Facts checked on 23 July 2026

HappyChef vs Resos: the honest comparison

Two European reservation platforms, compared side by side using only published facts. No spin: where Resos is stronger, we say so.

HappyChef vs Resos

Side by side at a glance

Every row links back to a published source: the plan pages of both vendors. Where Resos doesn't publish something, we say so explicitly rather than guess.

Pricing & contract

Feature
HappyChef
Resos
Entry plan
Start — free · then Grow €39/month
Free — €0/month (25 bookings/month)
Top published plan
Max — €199/month
Unlimited — €125/month (unlimited bookings), from €98/month with annual billing
Pricing model
Fixed per plan, no limit on the number of reservations
Booking limit per plan: 25 / 350 / 750 / unlimited bookings per month
Commission on reservations
0%
0% — Resos explicitly advertises "no commission or cover fees"
Cancellation terms
Yes
Yes — pause or cancel anytime on paid plans
Free plan
Yes
Yes — 25 bookings/month, free forever
Free trial without credit card
Yes
Yes — the free Free plan requires no credit card
Money-back guarantee
Not offered — but cancellable monthly with no risk
Yes — 90 days on paid plans (Basic, Plus, Unlimited)
Add-ons available separately
Not offered
Yes — 12+ add-ons from €7.99 to €19.99/month, or bundled via the pricier All-Access plan

Reservations & no-shows

Feature
HappyChef
Resos
24/7 booking widget for your website
Yes
Yes — included from the free Free plan
Table plan
Yes
Not published
Waitlist
Yes
Only as a paid add-on — €7.99/month, not on the free Free plan
Credit-card guarantee / deposits
Yes
Only as the paid "Online payments" add-on — €11.99/month
Confirmations & reminders
Email included; WhatsApp via monthly credits
Email included free; SMS confirmations and custom reminders as paid add-ons — €0.10 per SMS
Automated phone answering
Flat €99/month — 24/7 AI receptionist
Not published

Growth, reviews & ecosystem

Feature
HappyChef
Resos
Reserve via Google
Not published
Only as the paid "Reserve with Google" add-on — €7.99/month
Sell gift cards
Yes
Not published
Marketing & analytics integrations
Included (AI marketing add-on)
Only as a paid add-on — €11.99/month (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, Google Ads)
AI tools
Receptionist, inbox, marketing (add-ons)
Not published
POS integrations
Not offered
Not published — but "Full API access" is available as a paid add-on (€11.99/month) to build your own integration

Interactive: compare your software cost

Pick a plan on each side and switch between monthly and yearly billing. The Resos prices are the published standard prices (excluding the temporary "-50% for 3 months" promotion or the pricier, add-ons-bundling All-Access plan). Add-ons are not included.

HappyChef€0Software cost per month
Resos€0Software cost per month

Which platform fits your restaurant?

Both are commission-free reservation platforms with a free entry plan. The honest answer depends on your size and priorities.

HappyChef is the stronger fit if you…

  • don't want a limit on the number of reservations per month — Resos caps every plan at 25, 350 or 750 bookings unless you take the pricier Unlimited plan
  • prefer everything included in one plan price instead of adding up 12+ separate add-ons at €7.99 to €19.99/month each
  • want a fixed price for automated phone answering — a flat €99/month, something Resos doesn't publish
  • want WhatsApp confirmations instead of paid SMS messages at €0.10 each
  • want full ownership of your guest data, stored in the EU

Resos is the stronger fit if you…

  • want to start free forever with up to 25 bookings per month, no credit card required
  • only want to add the add-ons you actually use, instead of a fixed, pricier plan
  • value a 90-day money-back guarantee on your paid plan
  • want to enable reservations via your Google Business Profile as a specific add-on
  • find an annual discount appealing — Unlimited drops from €125 to €98/month with annual billing

See HappyChef next to your current system

Try HappyChef for free — no credit card needed, cancel monthly, with no booking limit. Or book a demo and bring your Resos questions.

Start free — 2 min