Oddle Reserve: The Best Affordable Online Reservation System for Australian Restaurants

The restaurant industry in Australia is highly competitive, and for many restaurant owners, finding an affordable and effective online reservation system is essential for managing operations and driving growth. With numerous platforms available, it can be challenging to identify the one that best suits your needs. This article compares the top low-cost reservation systems for Australian restaurants and highlights why Oddle Reserve stands out as a powerful yet budget-friendly solution for 2025.

Why Low-Cost Doesn’t Mean Low-Value 💡

When evaluating reservation systems, it’s essential to consider not just the cost but also the value they provide. A low-cost system can still deliver robust features that streamline operations, reduce no-shows, and even boost your restaurant’s revenue. Many affordable platforms, like Oddle Reserve, offer tools to capture customer data and drive repeat visits, which are critical for long-term growth.

Key Factors to Evaluate Online Reservation Systems 📝

When comparing platforms, keep these critical factors in mind:

• Pricing Structure: Are costs usage-based, subscription-based, or commission-based?

• Features: Does the system include table management, automated reminders, and marketing tools?

• Customer Data Ownership: Can you capture and own customer information for re-engagement?

• Ease of Use: Is the platform easy to implement and navigate for your team?

Top Free or Low-Cost Reservation Systems in Australia 🌟

1. Oddle Reserve

• Website: https://oddle.me/au/products/restaurant-reservation-system

• Pricing: Usage-based at AU$0.35 per booking, with no upfront or subscription fees.

• Features: Table management, timeline view, automated customer reminders, and integrated marketing tools.

• Customer Data Ownership: Yes, with a built in customer intelligence layer to help you understand your customers better

• Best For: Restaurants focused on growth, data-driven marketing, and cost efficiency.

• Oddle Reserve offers unparalleled value by combining low costs with tools to help restaurants grow. With Oddle Reserve, you don’t just manage bookings—you build relationships with your diners.

2. Quandoo

• Website: https://www.quandoo.com/

• Pricing: Commission-based, typically AU$2 per booking.

• Features: Basic booking tools and marketplace exposure.

• Customer Data Ownership: Limited.

• Best For: Restaurants seeking exposure on a marketplace but willing to pay high commissions.

• While Quandoo’s marketplace can bring visibility, the high commission fees can quickly add up for busy restaurants.

3. ResDiary

• Website: https://resdiary.com/

• Pricing: Subscription-based, starting at AU$199 per month.

• Features: Table management, customisable booking rules, and pre-payment options.

• Customer Data Ownership: Yes, but limited tools to understand your customers.

• Best For: Restaurants that need a subscription model and basic operational tools.

• ResDiary offers a straightforward solution but lacks advanced marketing features to drive repeat visits.

4. Now Book It

• Website: https://www.nowbookit.com/

• Pricing: Subscription-based, starting at AU$149 per month.

• Features: Basic table management and booking tools.

• Customer Data Ownership: Yes, but limited tools to understand your customers.

• Best For: Small restaurants looking for a simple and affordable solution.

• While Now Book It provides affordability, its limited features may not suit restaurants with growth ambitions.

5. Free Options: GloriaFood & Google Forms

• Website: https://www.gloriafood.com/ and https://docs.google.com/forms/

• Pricing: Free to use.

• Features: Extremely basic booking tools with limited to no table management capabilities. These tools also lack robust marketing tools, making it harder to re-engage diners effectively. Since they function primarily as marketplaces, there is little incentive to help restaurants drive repeat visits.

• Customer Data Ownership: Yes.

• Best For: Restaurants with minimal operational needs looking to save costs.

• GloriaFood and Google Forms offer a "free" solution but lack features such as table management, marketing tools, or customer data capture. These platforms often serve as temporary solutions rather than long-term growth partners, with hidden inefficiencies that can hinder your restaurant's potential for meaningful customer engagement.

GloriaFood and Google Forms offer a "free" solution but lack features such as table management, marketing tools, or customer data capture. Additionally, these platforms, as marketplaces, have little incentive to help restaurants drive repeat visits or meaningful re-engagement with customers. To understand more about the pitfalls of free systems, check out our article on why 'free' reservation systems may cost you more than you think.

Why Oddle Reserve is the Best Choice ✅

Modern and Fully Featured Reservation System 🌟

Oddle Reserve goes beyond basic table booking by offering:

• No-Show Fees: Reduce last-minute cancellations and lost revenue.

• Ticketing Function: Streamline group or special dining experiences and take pre-payments

• Reserve with Google Integration: Make reservations seamless for diners searching on Google.

• Beautiful Interface: A user-friendly platform for both guests and hosts.

• Operational Intelligence: Gain insights and tools to optimise table management and enhance customer service.

Cost Savings 🏷️

Oddle Reserve’s usage-based pricing ensures you only pay for what you use. For example:

• 1,000 monthly reservations with Oddle Reserve cost just AU$350 (AU$0.30 per booking)

• A commission-based system like Quandoo would charge AU$2,000 for the same volume.

Integrated Marketing Tools 📈

Oddle Reserve doesn’t stop at reservations. It includes tools to:

• Send automated email reminders to reduce no-shows.

• Launch targeted marketing campaigns to re-engage customers.

• Capture customer data for personalised offers.

Return on Investment (ROI) 💰

With Oddle Reserve, the data you capture can deliver remarkable ROI. For instance:

• Re-engage 10% of your customers with Oddle's integrated marketing engine (100 out of 1,000 monthly bookings).

• If each returning customer spends AU$100, that’s AU$10,000 in additional revenue—far surpassing the AU$350 cost of using Oddle Reserve.

Consider another scenario: If customer retention improves to 15% (150 customers), the additional revenue would jump to AU$15,000. Or, if the average check size increases to AU$120, re-engaging 100 customers translates to AU$12,000. These outcomes highlight how Oddle Reserve’s low fees unlock the potential for substantial returns, making it an indispensable tool for restaurants focused on sustainable growth.

Focus on Growth 🌱

Oddle Reserve is designed to grow with your restaurant. By providing ownership of customer data and integrated tools for re-engagement, it helps you build lasting relationships with your diners.

Conclusion: Affordable and Effective 🎯

Finding the right reservation system is critical for managing costs and driving growth in Australia’s competitive dining scene. While other platforms may offer basic tools or high visibility, Oddle Reserve stands out with its affordable usage-based pricing and growth-focused features. By empowering restaurants to own their customer data and drive repeat visits, Oddle Reserve delivers unmatched value.

If you’re looking for a low-cost solution that doesn’t compromise on quality, Oddle Reserve is the clear choice. Request a demo today and see how Oddle Reserve can transform your restaurant’s reservations and revenue. 🚀