Here we are looking into the best reservation systems for small restaurants. We will cover the different systems in terms of booking system features and price. If you are looking for systems that have a multitude of features and are willing to pay the price for that, check out the list we have created with the best online booking systems for restaurants.

Why should you work with a restaurant reservation system?
Having a reservation system that is just right for your restaurant or venue is vital for your business. Nowadays, restaurants try to make it easier for their guests by offering them multiple ways through which guests can reach out to them. Since the goal for the restaurants is to have many bookings and keep their guests happy, a flexible and user-friendly restaurant reservation system can be a huge help for your small business.
Offering guests an online option for table booking is more convenient for them and it saves time during busy periods. It’s beneficial for you and your restaurant staff as well since it helps you with organizing the bookings, and it is efficient by reducing the time you spend on managing the bookings.
No matter if you have a smaller or a bigger restaurant, a table reservation system can come in handy if you have decided that having an online channel for table bookings makes sense for your restaurant. Of course, there are plenty of differences in functionalities and price when it comes to reservation systems for big restaurants and for smaller ones.

Different types of reservation systems for small restaurants
Table reservation system functionalities
Depending on what functionalities you need from such a table booking system and what price you are willing to pay, there are many types of table reservation systems for small restaurant businesses. You can read here about what criteria to look for in an online restaurant booking system.
From what we have experienced so far at resOS, smaller restaurants do not need as many features as big restaurants do. Of course, the more guests you have using the system, the more aspects you have to take into consideration. But, when it comes to smaller restaurants, most of them simply need a reservation system that can help the staff with administrative tasks and that can provide a simple and intuitive booking flow for their guests.
Table reservation system prices
And let’s talk about price as well as it plays an important role in choosing restaurant systems. It doesn’t make sense for small restaurants to have to pay a higher amount of money for a system that offers them all sorts of features that they don't need. The price should be reasonable considering it's a smaller restaurant who might not get many reservations but still find it useful to use a restaurant system. In some cases, if the prices are too high, small restaurants can even choose not to have a booking system, since it’s not something that many of their guests use and it doesn’t make sense for them to have it as it’s an extra cost.
Some restaurant systems, such as resOS and TableAgent offer a free version of the system as well for small restaurants. Most of the reservation systems even offer a trial period. A free trial helps the restaurants with the costs and gives them some time to test the systems, and figure out if the systems fit their needs.

5 restaurant reservation systems for small restaurants
If small restaurants get their table bookings mainly through online channels, then it probably makes sense to look at investing in a good reservation system and still keep in mind the prices. Based on the basic features needed and the affordable prices, we researched some reservation systems. Here is a short list of the best reservation systems out there for small restaurants.
- flexible booking system that offers all the essential features, which are included in all plans
- has a free plan that allows up to 25 bookings/month
- the smallest paid plan is only 35$/month, and it offers up to 350 bookings/per month
- has no binding and offers a 1-month free tria with no binding l for the paid plans
- restaurant booking system that offers all the infrastructure to manage online bookings
- doesn’t disclose the price on the website, but offers a demo
- 24/7 availability from the support team
- Offers data to restaurants for future marketing
- table management and booking system
- specializes in high volume super busy restaurants
- doesn’t disclose the price on the website, but offers a demo
- some sources say that the pricing starts at 150 $/month for the basic features
Resy:
- restaurant management software with a huge network
- pricing depends on the features needed
- the smallest plan is 249 $/month and has basic features
- offers demo and 24/7 support
- restaurant booking system where guests book directly through their website
- pay-per-use
- has a free plan that allows only to manage bookings
- offers greater visibility for restaurants

What’s next?
Before you choose between the reservation systems available out there, make sure to give resOS a try. We promise you won’t be disappointed. You can even use the Free Plan that we offer if you are a small restaurant and you don’t need more than 25 bookings monthly. If you need more bookings, you can try our Basic Plan. It allows you up to 350 bookings monthly and you can also activate our standard one-month free trial for it.
If you have any questions about resOS or if you need the support team’s help with the system, don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected]!