Reservation software, compared honestly
TableHelm, the no-commission Tock alternative
Tock built its name on prepaid reservations and events for fine dining, and it is genuinely liked for that model and for clean data portability. The trade-offs are structural: Tock takes 2-3% of prepaid booking revenue on current tiers, its Capterra rating (3.4/5) is the lowest of the major platforms with support and sales complaints, and Amex is merging it into Resy in summer 2026, which means forced migration.
What Tock does well
Credibility first: these are the genuine strengths.
- The strongest prepaid/events model in the category: tasting menus, tickets, deposits are native
- Operators repeatedly praise its data portability when moving platforms
- Real bills can be far below OpenTable: one operator reported $140/mo on Tock vs $1,100-1,200/mo on OpenTable
When Tock is the better pick: Fine-dining and ticketed-experience restaurants whose revenue model is prepaid seats, and who accept a 2-3% platform take on that prepaid volume.
Tock pricing and terms
| Monthly price | Essential $269/mo or Premium $399/mo (official post-merger pricing on resy.com) |
|---|---|
| Usage fees | 3% of prepayments on Essential, 2% on Premium, plus card processing (third-party listings cite Stripe ~2.9% + $0.30 or Braintree 2.59% + $0.49); 0% commission only appeared on legacy $699/mo tiers |
| Contract | Not published; sold through the Resy/Tock sales process |
| Free tier | None for reservations today; whether the old $0 events-only Intro tier survives the merger is unverified |
| Guest data | Tock markets full ownership; exports include name, email, visit history and notes, and operators moving platforms have praised its data transfer |
| No-show tools | Prepayment is the core model: guests pay (in part or full) when they book, so no-shows are pre-funded, minus Tock's 2-3% and processing |
Last verified 2026-07-03, from the sources listed on this page. Tockfigures are published list prices and terms; negotiated contracts differ. Always check the vendor's site for current pricing before you decide.
Sources for the Tock facts on this page
Documented, not invented
What operators say about Tock
Verbatim quotes from named reviews and first-hand operator threads, each linked to its source.
“They misrepresent things such as integration capabilities”
“Can't change your choice. NO CUSTOMER SUPPORT ONLY EMAIL”
“inability to actually onboard us really gave sign of future support... Blasé attitude they don't need customers”
“can rack up a hefty bill by the end of the month due to the 2% commission charge”
Side by side
How TableHelm compares
Swipe the table sideways for the full comparison.
| TableHelm | Tock | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | Free, or $29 a month flat | Essential $269/mo or Premium $399/mo (official post-merger pricing on resy.com) |
| Usage fees | Never a per-cover or per-booking fee | 3% of prepayments on Essential, 2% on Premium, plus card processing (third-party listings cite Stripe ~2.9% + $0.30 or Braintree 2.59% + $0.49); 0% commission only appeared on legacy $699/mo tiers |
| Contract | Month to month. Cancel self-serve, keep your data. | Not published; sold through the Resy/Tock sales process |
| Free tier | Yes: unlimited reservations and guests, one location | None for reservations today; whether the old $0 events-only Intro tier survives the merger is unverified |
| Guest data | Your guest book is yours. Full CSV export, free, any time, forever. | Tock markets full ownership; exports include name, email, visit history and notes, and operators moving platforms have praised its data transfer |
| No-show protection | Card holds via your own Stripe account (Pro). You keep 100% of every no-show fee; TableHelm takes nothing. | Prepayment is the core model: guests pay (in part or full) when they book, so no-shows are pre-funded, minus Tock's 2-3% and processing |
| Signup | Self-serve. No demo call, no card to start. | See the vendor's site |
Tock 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 Tock 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
Tock vs TableHelm: FAQ
Current official pricing (via resy.com after the merger announcement): Essential $269/mo plus 3% of prepayments, Premium $399/mo plus 2% of prepayments, with card processing on top. Check the vendor's site for current pricing.
Weighing a move off Tock?
Start free in minutes: unlimited reservations, your own booking page, and a guest book you can export any time. No card, no demo call.