The best CoverManager alternatives
Five options compared on price, commissions and what they actually do — including one with a free plan.
Quick answer
If you want a like-for-like reservation platform, Zenchef is the closest alternative to CoverManager. If you want bookings from a network, TheFork Manager. If you want bookings plus orders and the kitchen in one app with public prices and a free plan, GrazieChef.
CoverManager is a strong reservation platform: a multichannel booking engine, prepayments, events, a guest CRM and more than 130 integrations, used by tens of thousands of venues in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Latin America. Restaurants usually look for an alternative for one of three reasons: the price is only quoted after a demo, the platform is more than a small venue needs, or they also want the service itself — orders, the kitchen and the bill — handled in the same tool.
Below are five alternatives, each with what it does better and worse than CoverManager.
Side by side
| Tool | Best for | Pricing | Orders to the kitchen | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoverManager | Busy restaurants, hotels and groups in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Latin America | Fixed monthly fee, quoted after a demo; no commission per booking | No, connects to your POS | No |
| Zenchef | European restaurants that want bookings, guest profiles and reviews in one place | Reserve, Manage and Grow plans, price on request; no commission per cover; card fees on deposits | No, connects to POS systems | No |
| TheFork Manager | European restaurants that want bookings from the TheFork and Tripadvisor network | Plans on request; per-cover commission on bookings from TheFork's network | No | No |
| SevenRooms | Hospitality groups and hotels investing in guest data and direct marketing | Quote-based | No, integrates with your POS | No |
| OpenTable | Restaurants that need new diners from a large booking network (US, UK, Canada, Australia) | Monthly plan plus per-cover fees for network bookings on many plans | No | No |
| GrazieChef | Independent restaurants, bars and cafes that want orders, kitchen and bookings in one free app | Free forever (up to 100 orders every 7 days); Starter €19/month; Pro €39/month | Yes, kitchen display with timers | Yes, forever |
Competitor details are summarised from their public websites as of October 2026 and may change; check their sites for current pricing.
The alternatives, one by one
1. Zenchef
Why consider it instead of CoverManager
The closest like-for-like: bookings, waitlist, deposits and guest profiles with no commission per cover, but with a simpler set of plans and strong review management.
Pros
- + Bookings from website, Google and Instagram with waitlist and deposits
- + Guest profiles, email campaigns and review management
- + No commission per cover
Cons
- − Price on request
- − Payment fees on deposits depend on the plan
- − Not a POS: needs a separate system for orders
2. TheFork Manager
Why consider it instead of CoverManager
Choose it if you need new guests: TheFork's network sends bookings, at the cost of a commission per cover on those bookings.
Pros
- + Bookings from TheFork, Tripadvisor, Google and partners
- + Table plan, no-show tools and guest database
- + Used by 55,000+ restaurants in 14 countries
Cons
- − Commission per cover on network bookings
- − Promotions and discounts can attract deal-seekers
- − Doesn't take orders or run the kitchen
3. SevenRooms
Why consider it instead of CoverManager
Choose it if you are a group or hotel that wants to go further than CoverManager on guest data and automated marketing.
Pros
- + Deep guest CRM with segments and automated email and SMS
- + Direct bookings that keep the guest data yours
- + Integrations with major POS systems
Cons
- − Quote-based pricing aimed at groups
- − Onboarding project with their team
- − Overkill for a single independent venue
4. OpenTable
Why consider it instead of CoverManager
Choose it if you operate in the US, UK or another market where OpenTable's diner network is strong.
Pros
- + Large diner network and app that bring new guests
- + Mature booking, waitlist and guest notes
- + Widely known by diners
Cons
- − Per-cover fees on network bookings add up in busy months
- − Doesn't take orders or run the kitchen
- − Network is much weaker in southern Europe
5. GrazieChef
Why consider it instead of CoverManager
Choose it if you want bookings with deposits and a waitlist plus orders, kitchen display and the bill in one app, with public prices and a free plan.
Pros
- + Public prices and a free plan with every feature, bookings and deposits included
- + Orders, kitchen display, live table map and the bill in the same app
- + Runs on phones and tablets you already own, set up in minutes, in 6 languages
Cons
- − No diner network that sends you new bookings
- − No guest CRM or automated marketing campaigns
- − Few third-party integrations compared with the big platforms
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best free alternative to CoverManager?
- GrazieChef: its Free plan never expires and includes online bookings, no-show deposits and a waitlist, plus orders and the kitchen display, up to 100 orders every 7 days. It doesn't have CoverManager's 130 integrations or guest CRM.
- How much does CoverManager cost?
- CoverManager doesn't publish prices: it works on a fixed monthly subscription quoted after a demo, with no commission per booking.
- CoverManager vs Zenchef: which is better?
- Both are reservation platforms with no commission per cover. CoverManager is stronger on integrations, events and hotels; Zenchef is stronger on reviews and guest marketing for independent restaurants. Neither sends orders to the kitchen.
- CoverManager vs TheFork Manager?
- CoverManager is a fixed fee with no commission; TheFork Manager brings bookings from its network but charges a commission per cover on them.
- Can I use an alternative together with my POS?
- Yes. Reservation platforms usually sit alongside a POS. GrazieChef is the exception: it covers bookings and the service itself, so a small venue can use one tool instead of two.
Try GrazieChef for free
Free plan forever, no card and no hardware. The demo needs no account.