Guide
Free vs paid booking systems
Free is tempting, and sometimes it is exactly right. The trick is knowing what the free plan leaves out and whether you will miss it.
Watch: Free vs Paid Booking Systems
What a free plan usually leaves out, and how to decide when paid is worth it. 57 sec
Read the transcript
Free is tempting, and sometimes it is exactly right. The trick is knowing what the free plan leaves out. On Tablez, the Free plan has up to 60 bookings a month, your booking page and QR poster, email reminders, and the owner plus one staff login. No card, and no end date. Standard, at £9.99 a month, adds the floor plan, waitlist, texts and unlimited staff. Pro, at £24.99, adds deposits, events and gift vouchers. There is never a fee per cover. If you reach your limit, the page asks customers to phone you for the rest of the month. Nothing is deleted, and nobody is charged extra. With any provider, check you can export your bookings. Start free, and upgrade when it makes sense. Start free at tablez.co.uk.
What free plans usually limit
- The number of bookings per month.
- How many staff can log in.
- Extra features such as deposits, texts or reports.
- Branding, such as a "powered by" line on the booking page.
Free plans can be a good way to test a system. Other providers use free plans differently, so read the small print on any of them.
What the Tablez Free plan includes
Up to 60 bookings a month, your booking page, link and QR poster, a website embed, email confirmations and reminders, a calendar and day view, and the owner plus 1 staff login. There is no card needed and no end date. Every plan, including Free, shows a small "Powered by Tablez" line on the booking page.
How to decide
- Count your online bookings. If you take fewer than about 60 a month, Free may be all you need.
- List what you would miss. Floor plan, guest notes, waitlist, texts and unlimited staff logins are on Standard. Deposits, events and gift vouchers are on Pro.
- Check the limit behaviour. On Tablez, when you reach your limit the page asks customers to phone you for the rest of the month. Nothing is deleted and nobody is charged extra.
- Start free and upgrade when it makes sense. You do not have to decide today. Upgrading takes a minute in the dashboard.
- Check you can leave. Make sure you can export your bookings and guests whenever you like, whichever provider you choose.
Paid Tablez plans are £9.99 a month (Standard) or £24.99 a month (Pro), with cheaper yearly prices, and no fee per cover. See which plan do I need for the full list.
Our blog has a wider look at free table booking systems in the UK.
Prefer to watch? See the five minute quick start on our video guides page. See the free table booking system page and the pricing page.
FAQ
Common questions
What is the catch with a free plan?
On Tablez the limit is the catch: up to 60 bookings a month and fewer features. We do it so you can try the system properly. Other providers may differ, so ask.
Do I need a card to start?
Not on Tablez Free.
Will my bookings be stuck if I upgrade or leave?
No. Your bookings and guests are yours and can be exported whenever you like.
When is paid worth it?
When you want the floor plan, texts, a waitlist or more staff logins, or you pass 60 bookings a month.