--- title: "Alternative to TheFork for restaurants: Carbonara App compared" description: "A flat monthly fee and no per-cover commission. How Carbonara App and TheFork Manager compare on pricing and features, plan by plan, based on what TheFork publishes." url: "https://www.carbonaraapp.com/alternative-to-thefork/" language: "en-GB" updated: "2026-10-28" --- # Alternative to TheFork for restaurant owners: Carbonara App Looking for a booking system with a flat monthly fee and no per-cover commission? Here's how Carbonara App and TheFork Manager compare on pricing and features, plan by plan, based on what TheFork publishes. [Get started](https://restaurant-manager.carbonaraapp.com/#/sign-up/create-account) See the comparison - €0 to start - No commission per cover, on every plan - Set up in less than five minutes - No contract, no card to start [TheFork Manager official pricing page](https://www.theforkmanager.com/en/restaurant-software-price) [official pricing page](https://www.theforkmanager.com/en/restaurant-software-price) [TheFork Manager pricing](https://www.theforkmanager.com/en/restaurant-software-price) [TheFork Manager plans](https://www.theforkmanager.com/en/blog/thefork-tools/new-packages-thefork-manager) [Privacy Policy](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/privacy-policy/) ## Two different models TheFork and Carbonara App solve different problems. Here's how each one works. ### TheFork: marketplace and management software TheFork is a restaurant booking marketplace with its own management software, TheFork Manager. According to its official pricing page, TheFork offers several plans and charges a fee based on a percentage of the average bill per guest for bookings that come from TheFork, Tripadvisor and partners. Bookings from the restaurant's own website, Instagram and Facebook are included, with no commission. ### Carbonara App: flat-fee management software Carbonara App is not a marketplace. It's an app for managing reservations and a queue for guests without a booking (walk-ins), built for independent restaurants, cafés and bars. Flat monthly plans, no per-cover commission, and a free plan for low-volume venues. ## Carbonara App or TheFork: which one suits you? It depends on what you need most: fixed costs and running the floor, or visibility on a marketplace. ### Carbonara App Flat-fee management software, no per-cover commission - Free plan for 50 reservations and waitlist groups in any 30 days - Paid plans from €9.99 a month, flat fee - Zero per-cover commission on every plan - Walk-in waitlist and reservations in one app - SMS and WhatsApp that guests can reply to (paid as you send them) - QR code queue at the door - Set up in less than five minutes, no contract ### TheFork Booking marketplace with TheFork Manager software - TheFork marketplace to reach new diners - Partner channels: Tripadvisor, MICHELIN and more - Commission-free widget for your website and social media - Dedicated account manager and support 7 days a week - Waitlist for when you're fully booked (Performance, Enterprise) - Chat with guests, card guarantees and reconfirmations (from Performance) - Group features and email campaigns (Enterprise) Costs: monthly plan (price on request) and a fee based on a percentage of the average bill per guest for bookings from TheFork, Tripadvisor and partners. ## Carbonara App and TheFork Manager, side by side. - TheFork Manager - Carbonara App Cost to start — Monthly fee depending on the plan (price on request) — Free plan: 50 reservations and waitlist groups in any 30 days Per-cover commission Fee based on a percentage of the average bill per guest, on bookings from TheFork, Tripadvisor and partners. Bookings from the restaurant's website, Instagram and Facebook are included None, on every plan Waitlist Waitlist for when the restaurant is fully booked (Performance, Enterprise) Digital queue for guests without a booking (walk-ins), with QR code, on every plan Online reservations — One platform that centralises all bookings 24/7 — Every plan Booking widget — Yes, commission-free; customisable from Performance — Yes Reminders and SMS reconfirmation — Reconfirmation by email and SMS listed as included — Text and WhatsApp messages, paid as you send them Two-way messages — Chat with guests from Performance — Text and WhatsApp, paid as you send them Floor plan — Smart floorplan from Performance — Every plan Deposits and card guarantees — Credit card guarantees and pre-payments from Performance — VIP and PX plans Analytics — Standard analytics; advanced analytics and market insights from Performance — Daily insights included Guests and marketing — Guest database and POS/CRM sync from Performance; email campaigns in Enterprise — Marketing-list sign-up with the