OpenTable GuestCenter vs simpleERB

OpenTable GuestCenter is a restaurant management platform intended to help attract diners, manage reputation, streamline operations, and encourage repeat visits. Its Basic, Core, and Pro plans combine diner-network and reputation tools with progressively different seating automation and guest-marketing features. Depending on plan, reservation tools include booking integrations across 100+ sites and apps, customizable floor plans, Smart Assign, inventory controls, waitlists, and automated reservation messages. Pro adds guest profiles, automated email campaigns, guest tags, and post-dining surveys. GuestCenter integrates with restaurant software such as point-of-sale systems and email providers. The restaurant manager app for iPhone and Android shows reservation activity, cover trends, and VIP notifications; web access is also listed. OpenTable advertises customer support every day and around the clock, with setup and training support. Basic costs $149 a month, Core costs $299 a month, and Pro costs $499 a month. The standard agreement lasts one year and renews annually unless notice is given 30 days before renewal. Basic is available only in the US and includes a 30-day trial. Cover fees and website reservation charges vary by plan and booking source.

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.