OpenTable Waitlist vs Eat App Waitlist (Your 2024 Guide)

Restaurant waitlist management is an absolute must for any restaurateur looking to stay ahead in the competitive industry. When it comes to choosing between the two most prevalent waitlist systems, OpenTable Waitlist and Eat App Waitlist, which one should you go for?

Here’s a quick comparison between the two waitlist systems and why you should choose Eat App Waitlist for your restaurant.

OpenTable waitlist overview

OpenTable as a brand is widely recognized for its popular online reservation system used by many restaurants across the country. OpenTable Waitlist, as the name suggests, is the company’s recent endeavor to provide restaurants with an online tool that helps manage walk-in customers and shorten the wait time.

Top features

• Combined Reservations and Waitlist: Operates reservations and walk-in customers in one place.

• Sends Guests Notifications: SMS or OpenTable app notifications when the table is ready.

• Knows Your Customers: Provides detailed guest information for a more personalized experience.

• Marketing Capabilities: Leverage on OpenTable marketing capabilities to attract and retain customers.

• Analytics and Reporting: Check your restaurant performance with analytical reports.

OpenTable waitlist pros and cons

Pros:

• Industry brand recognition and trust.
• Built in reservations and waitlist.
• Customer data and marketing.
• Robust reporting.

Cons:

• Cost. Not for small restaurants.
• Limited customization compared to Eat App.
• Can be clunky if not used frequently.

Eat App waitlist overview

Eat App Waitlist aims to organize customer flow, shorten the waiting time, and overall increase the restaurant’s efficiency. It is a fully integrated restaurant waitlist system that can be synchronized with other software used in restaurants and is suitable for big and small restaurants alike as it offers a wide variety of features.

Here are some of its key offerings:

Top features

• Live Waitlist: Customers are listed in real-time and are notified via SMS when the table is ready.

• Manage Tables: Adjust seating arrangement and optimize restaurant capacity.

• Knows Your Customers: Gather helpful data to enhance service and for a more personalized guest experience.

• Integrated: Synchronizes with other restaurant software for a more unified experience.

• Template Messages: Allows users to send custom messages to guests during wait time for a better experience.

Pros and cons of Eat App waitlist

Pros:

• Highly customizable notifications and messages.

• Seamless integration with various third-party tools.

• Flexible pricing plans, including a free basic plan.

• Excellent customer data collection and insights.

• User-friendly interface with a minimal learning curve.

Cons:

The waitlist system is only available to Eat App customers.

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OpenTable waitlist vs Eat App waitlist

Usability

Both systems are very easy to use but Eat App has an edge when it comes to integration with other restaurant systems which makes for a more seamless experience. OpenTable is user-friendly but it might take some time for first-time users who are not accustomed to the OpenTable ecosystem.

Customization

Eat App allows complete customization of template messages to properly reflect each restaurant’s unique voice, which in turn provides a more pleasant guest experience. OpenTable also has this feature though it’s not as comprehensive as Eat App’s.

Knows your customers

Eat App emphasizes the importance of gathering data and because of this, other restaurant systems such as hostess, cashier, and even kitchen platforms can provide detailed information about a guest which in turn helps managers and owners improve their services and create a more personalized guest experience.

OpenTable also has this feature and with a huge database of customers, valuable insights can be obtained though it’s mostly limited within the OT system.

Integrated and compatible with other restaurant systems

This is where Eat App really shines, its capability to integrate with other third-party software makes it very versatile and is especially useful for restaurants that use different waitlist management systems. Because of its plug-and-play nature, it can definitely ensure a fully integrated operation between all restaurant systems making management smooth and hassle-free. OpenTable is not that bad in terms of integration but it mostly works well when used within the OpenTable products.

Pricing

The price depends on the restaurant’s size and type, but usually Eat App offers better pricing plans, especially for smaller restaurants which in turn makes it a more economical choice. This doesn’t compromise the quality of service it provides as it is an all-in-one package. OpenTable is on the more expensive side which is expected considering the wide array of features it offers and the reputable brand behind it. This might not be the best option for restaurateurs who are watching their budget.

Takeaways

Although both OpenTable Waitlist and Eat App Waitlist have their own advantages, Eat App Waitlist is clearly the better choice when compared. Its level of customization, integration and pricing are just some of the many reasons why you should consider switching to Eat App Waitlist. It is an all-in-one restaurant waitlist management system that helps create wonderful guest experiences and is suitable for big and small restaurants alike. 

Assess your restaurant’s needs, weight budget and current flow to know which between the two waitlist systems will work best for you. OpenTable Waitlist is not bad as it has its own set of advantages but Eat App Waitlist offers more and or even surpasses OT’s features and at the same time, is more economical. It is definitely a great way to improve your restaurant’s overall operation and provides guests with excellent experience.