Yelp Guest Manager
Yelp Guest Manager is an all-in-one front-of-house solution that helps restaurants manage reservations, waitlists, and table seating while leveraging Yelp's massive audience to fill more tables.
Hostme
Hostme is a modern restaurant management system that provides automated waitlists, online reservations, and table management tools to help you streamline front-of-house operations and improve guest experiences.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Yelp Guest Manager | Hostme |
|---|---|---|
| Website | guestmanager.yelp.com | hostmeapp.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $99/month | $59/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2004 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | Washington, D.C., USA |
Overview
Yelp Guest Manager
Yelp Guest Manager simplifies your front-of-house operations by combining reservations, waitlist management, and table mapping into a single iPad-based interface. You can replace paper logs and clunky hardware with a digital system that tracks every diner from the moment they book until they pay their check. By integrating directly with the Yelp app, you gain access to millions of hungry diners who can see your real-time availability and join your waitlist remotely.
You can reduce no-shows with automated SMS reminders and provide accurate wait times using AI-powered estimations. The platform also helps you build a loyal customer base by capturing diner preferences and visit history automatically. Whether you run a high-volume bistro or a quiet neighborhood spot, you can optimize your floor plan and pace your kitchen more effectively to increase your daily covers.
Hostme
Hostme is an all-in-one front-of-house solution designed to help you manage your restaurant's flow without the high commissions of traditional booking platforms. You can handle everything from online reservations and digital waitlists to table assignments and server rotation from a single interface. The platform eliminates the need for bulky pagers by sending automated SMS notifications directly to your guests' phones when their table is ready.
Beyond simple bookings, you can manage deposits, track guest preferences, and implement loyalty programs to keep customers coming back. It works across any device, allowing your hosts to move freely while staying connected to the floor plan. Whether you run a small bistro or a high-volume eatery, you can customize the system to match your specific seating capacity and operational rules.
Overview
Yelp Guest Manager Features
- Remote Waitlist Let your guests join the waitlist from anywhere via the Yelp app so they don't crowd your host stand.
- Direct Reservations Accept bookings directly through your Yelp business page and website without paying high per-cover commission fees.
- Two-Way SMS Text your guests when their table is ready and allow them to confirm or cancel via mobile messaging.
- Digital Floor Map Design your custom restaurant layout and track table statuses in real-time to turn tables faster and seat guests efficiently.
- Predictive Wait Times Give your guests accurate seating estimates based on live restaurant data and historical trends to improve their experience.
- Diner Profiles Track guest preferences, allergies, and visit frequency to provide personalized service that keeps people coming back.
Hostme Features
- Advanced Table Management. Design your digital floor plan and assign tables instantly to optimize your seating capacity and turn tables faster.
- Online Reservations. Accept bookings 24/7 through your website or social media without paying per-cover fees to third-party platforms.
- Digital Waitlist. Quote accurate wait times and send automated SMS alerts to guests so they can wait wherever they like.
- Server Rotation. Balance workloads automatically by tracking covers per server to ensure fair distribution and better service quality.
- Guest CRM & Loyalty. Store guest preferences, dietary restrictions, and visit history to provide a personalized dining experience every time.
- Event Management. Organize special events and sell tickets or take deposits directly through the system to secure your revenue.
Pricing Comparison
Yelp Guest Manager Pricing
- Digital waitlist
- Yelp App integration
- Automated SMS notifications
- Basic guest profiles
- Predictive wait times
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- Online reservations
- Full table management
- Custom floor map
- Advanced guest analytics
- POS integrations
Hostme Pricing
- Unlimited reservations
- Digital waitlist
- Table management
- Guest database
- Basic reporting
- Web & social media booking
- Everything in Piccolo, plus:
- Server rotation
- Advanced reporting
- POS integration
- Customizable guest surveys
- Deposits and prepayments
Pros & Cons
Yelp Guest Manager
Pros
- Massive exposure to diners already using the Yelp app
- Significantly reduces no-shows with automated text reminders
- User-friendly iPad interface requires very little staff training
- Eliminates expensive per-cover fees found in other platforms
Cons
- Monthly subscription cost is higher than some basic competitors
- Requires a reliable internet connection to sync waitlists
- Limited customization for highly complex multi-room layouts
Hostme
Pros
- No per-cover fees saves significant monthly costs
- Intuitive interface is easy for new hosts to learn
- Highly customizable floor plans and reservation rules
- Reliable SMS notifications reduce no-show rates
Cons
- Initial setup of complex floor plans takes time
- Occasional sync delays with certain POS integrations
- Advanced reporting only available on higher tiers