Lowest-Fee Ticketing Platforms: Total Costs Compared
By EventbriteAlternatives Editorial Team · Research & comparison methodology
The cheapest ticketing platform depends on your event, eligibility and volume. TixFox has a low flat service fee for paid general admission. Eligible nonprofits can pay less through a zero-fee fundraising model. Prepaid credits or subscriptions can also change the ranking at higher volumes.
This comparison separates platform fees from payment processing and uses published US pricing checked September 18, 2026. It does not declare a universal cheapest platform or compare private enterprise contracts with self-service rate cards.
Published pricing: compare the same cost components
| Platform | Platform/service fee | Processing and conditions | Pricing source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TixFox | $0.39 per paid ticket; $0.30 below $5 | Stripe processing separate; free tickets $0 | TixFox |
| Eventbrite | 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket | 2.9% per order; free tickets $0 | Eventbrite |
| Humanitix | 2.1% + $0.99 standard US | Published processing 2.9% + $0.30; charity/school rate available | Humanitix |
| SimpleTix | $0.79 + 2%, capped at $9.99 | Processor separate; $0.25 service fee for tickets $5 and below | SimpleTix |
| TicketSpice | $0.99 per paid ticket | Standard processing extra; low-price and processor-specific rules | TicketSpice |
| Ticket Tailor | Flat pay-as-you-go fee or prepaid credits | Currency, credit quantity, charity status and reserved seating affect price; processor separate | Ticket Tailor |
| Zeffy | $0 for eligible nonprofits | Covers processing; optional supporter tips | Zeffy |
| Givebutter | $0 for qualifying nonprofit campaigns with tips enabled | Guarantee covers processing; tips-off model has different charges | Givebutter |
Ticket Tailor's pricing selector varies by currency. Select USD and your expected volume on its own pricing page; a GBP quote should not be relabeled as dollars. Stripe's standard domestic-card rate is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, but a provider may use a different processor or negotiated rate.
Total-cost examples
These examples assume 100 paid tickets, one ticket per order, organizer-absorbed fees and no tax. Both columns include platform and processing costs. They use the same model as the fee calculator.
| Ticket price | Tickets | Eventbrite fees | TixFox + Stripe fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | 100 | $213.00 | $84.00 |
| $10.00 | 100 | $245.00 | $98.00 |
| $25.00 | 100 | $345.00 | $142.00 |
| $50.00 | 100 | $509.00 | $214.00 |
| $100.00 | 100 | $839.00 | $359.00 |
This table compares only these two fee structures. It does not prove either is cheapest across every product, nonprofit program or contract. At $5, for example, check low-price offers from other providers before deciding.
Which model fits your event?
An occasional general-admission show: a small flat service fee avoids a percentage increase as ticket prices rise. Check checkout quality, refunds and door sales before selecting solely on price.
An eligible nonprofit: start by comparing Zeffy and Givebutter's relevant zero-fee terms. An optional donor contribution is different from a required ticketing charge. Compare auctions, donor records and eligibility alongside ticketing. See the nonprofit comparison.
A seated performance: a cheaper general-admission product is not equivalent to a seating system. SimpleTix, Ticket Tailor and Humanitix publish seating tools; account for seat-related charges and test the actual seat map.
A recurring series: calculate the annual cost, including unused credits and quiet months. For a subscription that removes a per-ticket fee, the simplest break-even is monthly subscription divided by the fee avoided per ticket. A hypothetical $60 plan replacing a $0.40 fee breaks even at 150 tickets monthly, before differences in processing and features. This is an illustration, not a provider quote.
An event needing discovery: measure the incremental sales a marketplace produces. If a platform sells tickets you would otherwise not sell, a higher fee can still be worthwhile.
A worksheet for your own comparison
- Pick a representative ticket price, realistic ticket volume and tickets per order.
- Record the provider's country, currency, rate date, platform fee and processor rate separately.
- Calculate platform costs plus processing, subscriptions, seat charges and expected unused credits.
- Compare the buyer's checkout total and the organizer's net receipts using the same fee-payer choice.
- Check payout eligibility, refund treatment and the operational features required for your event.
For prepaid credits, divide the amount you will actually spend by the tickets you will actually issue. Unused credits are part of the cost. For a capped fee, calculate the relevant ticket-price threshold rather than applying the uncapped percentage to every sale.
Frequently asked questions
Is a flat fee always cheaper?
No. Low-price tiers, nonprofit eligibility, volume discounts and subscriptions can reverse the comparison. A flat platform fee also excludes processing unless the provider explicitly bundles it.
Can I avoid fees by passing them to buyers?
You can change who pays. Buyers still see the additional cost, and collecting those fees can increase processing. Compare the final checkout price, not just the organizer's platform charge.
Which alternatives should I shortlist beyond price?
Use the Eventbrite alternatives guide for different event needs, or the feature comparison. Our editorial policy explains how we distinguish documented facts from recommendations.