Resy Vs. OpenTable: Which Is Best For Your Fancy Dinner Plans?

If you're an avid restaurant-goer in your city or you happen to be that designated friend who plans all the outings and books all the reservations, chances are you've used Resy or OpenTable before. Especially if you're in a busier, more populous city where restaurants tend to book up — these handy little apps can be lifesavers (or at least help avoid some hangry situations).

Both Resy and OpenTable have become more and more widely used in the past few years; OpenTable currently offers reservations at over 50,000 restaurants worldwide and Resy has grown to 16,000, per The New York Times. Both apps offer a lot of the same features: they're both free to use, with certain reservations requiring a prepayment, they both allow you to book, modify, and cancel reservations in-app with similar policies, they both offer availability notifications for reservations that open up, and they both have rewards programs.

But while all of that is wonderful, we're here to focus on the features and highlights that make them different — so you can decide which one is better for you. 

Resy is the right choice for you if you prefer to frequent local hotspots (fancy dinner plans people, we're looking at you). Resy has a much smaller network than OpenTable, but that isn't necessarily a drawback depending on what you're looking for. It's got less coverage, but it was created to focus on higher-tier, more coveted restaurants — so Resy will give you a better shot at dining at those hotspots in your city that are notoriously hard to get into.

Another reason to use Resy is if you want exposure to unique local experiences, even ones outside dining. The app and website offer a special events and experiences category that pulls in happenings around your city that you might be interested in, from special occasion dinners to tasting menus to concerts and music events.

And lastly, Resy allows you to search for restaurants through more unique groupings and guidance categories, such as "black-owned", "women-operated", "dine small", and "vegan gems". So if you're looking to discover somewhere new, or perhaps somewhere super specific, Resy is your spot.

OpenTable is the better option if you travel often or if you're generally looking for more restaurant choices. There's no doubt that OpenTable is the biggest player in the game, with coverage of over 50,000 restaurants in 20 states and 20 international locations, per CellularNews. Since the app allows you to narrow your search to specific neighborhoods or landmarks, it's easy to find dining when you're traveling or exploring a new city; so OpenTable is the go-to for those that find themselves on the move a lot.

If you're the type who likes to keep in close communication with the venue, OpenTable is unique in that it allows restaurants to interact with customers directly via the app. According to CellularNews, customers can chat with the restaurant within 14 days before and after their reservation, so they can coordinate with the venue or ask any questions. Whether you're a meticulous planner or just like knowing you have access, this is an excellent feature if you prefer to keep in touch.

Not only does OpenTable allow you to search for tables for up to 20 people, but it also offers a private dining category, giving you a resource of restaurants in your area that host private dining experiences — helping you cut out some of the work if you're looking for a private party or group event.