guest's explicit consent Reaching new diners — TheFork marketplace and partner channels (Tripadvisor, MICHELIN) — Not a marketplace Getting started — Price on request; personalised account set-up — Less than five minutes, no contract Source for TheFork: TheFork Manager official pricing page, checked on 9 October 2026. Features may vary by plan, country and over time. ## How the costs work. How each one charges, based on what each company publishes. - TheFork Manager - Carbonara App Monthly fee — A monthly fee by plan (price on request) — Flat fee by plan: Free, then €9.99 to €52.99 a month Per-cover commission A fee based on a percentage of the average bill per guest for bookings from TheFork, Tripadvisor and partners None, on every plan Reservations from your own website and social media — Bookings from your website, Instagram and Facebook included — Included, no commission Other variable costs To find the rate for your restaurant, check your TheFork contract or the official pricing page. Text and WhatsApp messages you send; ticket fees and deposits, where used On every plan: a fee based on a percentage of the average bill per guest for bookings from TheFork, Tripadvisor and partners; bookings from your website, Instagram and Facebook included. Prices on request. Sources: TheFork Manager pricing and TheFork Manager plans, checked on 9 October 2026. ## TheFork's plans, as TheFork describes them. What each TheFork plan includes, summarised from TheFork’s own pages. ### Visibility Listing on the TheFork marketplace and partner channels, commission-free booking widget for website and social media, one platform for all bookings, marketing tools, mobile app, dedicated account manager ### Performance Everything in Visibility, plus: smart floorplan, card guarantees, pre-payments and reconfirmations, customisable booking flow, advanced analytics, chat with guests, guest database with POS and CRM sync ### Enterprise Everything in Performance, plus: features for restaurant groups, tailored email campaigns, extended data options and integrations Prices on request. Sources: TheFork Manager pricing and TheFork Manager plans, checked on 9 October 2026. ## Flat fee. Zero commission per cover. Start on the Free plan and move up only when your volume needs it. Every plan includes reservations and the waitlist. ### Free €0 50 reservations and waitlist groups, any 30 days ### Starter €9.99 /month 100 reservations and waitlist groups, any 30 days ### Light €18.99 /month 300 reservations and waitlist groups, any 30 days ### Advanced €27.99 /month 600 reservations and waitlist groups, any 30 days ### VIP €39.99 /month 1,200 reservations and waitlist groups, any 30 days ### PX €52.99 /month Unlimited reservations and waitlist groups [Get started](https://restaurant-manager.carbonaraapp.com/#/sign-up/create-account) Messages are paid as you send them. Ticket fees from 2.95% to 3.95% by plan. Deposits on VIP and PX. Two-week free trial. 10% off with yearly billing. ## Carbonara App's main features Everything an independent restaurant needs to manage guests, cut no-shows and work better, in one app. ### Digital waitlist No more pen and paper. Manage walk-in queues digitally and give guests real wait times. ### Online reservations Reservations 24/7 from your website, Instagram or a link, synced across your team's devices. ### SMS and WhatsApp Reminders and 'table ready' alerts. Guests can reply if their plans change. ### Table management Table map in the app and live floor management from a phone or tablet. ### QR code queue Guests scan the QR at the door, join the list and get updates, with no app to download. ### Daily insights Covers served, average wait times and peak hours, for better decisions. ### Guest data and GDPR Carbonara App processes guest data on the restaurant's behalf and only to provide the service, in line with GDPR. ### Reserve with Google Guests book straight from your restaurant's Google Business Profile. Included in PX; an add-on on other plans. ## What restaurant owners say about Carbonara App From reviews on Capterra and GetApp. > “Training was really simple — very easy to roll out to the team, completely intuitive. It does exactly what it promises, without a hitch.” > > — JD, Front-of-house manager, Via Capterra · Verified review > “The fees of the chosen plan fit perfectly with our budget, and the benefits of optimising our business compensate for our investment.” > > — Mauren Salas, Bread House, Costa Rica > “We are pleasantly surprised by what Carbonara App has to offer at such an affordable cost. Highly recommended for any independent restaurant.” > > — Norberto Viana, Japonês, Portugal ## TheFork vs Carbonara: questions ### Is Carbonara App a real alternative to TheFork? It depends on what