Reservation software, compared honestly
TableHelm, the flat-fee Resy alternative
Resy is American Express's reservation platform, popular with design-forward independents and known for its diner app. Pricing is published and there are no per-cover fees. The 2026 story is consolidation: Amex is merging Tock into Resy (migration summer 2026), plans start at $249 a month with no free tier, and operators report account-management decay and first-hand friction exporting guest data.
What Resy does well
Credibility first: these are the genuine strengths.
- No per-cover fees, stated plainly on its own pricing page
- Published pricing (rare among the big platforms)
- A real diner network and brand, backed by American Express
- Well-rated software overall (about 4.7/5 on Capterra for ResyOS)
When Resy is the better pick: Restaurants that want marketplace demand from a fashionable diner app without per-cover fees, and that can absorb $249+ a month and a sales-led relationship.
Resy pricing and terms
| Monthly price | Platform $249/mo, Platform 360 $399/mo; Tock-powered tiers: Essential $269/mo, Premium $399/mo |
|---|---|
| Usage fees | No per-cover fees ('We do not charge any fees on a per reservation basis'); prepayments carry a 3% fee on Essential or 2% on Premium, plus standard payment processing |
| Contract | Terms not published on the pricing page; setup fees not disclosed (partner promos reference 12-18 month terms, unverified) |
| Free tier | None; no free trial advertised |
| Guest data | Resy states 'Your restaurant data will always belong to you'; operators report first-hand that CSV export of guest data and reservations has become difficult |
| No-show tools | Cancellation and no-show fees via card-on-file, charged manually in-app; deposits and prepayments require the Tock-powered tiers (3%/2% fees) |
Last verified 2026-07-03, from the sources listed on this page. Resyfigures are published list prices and terms; negotiated contracts differ. Always check the vendor's site for current pricing before you decide.
Documented, not invented
What operators say about Resy
Verbatim quotes from named reviews and first-hand operator threads, each linked to its source.
“They offer integrations with a number of POS software but it is cost prohibitive.”
“Wish there was a bit better pacing controls... Resy only allows pacing by cover count.”
“The software freezes frequently. Automated plotting is not always the most accurate.”
“We did a switch to Resy…you can't download/upload a CSV of guest data & existing reservations.”
“You own your data, they just host it. Resy has made [it] more difficult of late to extract data. Not sure if it's because of PCI compliance or something more nefarious.”
Side by side
How TableHelm compares
Swipe the table sideways for the full comparison.
| TableHelm | Resy | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Free, or $29 a month flat | Platform $249/mo, Platform 360 $399/mo; Tock-powered tiers: Essential $269/mo, Premium $399/mo |
| Usage fees | Never a per-cover or per-booking fee | No per-cover fees ('We do not charge any fees on a per reservation basis'); prepayments carry a 3% fee on Essential or 2% on Premium, plus standard payment processing |
| Contract | Month to month. Cancel self-serve, keep your data. | Terms not published on the pricing page; setup fees not disclosed (partner promos reference 12-18 month terms, unverified) |
| Free tier | Yes: unlimited reservations and guests, one location | None; no free trial advertised |
| Guest data | Your guest book is yours. Full CSV export, free, any time, forever. | Resy states 'Your restaurant data will always belong to you'; operators report first-hand that CSV export of guest data and reservations has become difficult |
| No-show protection | Card holds via your own Stripe account (Pro). You keep 100% of every no-show fee; TableHelm takes nothing. | Cancellation and no-show fees via card-on-file, charged manually in-app; deposits and prepayments require the Tock-powered tiers (3%/2% fees) |
| Signup | Self-serve. No demo call, no card to start. | See the vendor's site |
Resy column: published list prices and terms, last verified 2026-07-03(sources on this page); check the vendor's site for current pricing. TableHelm column: our own published product facts.
The honest gaps
What TableHelm does not do (and Resy might)
- No diner discovery network. Your guests book through your own website, Google profile and Instagram; TableHelm makes that link excellent but brings no marketplace demand.
- No POS integration yet.
- No built-in SMS yet: confirmations and reminders go by email, plus a manage link you can text from any phone.
- One location per account for now.
If any of those are dealbreakers today, we would rather you know now. Here is exactly what you get on both of our plans.
Questions
Resy vs TableHelm: FAQ
Official 2026 pricing: Platform $249/mo, Platform 360 $399/mo, plus Tock-powered tiers at $269/mo (Essential, 3% on prepayments) and $399/mo (Premium, 2% on prepayments). No per-cover fees. There is no free tier. Check Resy's site for current pricing.
Weighing a move off Resy?
Start free in minutes: unlimited reservations, your own booking page, and a guest book you can export any time. No card, no demo call.