Best Event Ticketing Software in 2026: 8 Platforms Compared
By ToolNimba Editorial Team November 10, 2026 8 min read
- Top pick
EventbriteDiscovery and general events
Starting price3.7% + $1.79 per ticketCheck out EventbriteRead our review - Runner-up
Ticket TailorLow flat fees
Starting price$0.85 per ticketCheck out Ticket TailorRead our review - Also great
TicketSpiceFestivals and attractions
Starting price$0.99 per ticketCheck out TicketSpiceRead our review
How we researched this
We compared official pricing and feature pages, app store listings, privacy policies and public user reviews. Prices change, so check the provider's site before you pay.
Key takeaways
- Eventbrite offers the largest discovery marketplace, but its US fee of 3.7 percent plus $1.79 per paid ticket plus processing is high for large events.
- Ticket Tailor and TicketSpice offer lower flat per-ticket fees, which suit organizers who sell many tickets at a fixed price.
- Humanitix suits charities and schools with lower fees, while Universe suits Ticketmaster-linked discovery for larger events.
- Always add payment processing to the headline platform fee, since that second charge changes the true cost per ticket.
Quick comparison
| Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery and general events | 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket | Yes | Visit | |
| Low flat fees | $0.85 per ticket | Yes | Visit | |
| Festivals and attractions | $0.99 per ticket | No | Visit | |
| Charities and community events | 2.1% + $0.99 per ticket | Yes | Visit | |
| Ticketmaster-linked events | 2% + $0.79 per ticket | Yes | Visit | |
| Simple low-cost ticketing | 2% + $0.99 per ticket | Yes | Visit | |
| Low flat fee with offline scanning | $0.79 + 2% per ticket | Yes | Visit | |
| Registrations and RSVPs | 1.95% + $0.90 per ticket | Yes | Visit |
The best event ticketing software
We compared published fee pages and platform features from 2026 comparisons, focusing on per-ticket fees, payment processing, free event handling, and check-in tools. Fees below are US published rates where available, and they exclude payment processing unless stated, so read the full pricing page for your event type.

Eventbrite is the default choice for many organizers because buyers already know it and search it for events. You can publish a free event at no platform cost, use the organizer app to scan tickets at the door, and sell across general admission, classes, and conferences without a monthly subscription.
The fee is the trade-off. On a paid US ticket, Eventbrite charges 3.7 percent plus $1.79 per ticket, plus 2.9 percent payment processing per order. On a $50 ticket, that total is close to 10 percent before any other costs. If discovery matters more than fee savings, Eventbrite still earns its place, but do the math on your expected ticket count first.
- Large discovery marketplace
- Free for free events
- Organizer app for mobile check-in
- High per-ticket fee on paid events
- Payment processing adds 2.9 percent per order
- Costs scale fast on large events

Ticket Tailor suits organizers who want predictable fees. Pay-as-you-go costs $0.85 per ticket, and prepaid credits can lower that cost further, with 500 credits priced around $0.60 each in recent comparisons. You connect your own payment processor, so processing fees sit separately, but you keep control of payouts.
The catch is audience. Ticket Tailor does not bring the same built-in buyer traffic as Eventbrite, so you need your own marketing. If you already have an audience through email or social channels, the flat fee can save a large amount on a busy event.
- Flat per-ticket fee with prepaid credits from about $0.30
- You keep your own Stripe or PayPal account
- Free events up to a set annual limit
- Smaller discovery marketplace than Eventbrite
- Design options are simpler
- Prepaid credits need upfront planning

