per cover for diners who book through its network.
Do I need a booking system with a diner network?
Only if you want the platform to send you new diners and you accept paying for them. A network such as OpenTable's brings discovery, usually with a fee per seated cover. If most of your bookings already come from Google, your website and regulars, a system without a network and without cover fees usually costs less.
What should I ask before choosing a booking system?
Ask for the total monthly cost at your current covers and at your December peak, including SMS, deposits, add-ons and card fees. Check the contract length, whether you can export your guest data, and whether bookings connect to your ordering, till and marketing.
