OpenResto vs simpleERB

OpenResto is a self-hosted booking system for independent restaurants, bars, cafes and similar businesses. Guests can choose a time, hold a table for five minutes and book without an account. Staff can manage multiple locations, floor sections and waitlists, or pause bookings. Restaurants can set the name, colour and icon guests see. The booking experience is available on the web and can also be published as branded iOS and Android apps. The site describes push reminders sent the day before and passes for Apple and Google Wallet; guests can also add bookings to Google, Apple or Outlook calendars. OpenResto runs on the restaurant’s server with Docker Compose and stores bookings in a local SQLite database. The maker describes it as MIT licensed and says it has no per-cover fees. A scoped API supports integrations, while optional outgoing email uses the restaurant’s SMTP setup. Prebuilt Linux amd64 and arm64 images are listed for deployment on a VPS, Raspberry Pi or NAS. The maker says guest data stays on the restaurant’s machine and bookings can be hard-deleted for GDPR requests.

simpleERB is cloud-based restaurant reservation and table management software for front-of-house teams. It handles online bookings, email and SMS reminders, customer amendments and cancellations, and waitlists. Restaurants can set cover limits, booking windows, party-size limits, and which tables or areas are bookable online, as well as rank tables. Stripe integration supports card holds, deposits, prepayments, and no-show fees. Guest records can include preferences, dietary needs, and visit history, alongside CRM and reporting features. Bookings can come through a website widget, Google Search and Maps, Facebook, or Instagram; Epos Now can connect bookings to the till. The system supports PCs, Macs, Windows POS systems, and iPads, with multi-user access across unlimited devices. Every plan includes 10 SMS messages; additional messages cost £40 per 1,000. Plans include a free trial and a free-for-life option for training restaurants or catering colleges. Paid options include Starter at £21 a month for up to 300 covers and Plus at £47 a month for up to 1,200 covers. Pro is £80 a month for unlimited covers, while Small Chain is £202.50 a month billed annually for up to five restaurants.