simpleERB

simpleERB is cloud-based reservation and table-management software for restaurant front-of-house teams. It is a strong fit for independent venues and small groups that need control over bookings and guest records. Its cover-based plans are straightforward, but payment costs and monthly volume determine which tier makes sense.

Overview

Bookings can come through a venue’s website widget, Google Search and Maps, Facebook, and Instagram. Automated email and SMS reminders, guest changes and cancellations, and waitlists help staff manage reservations beyond the initial booking. Teams can choose which tables and areas are bookable online, set booking windows and party-size limits, cap covers, and rank tables. Those controls are useful for venues balancing online demand against floor capacity.

Key features

Reservations, tables, and payments

Stripe integration supports card holds, deposits, full prepayments, and no-show fees. These tools can help venues protect against missed bookings, but Starter and Plus charge extra for payments and card capture; venues that depend on them should compare the added cost with Pro, where both are included. Guest records hold preferences, dietary needs, and visit history, with CRM and reporting features. Epos Now can connect bookings to the till.

Access, support, and privacy

The cloud service supports access on PCs, Macs, Windows POS systems, and iPads, with multiple users able to work across unlimited devices. The listed platforms are Android, iOS, and web. Phone and email support runs Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:30pm GMT, with an urgent email address for out-of-hours inquiries. Subscriptions have no lock-in and can be cancelled at the start of the next billing period by contacting support.

The privacy policy says personal information is stored on secure servers and that simpleERB acts as processor for restaurant guest data. It also cautions that internet transmission cannot be guaranteed secure, a relevant consideration for venues assessing how guest information is handled.

Pricing

All plans include 10 free SMS messages; further messages cost £40 per 1,000. The free trial costs nothing and covers 250 covers, with no credit card or commitment required. Hospitality Training College is free for training restaurants or catering colleges for life.

• Starter: £21 a month, billed paid monthly, for up to 300 covers per month. It includes all standard features, while payments and card capture cost extra. This is the lowest paid tier for smaller volumes, but the cover cap and payment add-on make it a poor fit for venues with heavy booking demand or frequent deposits.
• Plus: £47 a month, billed paid monthly, for up to 1200 covers per month. It includes all standard features, with payments and card capture still extra. It suits venues that have outgrown Starter’s quota but do not need unlimited covers.
• Pro: £80 a month, billed paid monthly, with unlimited covers and all standard features. Payments and card capture are included, making it the clearest option for high-volume venues or those that regularly take money to secure bookings.
• Small Chain: £202.50 a month, billed paid annually, with unlimited covers, up to 5 restaurants, and all standard features. Its annual billing and multi-site allowance suit small groups, though the yearly commitment is a different trade-off from the monthly paid tiers.

The paid plans are priced for one included location except Small Chain’s allowance of up to five restaurants. The free trial is a limited-volume way to assess the service; the college offer is restricted to training restaurants and catering colleges rather than a general free tier.

Platforms

simpleERB is listed for Android, iOS, and web. Its cloud access also supports PCs, Macs, Windows POS systems, and iPads, so teams can use different devices without a stated device cap.

Who it's for

The product is built for independent restaurants and small groups, and also serves cafés, pubs, hotels, and entertainment venues. It is especially relevant to operators that need to set online table availability, manage waitlists, retain guest preferences, or collect deposits. Smaller venues with low booking volumes may find Starter sufficient; businesses that need payment protection should budget for Pro or the extra charges on Starter and Plus. The Small Chain plan is the relevant tier for groups operating up to five restaurants.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Booking channels include a website widget, Google, Facebook, and Instagram, giving venues several routes for online reservations.
• Pros: Table controls, waitlists, guest records, and reminders cover both demand management and follow-up.
• Pros: Pro combines unlimited covers with included payments and card capture; Small Chain extends unlimited covers across up to five restaurants.
• Cons: Starter and Plus cap monthly covers at 300 and 1200 respectively, and payments and card capture cost extra on both.
• Cons: SMS beyond the included 10 messages costs £40 per 1,000, which venues using frequent text reminders should factor into operating costs.
• Cons: Small Chain is billed annually, unlike the monthly paid Starter, Plus, and Pro plans.

Alternatives

Restaurant Reservation Software is a useful starting point for comparing products in this category. Consider Anolla if a free plan with paid features activated as needed better suits your budget. Favouritetable may suit venues that need a permanently free, web-based reservations diary but can work within a 30-booking monthly cap. Resos is another freemium option, with a Basic plan described as covering 350 bookings a month and core features, plus paid add-ons after a 30-day period. CentralPlanner offers a free plan and trial. Eat App has a free plan capped at 100 guests monthly and a Lite tier with unlimited guests. GetReserve offers a free plan with an online booking page, reservation views, one floor-plan space, and guest profiles. MyResApp is free permanently for the first 5,000 qualifying restaurants under its offer. Tablemonk offers a free plan with unlimited tables and reservations.

Verdict

Its strongest paid fit is Pro when unlimited covers and included card tools matter; look elsewhere or compare carefully if booking volume is low, SMS use is high, or payment add-ons make Starter and Plus less economical.