Comparison

CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist vs Simple Host

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

Head to head
About

CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist

Streamline restaurant operations with a comprehensive waitlist, reservation, and table management system. Guests receive text alerts when their table is ready, reducing wait times and improving guest experience. Gain insights into guest behavior and optimize table turnover.

Highlights
  • SMS text messaging for guest alerts
  • Website reservation widget
  • Customizable floor maps
  • Guest profiles and preferences
  • Real-time table management
  • Live monitoring and analytics
  • Sync across multiple devices
Read full description

CAKE Guest Manager is a waitlist, reservation, and table management system. Guests are alerted via text message when their table is ready. Bust long lines and ease congestion at the host stand, while turning tables up to 7% faster. Get the data you need to give guests the flexibility they want. A glance at their visit history lets you greet guests with a personal touch, while a real-time view of your floor map provides accurate wait times. Make smarter decisions from the host stand while making every guest feel like a VIP. 
 YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND START USING THE WAIT LIST TODAY FOR FREE 
 FEATURES: • SMS Text Messaging - text waiting guests when their table is ready, reply directly to all guest messages. • No Cover Fee Reservations – add our widget to your website, take reservations through Google or over the phone. • Custom Floor Maps - create a floormap for your restaurant in minutes by dragging and dropping tables. • Guest Profiles - identify guest preferences, top items ordered, and past sales info. • Table Management – pre-set server sections and rotation management. • Live Monitoring – track activity in your restaurant from anywhere, view daily seating and server metrics. • Sync across devices – use multiple iPads and specialized roles to share table status and bust lines. • Automatic Table Status Updates - know instantly when food is ordered or a check is closed when you integrate with CAKE Point of Sale. 
 BENEFITS: • Replace paging system or pen and paper with customizable text alerts and real-time data. • Track guests through the dining experience with Table Management. • Increase table turns and decrease walkaways. • Manage walk-ins, reservations, and call-ahead parties. • Add, remove, and seat parties quickly. • Track regulars via phone numbers and associated guest profiles. • Analytics dashboard helps you make informed decisions about your restaurant. • World-class 24/7/365 live customer support – more than most other waitlist apps. 
 RESTAURANT TESTIMONIALS: "Guest Manager is a lifesaver during our busiest times. The waitlist system allows us to effortlessly manage our waitlist. Best of all, our staff was hooked within minutes and our guests love it!"— Lukus Hasenstab, General Manager, Penelope 
 "The wait list system allows our hosts to spend less time managing the wait list and more time greeting and servicing our guests. We have also been able to create new baselines, which we use to measure host performance and improve our operations."— George Itoh, Director of Operators, Ippudo 
 by CAKE, a Sysco Company

About

Simple Host

Streamline restaurant operations with an all-in-one platform for managing reservations, tables, and guest relationships. This app offers online booking, intelligent table management, and direct guest communication to enhance service and efficiency.

Highlights
  • Online reservations and waitlist management
  • Intelligent table and floor plan management
  • 2-way guest messaging and automated reminders
  • Digital guestbook for building profiles
  • Real-time operational statistics
  • Secure cloud backup and multi-device sync
Features
Read full description

Elevate your restaurant operations with an all-in-one platform that connects your team, tables, and guests seamlessly. From managing reservations to building lasting guest relationships, handle everything in one powerful app. Online Reservations and Waitlist Accept reservations 24/7 with automated booking management. Smart waitlist system for walk-ins with accurate wait times. Real-time availability updates across all platforms. Intelligent Table Management Visual floor planning with drag-and-drop table assignments. Optimize seating arrangements based on party size. Track table turnover and maximize capacity. 2-Way Guest Conversations Direct messaging with guests for confirmations and updates. Send automated reminders and follow-ups. Handle special requests and dietary preferences seamlessly. Reservation Planning Advanced booking calendar with daily, weekly, and monthly views. Anticipate busy periods with historical data insights. Manage special events and private dining efficiently. Digital Guestbook Build comprehensive guest profiles automatically. Track visit history, preferences, and special occasions. Create personalized experiences for returning guests. Powerful Statistics Real-time analytics on bookings, no-shows, and capacity. Peak hours analysis and revenue tracking. Data-driven insights to optimize operations. Secure Cloud Backup Automatic data synchronization to the cloud. Never lose critical reservation information. Access your data from anywhere, anytime. Smart Push Notifications Instant alerts for new bookings and cancellations. Staff notifications for VIP guests and special requests. Customizable alerts for different team members. Multi-Device Sync Seamless synchronization across phones, tablets, and computers. Multiple staff members can work simultaneously. Changes reflect instantly on all connected devices. Perfect For: Fine dining establishments managing high-value reservations. Busy restaurants optimizing table turnover. Restaurant groups coordinating multiple locations. Any venue prioritizing guest experience and operational efficiency. Why Restaurant Owners Choose Us: Stop juggling between phone calls, paper books, and disconnected systems. Our unified platform ensures every team member has the information they need to deliver exceptional service. Build stronger guest relationships while streamlining operations. Join thousands of restaurants already transforming their reservation management. Terms of Use: www.simplehostapp.com/termsofuse Policy Privacy: www.simplehostapp.com/policy

Screenshots

Simple Host4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Simple Host at 4.7 against CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist's 3.0. Simple Host also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (9 vs 2). CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and review sentiment (100% vs 83%). On price and ads 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. Simple Host sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $29.99 per month. CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Simple Host holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist's written reviews are positive against 83% of Simple Host's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist ships an update every 3 months, Simple Host every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 3, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist versus Simple Host: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCAKE Guest Manager WaitlistSimple Host
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.7 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better83.3% of reviews
Number of ratings29 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCAKE Corporationpetrit kojtari

Customer experience

CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Simple Host

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

In-app purchases

None

CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Simple Host

Subscriptions5
  • Table Management7 Days trial$29.991 Month
  • Subscription$39.991 Month
  • Basic$49.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Professional$69.991 Month
  • VIP$99.991 Month
One-time5
  • 100 Messages$4.99
  • 100 Discounted Messages$4.99
  • 1000 Messages$39.99
Show 2 more
  • 1000 Discounted Messages$39.99
  • 2500 Messages$99.99

Questions

Is CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist free?
CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Simple Host free?
Simple Host is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist or Simple Host?
Simple Host is rated higher. CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Simple Host averages 4.7 from 9 ratings.
Do CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist or Simple Host have ads?
Neither CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist nor Simple Host shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist or Simple Host?
CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist ships an update every 3 months, and Simple Host every 3 weeks. Most recently, CAKE Guest Manager Waitlist was updated on October 3, 2026 and Simple Host on October 3, 2026.

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