you need. Carbonara App handles reservations, a queue for guests without a booking, the floor plan and messages to guests, on a flat fee with no per-cover commission. It's not a marketplace: it won't bring you new diners the way TheFork and its partner channels do. If many of your bookings come from the TheFork marketplace today, factor that in before switching. ### What's the main difference between Carbonara App and TheFork? The model. TheFork is a marketplace with management software: a monthly plan and a fee based on a percentage of the average bill per guest for bookings from TheFork and partners, while bookings from your own website and social media are commission-free. Carbonara App is flat-fee management software with no per-cover commission and a digital queue for walk-in guests. ### How much does Carbonara App cost? Carbonara App has a Free plan for 50 reservations and waitlist groups in any 30 days. Paid plans are €9.99 (Starter), €18.99 (Light), €27.99 (Advanced), €39.99 (VIP) and €52.99 (PX) a month, with 10% off with yearly billing. Messages are paid as you send them. Deposits are available on the VIP and PX plans; ticket fees from 2.95% to 3.95% by plan. Two-week free trial. Details at carbonaraapp.com/pricing. ### Does Carbonara App charge commission? Not on covers or on the bookings you take: there’s no per-cover or per-booking commission on any plan, and the monthly fee is fixed. If you sell prepaid tickets, a ticket fee of 2.95% to 3.95% applies, set by your plan. Messages are paid as you send them, and card payments for deposits carry Stripe’s fees. ### Who owns guest data with Carbonara App? Your restaurant. Carbonara App processes guest data on the restaurant's behalf, only to provide the service, as set out in our Privacy Policy. ### Can I build a marketing list from guests who gave consent? Yes. Where guests have given explicit consent to receive marketing, you can use that data to build a direct marketing list, under Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR. Details in our Privacy Policy. ### How long does it take to switch to Carbonara App? Set-up takes less than five minutes, with no long-term contract, and the Free plan needs no credit card. Before switching, check the terms of your current TheFork contract. ## Useful resources for restaurant owners ### [Carbonara App pricing](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/pricing/) Every plan, from Free to PX, add-ons and free trial. ### [Waitlist guide](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/waitlist/) How the digital waitlist works for walk-in venues. ### [Online reservations](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/reservation/) Bookings from your website, social media and Google. ### [Privacy Policy](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/privacy-policy/) How we protect guest data under GDPR. ### [Carbonara App FAQ](https://www.carbonaraapp.com/help/#faq) Billing, features and set-up. ### [Reviews on Capterra](https://www.capterra.com/p/215565/Carbonara/) Ratings from restaurant owners worldwide. ### [Carbonara on GetApp](https://www.getapp.com/customer-management-software/a/carbonara/) Feature sheets and third-party reviews. ### [TheFork pricing](https://www.theforkmanager.com/en/restaurant-software-price) The official page our TheFork information comes from. ## Privacy, data and GDPR compliance - Carbonara App is committed to protecting the privacy of restaurant owners and their guests. The service is run in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable data protection law. Personal data, such as guests’ names and phone numbers, is collected only to provide the reservation and waitlist service, as described in our Privacy Policy. - Guest data and marketing lists: where a guest has given explicit, freely given consent to receive marketing from the restaurant, for example when booking, Carbonara App lets the restaurant use those contact details for a direct, consent-based marketing list, under Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR. The restaurant remains the data controller and is responsible for valid, documented consent. Guest data is never sold or shared with third-party advertisers. - Guests can access, correct or ask to delete their data at any time, by writing to the address in our Privacy Policy. - This comparison page is produced by Carbonara App. Information about TheFork comes from TheFork Manager’s official pricing page and plans page, checked on 9 October 2026, and may vary by plan, country and over time: always check current terms directly with TheFork. Carbonara App is not affiliated with TheFork, Tripadvisor or any other third party mentioned on this page. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.