Toolbox · Comparison
Reservations head-to-head
OpenTable vs Resy: which reservation system
Both are top-tier reservation and waitlist platforms for full-service restaurants. In short: OpenTable has the largest US diner-discovery network but charges per cover, so cost scales with bookings; Resy charges flat monthly pricing with no per-cover fees — predictable and cheaper once you're seating real volume through it.
The short version
These are the two dominant reservation systems for full-service dining, and the real decision is per-cover reach versus flat-fee predictability. OpenTable puts you in front of the biggest US network of diners — people who discover you through its app, Google and partner channels — and you pay a per-cover fee for each one it seats, on top of the monthly plan. Resy, owned by Amex, charges a fixed monthly fee with no per-cover fees at all, so your cost is the same whether you seat 50 covers or 5,000, and it skews to a trendy, urban, higher-end audience. Pick on two questions: how many of your bookings actually need the network to find you, and how many covers a month will you run through the platform?
OpenTable vs Resy at a glance (2026)
| OpenTable | Resy | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Reservations + waitlist on the largest US diner network | Reservations + waitlist, flat pricing (Amex-owned) |
| Typical price | Basic ~$149/mo · Core ~$299/mo · Pro ~$499/mo | Basic ~$249/mo · Pro ~$399/mo · Enterprise ~$899/mo |
| Per-cover fees | Yes — ~$1–$1.50 per cover | None — flat monthly, any volume |
| Other fees | New 2% fee on deposits/prepaid (early 2026) | No per-cover; predictable monthly |
| Discovery reach | Largest US network; strong diner discovery | Smaller network; trendy/urban audience + Amex perks |
| No-show tools | Deposits & prepay options | Deposits, waitlist, event ticketing |
| Best for | Restaurants that want maximum discovery | Higher-volume venues that book from their own channels |
Pricing reflects publicly listed 2026 figures and varies by plan, market and volume — always confirm on a live quote.
Where OpenTable wins
OpenTable wins on discovery. It runs the largest US diner network, so it actively fills your tables with guests who would never have found you otherwise — through its own app, Google integrations and partner channels. Its table and waitlist management is mature, its deposits and prepay options cut no-shows, and it comes with a strong guest-data and reviews ecosystem. If you're a newer or less-known full-service spot that needs bodies in seats, paying $1–$1.50 per cover to have the network do that work can be well worth it — you're buying demand, not just software.
Where Resy wins
Resy wins on predictable cost at volume. Because it charges a flat monthly fee with no per-cover fees, a busy restaurant that already fills its own tables isn't taxed for every diner it seats — the bill is the same at 200 covers or 2,000. Its table and waitlist management is strong, and the Amex ownership brings a trendy, urban, higher-end audience plus cardholder perks. For a buzzy, higher-volume venue where most bookings come from your own site and regulars, Resy's flat pricing simply beats per-cover economics — and past roughly 175 covers a month, that math tips clearly in its favor.
Which should you pick?
Lean OpenTable if you need the discovery network to fill seats and you're comfortable paying per cover for that reach — especially if you're newer or in a competitive market. Lean Resy if you're higher-volume, most of your bookings already come from your own channels, and you'd rather have a fixed, predictable bill than a per-cover meter running. Model both against your real monthly cover count: below ~175 covers OpenTable's entry price often wins; above it, Resy's flat fee usually does. Either way, this only matters for full-service — it's irrelevant to QSR or fast-casual.
How we work: AZ Restaurant Partners takes no commission from any vendor — we don't earn a cent whether you pick OpenTable, Resy, or neither. We model it against your real covers and set up whichever fits, done-for-you, and we only get paid once you're saving. If you'd rather not sort through it alone, that's the call to book.
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenTable or Resy cheaper for a restaurant?
It depends on your cover volume. OpenTable's plans (Basic ~$149/mo, Core ~$299/mo, Pro ~$499/mo) add per-cover network fees of roughly $1–$1.50, so cost scales with how many diners it seats — plus a new 2% service fee on deposits and prepaid transactions in early 2026. Resy charges flat tiers (Basic ~$249/mo, Pro ~$399/mo, Enterprise ~$899/mo) with no per-cover fees, so its cost is fixed no matter how many you seat. Confirm both on a live 2026 quote.
At what volume does Resy beat OpenTable on cost?
Resy's flat pricing tends to win once you're seating roughly 175+ covers a month through the platform, because OpenTable's per-cover fees keep climbing while Resy's monthly fee stays fixed. Below that, OpenTable's lower Basic entry price and pay-as-you-seat model can be cheaper. The exact break-even depends on your plan tier and how many bookings come through the network versus your own website — model it on your real cover counts.
What's the difference between OpenTable and Resy?
OpenTable runs the largest US diner-discovery network, so it fills tables with guests who find you through its app, Google and partner channels — you pay per cover for that reach. Resy (owned by Amex) charges flat monthly pricing with no per-cover fees and skews toward a trendy, urban, higher-end audience, but its discovery network is smaller. OpenTable sells reach; Resy sells predictable cost.
Which reservation system is better for a full-service restaurant?
Choose OpenTable if you want maximum diner discovery and are happy to pay per cover for tables the network fills. Choose Resy if most of your bookings already come from your own site and regulars, you're higher-volume, and you'd rather have a predictable flat bill. Both offer mature table and waitlist management and deposits to cut no-shows; neither is relevant to QSR or fast-casual.