TicketSpice is built for festivals, fairs, attractions, and seasonal events that need timed entry, capacity limits, and box office sales. The $0.99 per paid online ticket rate is easy to budget, and box office tickets cost $0.49 in many cases, which helps venues that sell at the door.
It is less suited to a one-off free meetup, since there is no free paid-event tier in the same way Eventbrite offers. For high-volume events, though, the flat fee, offline scanning, and capacity tools make TicketSpice a strong value pick.
- Flat $0.99 per paid online ticket over $5
- Box office tickets cost less
- Strong timed entry and capacity controls
- No monthly free tier for paid events
- Payment processing is extra
- Interface is built for volume, not tiny meetups
Humanitix is a popular choice for charities, schools, and community organizers because its standard fee is lower than Eventbrite and its charity rate is lower still. Free events cost nothing to list, and the platform donates booking fee profits to education programs, which some organizers value.
The percentage model means expensive tickets still carry a higher fee than a flat-fee rival. On a low-priced community ticket, Humanitix is competitive, but on a $200 gala ticket, a flat fee from Ticket Tailor or TicketSpice may cost less overall.
- Lower fees for charities and schools at 1 percent plus $0.99
- Free for free events
- Booking fees fund social programs
- Percentage fee still scales with ticket price
- Marketplace is smaller than Eventbrite
- Advanced features are fewer than enterprise tools
Universe is owned in the Ticketmaster group, which gives it a discovery angle that smaller flat-fee tools lack. The Starter tier charges 2 percent plus $0.79 per ticket, capped at $19.95 per ticket, and free events are free to list. That cap helps on high-priced tickets.
The Standard tier is pricier, and payment processing is not always published clearly on the same page, so confirm the full cost before you publish. If you want a middle ground between Eventbrite discovery and a flat fee, Universe is worth testing.
- Starter fee of 2 percent plus $0.79, capped per ticket
- Link to Ticketmaster discovery
- Free for free events
- Standard tier costs more at 2.5 percent plus $1.99
- Processing fees are separate and unpublished in some cases
- Feature set is lighter than Eventbrite
Ticketbud is a straightforward option for organizers who want a simple setup and a lower fee than Eventbrite. Buyers pay 2 percent plus $0.99 per ticket in many cases, plus processor fees, and organizers can use offline check-in when venue connectivity is poor. That simplicity suits small to mid-size events.
It does not offer the same depth of marketing, seating, or enterprise tools as larger platforms. If your event needs assigned seating or complex passes, check those features before you choose Ticketbud, since simplicity is both its strength and its limit.
- Low percentage plus flat fee for buyers
- Offline check-in support
- Published non-profit and school rate
- Smaller brand than Eventbrite
- Fewer advanced marketing tools
- Processing fee of 2.9 percent plus $0.30 applies
SimpleTix charges 79 cents plus 2 percent per online ticket, capped at $9.99, which makes it competitive for mid-priced tickets. Its scanning app works offline, a practical benefit for outdoor venues and rural sites where mobile signal is weak.
The platform is less polished than Eventbrite for event page design, and it will not bring you a large built-in audience. For organizers who sell through their own channels and want reliable check-in, SimpleTix is a solid low-cost pick.
- Low fee capped at $9.99 per ticket
- App keeps scanning offline
- No monthly fee on the basic tier in many cases
- Design customization is basic
- Discovery is limited
- Percentage part still scales with price
RSVPify is best known for invitations and guest lists, but it also handles paid tickets at 1.95 percent plus $0.90 per ticket, with your own processor handling payments. The free plan covers up to 100 registrations per month, which suits small events, weddings, and private gatherings.
For a large public festival, RSVPify is not the right tool, since its ticketing and seating features are lighter than TicketSpice or Eventbrite. For events where the guest list matters as much as the ticket, it is a useful hybrid.
- Free plan up to 100 registrations per month
- Strong RSVP and guest management
- Works for weddings and conferences as well as ticketed events
- Ticketing is secondary to registration
- Processing fees are separate
- Paid tiers are needed for larger events
How we picked these
We compared published fee pages and 2026 fee comparisons that checked platform fees on the same date, and we favored platforms with a published US fee, a free option for free events, and a working check-in app. We excluded platforms with no published pricing and no US presence, and we treated fee figures as published rates that can change, not as guaranteed quotes for your event.
What to check before you choose
Work out your true cost per ticket, not just the headline fee. Add the platform fee, the payment processing fee, and any per-order charge, then multiply by your expected ticket count. On a $40 ticket, a flat $0.85 fee plus processing is far cheaper than 3.7 percent plus $1.79 plus processing, and that gap grows with volume.
Also check who pays the fee, whether you can pass it to buyers, how payouts work, and whether check-in works offline. For a free community event, any platform with a free tier will do. For a paid festival, flat fees, timed entry, and box office tools matter more than a marketplace. Read the refund and cancellation terms too, since those affect both you and your buyers.
Sources
- https://www.getmacha.com/blog/best-event-ticketing-software
- https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing
- https://www.eventbrite.com
- https://www.tickettailor.com
- https://www.ticketspice.com
- https://www.humanitix.com
- https://www.universe.com
- https://www.ticketbud.com
- https://www.simpletix.com
- https://www.rsvpify.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the best event ticketing software for most organizers?
Eventbrite is the safest general pick because of its marketplace and free event tier. Ticket Tailor is better if you have your own audience and want lower flat fees.
What is the best ticketing platform for events with low fees?
Ticket Tailor and TicketSpice offer the lowest flat fees here, at $0.85 and $0.99 per ticket respectively, before processing. SimpleTix is also competitive, especially for mid-priced tickets with its $9.99 cap.
What is the best ticket platform for charities?
Humanitix offers a lower charity and school rate of 1 percent plus $0.99 per ticket, and free events are free. Ticketbud also publishes a non-profit rate, so compare both on your ticket price.
Do I pay fees on free events?
Most platforms here, including Eventbrite, Humanitix, and Universe, let you list free events at no platform cost. Processing fees do not apply when no payment is taken, but check each platform free tier limit.
Can buyers pay the ticketing fee instead of the organizer?
Yes, on most platforms you can choose to pass the service fee to buyers or absorb it yourself. Passing it on lowers your cost but raises the checkout price, so test how it affects conversion on your event page.




