Comparison

Dojo vs Zenchef

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dojo

Discover and book dining experiences at partner restaurants. Secure last-minute tables, join virtual queues from afar, or plan special occasions up to a year in advance. Find great places to eat, even during peak times.

Highlights
  • Instant last-minute table bookings
  • Virtual queuing up to 5km away
  • Book special occasions up to a year ahead
  • Real-time table availability
  • Message restaurants while waiting
  • Manage bookings in-app
Features
Read full description

At Dojo, we work with our partner restaurants to bring you great dining experiences, when you want them. Grab an instant table to eat now, jump in the virtual queue and have a drink while we queue for you, or immerse yourself and book a place for that special occasion. Restaurants trust Dojo to facilitate amazing experiences. We drop more great places daily, so you're sure to find something you love. Features - Grab last-minute tables instantly - Queue virtually from up to 5km away - Book ahead and plan special occasions Feeling hungry now? You'll see the places nearby when you launch the app, and booking an available table is a couple of taps away. Restaurants offer last-minute tables, even at peak times. We've optimised the app to show you real-time availability, so grab your slot before somebody else does. Head over to the restaurant, who'll be expecting you, then take a seat and have a great time! Don't feel like queuing around the corner? For those extra-special, super-popular places, we offer virtual queuing. Join the queue and we'll send you real-time updates on your position and how long the wait is going to be. Then, you're free to find something better to do with your time. You can message the restaurant while you wait, and they'll notify you when your table is nearly ready. When you join Dojo, you'll be able to join the queue from 2km away. The more you show-up you'll unlock a greater range - up to 5km! Planning something special, or just like to be organised? Through Dojo, you can book up to a year in advance(1). This is great for those who like to plan ahead, and key to securing the perfect spot for a grand occasion. You can make a booking at restaurants for larger party sizes, with the entire experience handled directly in the app, including booking deposits, all powered by Dojo. Of course, you can amend or cancel your booking at any time, all through the app. Got a question or need some support? At Dojo we provide the very best in customer care. Chat with us directly in the app, drop us an email at [support@dojo.app](mailto:support@dojo.app), or find us on Twitter and Instagram. Our customer support team is available {8am until 8pm every day} to help you with anything from minor questions to event planning emergencies. You're in good hands. Want to keep your personal data safe? We've made data security our highest concern, and it's your right to have your data protected and accessible. Find all the details in our Privacy Policy; https://dojo.app/legal/privacy/, or contact our customer support team if you have any doubts or questions. (1) Each of our partner restaurants decides how long in advance they'd like to take bookings - some have no limit, others like to keep it spontaneous and fresh.

About

Zenchef

Discover and book available restaurant tables instantly without the stress of calling or guessing. This app provides real-time availability for your chosen date, time, and party size, offering a clear and confident dining reservation experience.

Highlights
  • See real-time restaurant availability
  • Book tables instantly
  • Explore trusted restaurants
  • Map-based restaurant discovery
  • Direct bookings with restaurants
Features
Read full description

Zenchef is a calmer way to reserve a table. Open the app, see what's actually available, and reserve without overthinking it. No juggling tabs. No calling. No guessing if it's worth it. Bon appétit, Team Zenchef ––– A FREE RESTAURANT RESERVATION APP, BUILT FOR CONFIDENCE Zenchef is a free restaurant reservation app that helps you find and reserve a table faster by showing real availability for your date, time, and party size. No discounts. No commissions. Just direct reservations with restaurants you can trust. SEE WHAT IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE Set your date, time, and party size, then explore restaurants on a map. • See live availability, not a wish list • Browse a whole area without leaving the map • Skip restaurants that are already full If a table is shown, you can reserve it. Simple as that. NARROW MANY OPTIONS DOWN TO ONE Choosing is the hard part. Filters do the work. • Filter by rating and number of reviews • Filter by price band and cuisine type Every restaurant page carries photos, cuisine, price range, distance, rating, review count, and links to the website, directions, and Instagram. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO • Read verified reviews from diners who reserved and dined • Get an AI summary of what those reviews agree on Real experiences, from people who actually sat down. RESERVE IN SECONDS • Reserve instantly inside the app • No calls, no redirects • Reserve as a guest, without creating an account • Save restaurants to a list for later • Buy a gift card for a restaurant you love KEEP EVERY RESERVATION IN ONE PLACE Plans move. A restaurant reservation should be easy to change. • See every reservation with its status • Modify a reservation when the day shifts • Cancel in a tap, without a phone call BUILT WITH RESTAURANTS, NOT AGAINST THEM Zenchef works directly with restaurants and never charges commission. That means: • Restaurants stay in control • Guests get accurate availability • No hidden fees Better information leads to better decisions for everyone. RESERVE ACROSS EUROPE Zenchef restaurants take reservations across Europe. Same app, same real availability, wherever you are eating. STILL HERE? THAT MEANS YOU CARE ABOUT WHERE YOU EAT. Zenchef helps make sure it's worth it. Now get the app and reserve a table somewhere great. If you have suggestions, write to us. We read everything.

Screenshots

Dojo4 screens
Zenchef4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Zenchef at free against Dojo's free with in-app purchases. Zenchef also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 58%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dojo ships an update every 4 weeks, Zenchef weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Dojo versus Zenchef: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDojoZenchef
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (211 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.8% of reviews78.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings211 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB101 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPaymentSenseZenchef

Customer experience

Dojo

All ratings211 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.4%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews83 reviews
Positive57.8%
Neutral1.2%
Negative41.0%

Zenchef

Written reviews33 reviews
Positive78.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative21.2%

Bugs and requests

Dojo

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Login fails with conflicting error messages (account exists/doesn't exist)
  • Forgotten password link not sending
  • App hangs and becomes unresponsive
  • Cannot click on phone number field during signup
  • Password reset loop issues
Show 7 more
  • App crashes when selecting restaurants
  • Queue position updates incorrectly
  • Location verification too sensitive indoors
  • Text notifications only (no in-app notifications)
  • Booking deposits deleted without proper explanation
  • Restaurant availability showing closed venues
  • Wait time discrepancies between app and actual wait

Requested features

10 requests
  • Apple Sign-In integration
  • iOS Keychain password integration
  • Clear wait time estimates in minutes/hours
  • In-app messaging system instead of text notifications
  • Real-time queue position tracking
Show 5 more
  • Expanded restaurant listings
  • Better GPS accuracy tolerance
  • Improved customer support channels
  • More cuisine variety (Palestinian cuisine mentioned)
  • Ability to report closed/inaccurate venues

Zenchef

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Dojo

No in-app purchases

None

Zenchef

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dojo free?
Dojo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Zenchef free?
Zenchef is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Dojo or Zenchef have ads?
Neither Dojo nor Zenchef shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dojo or Zenchef?
Dojo ships an update every 4 weeks, and Zenchef weekly. Most recently, Dojo was updated on October 19, 2026 and Zenchef on October 22, 2026.

Other comparisons