TableNest vs OpenTable
OpenTable starts at $149/mo with per-cover fees on top, plus 2% on prepaid experiences. TableNest is a flat monthly fee from $19 USD — zero commissions, zero hidden charges.
| Feature | TableNest | OpenTable |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | From $19 USD | $149 / $299 / $499 per month |
| Per-cover commission | Zero — ever | $1–$1.50 per network cover |
| Website reservations | Included in all plans | $0.25/cover or $49/mo extra (Basic), included on higher plans |
| Prepaid experiences fee | Zero | 2% service fee on all plans |
| Contracts | None — cancel anytime | Annual contract |
| SMS reminders | Included in all plans | Included |
| Setup time | 5 minutes | Days–weeks |
| Diner marketing network | No (your customers stay yours) | Yes (OpenTable markets to your diners) |
| Own your customer data | Yes — full export | Limited — shared with OpenTable network |
| Square POS sync | Business+ plans | Limited integrations |
| Gift cards scan at Square till | Business+ plans | — |
| Xero accounting sync | Business+ plans | Not available |
| Marketing campaigns | Included (all plans) | $449/mo Pro plan only |
| Team management | Included (all plans) | Included |
| REST API access | Business+ plans | Enterprise only |
| Daily run sheet email | Yes | No |
| One-tap cancel link | Yes | App-based cancellation |
| Best for | Small–medium venues who want bookings, CRM, and marketing without the fees | Large restaurants wanting exposure through the OpenTable network |
Pre-configured for your venue type
Frequently asked questions
How is TableNest different from OpenTable?
TableNest charges one flat monthly subscription ($19 to $49 USD) and takes no per-cover commission. OpenTable charges a subscription plus $1.00 to $7.50 per cover seated through its network, which for a 200-cover-per-week venue adds $800 to $6,000 every month on top of the subscription. The TableNest suite includes booking page, calendar, run sheet, CRM, events, deposits, vouchers, Square POS and Xero — most of which OpenTable reserves for higher tiers or sells as add-ons.
Does OpenTable charge per cover?
Yes. OpenTable charges $1.00 per cover for bookings made through the venue's own widget, and up to $7.50 per cover for bookings sourced through the OpenTable marketplace. The fee is per seated guest, not per booking, so a four-person reservation seated at the venue costs four times the per-cover rate. TableNest takes zero per-cover fees on any booking, regardless of source.
Can I switch from OpenTable to TableNest without losing my customer list?
Yes. TableNest has a CSV import that maps customer name, email, phone, visit count and notes from an OpenTable export. The import takes about two minutes, runs duplicate detection on email and phone, and preserves visit history so the floor team still sees who's a regular. Upcoming bookings can also be imported as part of the same flow.
Does TableNest have the integrations I rely on with OpenTable?
TableNest ships with a two-way Square POS integration and a Xero invoicing integration that creates contacts and invoices from confirmed bookings — both on the Business plan and up, included on those tiers rather than sold as paid add-ons. A public REST API with 14 endpoints is also available on Business and Pro for custom integrations. The OpenTable POS partnerships TableNest doesn't natively integrate with can usually be replaced via Square or the public API.
Is TableNest available outside Australia?
TableNest is available in Australia, the US and Canada, with pricing in each market's local currency. Venues in the UK and New Zealand can also sign up and run the platform — SMS confirmations route through Twilio for those numbers.
Keep your customers. Drop the commissions.
No per-cover fees. No diner network taking your customers. Just a simple booking system that works.
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