Top 6 SimpleTix Alternatives in 2026: Better Pricing & Features
By EventbriteAlternatives Editorial Team · Research & comparison methodology
Last updated: August 19, 2026 Fee examples and TixFox feature coverage (recurring, duplicate, fee control, analytics) refreshed for August 2026.
SimpleTix is a solid pick for attractions: online fees of $0.79 + 2% (service capped at $9.99), $0.25 on-site, and your own Stripe / Square / PayPal. Timed entry and Square POS keep museums and tour operators loyal.
It's not always the cheapest or simplest path. If you're done paying a percentage on every sale, stuck on Square when you don't want to be, or you don't need slotting tools, these 6 SimpleTix alternatives in 2026 are worth a hard look.
Quick Comparison
| Platform | Fee model | Best for | Payouts | Why people switch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TixFox | $0.39 flat + Stripe | Lowest platform fee | Instant | Flat fee + series tools |
| TicketSpice | $0.99 + processing | Custom pages / timed entry | Weekly | Builder + flexibility |
| Ticket Tailor | ~$0.85 (prepaid lower) | Nonprofits, simple events | Per processor | Flat-ish + charity cut |
| Accelevents | Custom / enterprise | Hybrid & large conferences | Per contract | Virtual + lead tools |
| Eventbrite | 3.7% + $1.79 + 2.9% | Marketplace discovery | 5-7 days post-event | Reach, not savings |
| Universe | 3.5% + $1.50 + processing | Music / nightlife | 2-3 days | Social-first product |
What SimpleTix Does Well
Timed entry: slots, capacity caps, multi-day patterns.
On-site: $0.25 per ticket is genuinely cheap for walk-ups.
Processors: bring your own Square, Stripe, or PayPal.
Attraction extras: season passes, festival-style modes, seating options.
Online fee examples (service only, before your processor)
- $20: $0.79 + $0.40 = $1.19
- $50: $0.79 + $1.00 = $1.79
- $100: $0.79 + $2.00 = $2.79
- $500: service hits the $9.99 cap
Older writeups sometimes bundled card fees into those numbers. Keep service and processor separate when you compare.
Why organizers still leave
- The 2% adds up on volume.
- Square is convenient until it isn't.
- Under ~$125, a flat $0.39 platform fee usually beats $0.79 + 2%.
- White-label is limited.
- Peak sale days can feel slow if the stack is stressed.
#1: TixFox: Best Overall for Fee Control
TixFox charges $0.39 per paid ticket. No platform percentage. Stripe processing (~2.9% + $0.30) is separate, same idea as SimpleTix's bring-your-own processor model.
Service fee vs SimpleTix (platform line)
| Ticket | SimpleTix service | TixFox platform |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $0.79 + $0.50 = $1.29 | $0.39 |
| $50 | $1.79 | $0.39 |
| $100 | $2.79 | $0.39 |
| $200 | approaches / hits $9.99 cap | $0.39 |
200 × $30
- SimpleTix service: $0.79 + $0.60 = $1.39 × 200 = $278
- TixFox platform: $0.39 × 200 = $78
- Savings on the platform line: $200 on one event, before counting identical-class card fees on both sides
Museum-style volume (illustrative)
500 tickets/day at $25 for 30 days = 15,000 tickets/month
- SimpleTix service: ($0.79 + $0.50) × 15,000 = $19,350/mo
- TixFox: $0.39 × 15,000 = $5,850/mo
- Gap: about $13,500/mo on platform fees alone
That's the math that makes high-volume attractions look twice.
What you get / what you don't
✅ Flat $0.39, free events free, funds in your Stripe as tickets sell
✅ Ticketing Fee Control: absorb or pass fees so the sticker price matches how you sell
✅ Recurring events (daily/weekly/monthly rules, per-date overrides) for workshops and standing tours that aren't timed-slot machines
✅ Duplicate events: copy ticket types, add-ons, custom fields, theme, and comms in one click when you run the same show again
✅ Custom fields at checkout (dietary, shirt size, waiver notes) plus real-time analytics on sales and revenue
✅ QR check-in, ticket types, discount codes, embeds, custom branding
❌ Not a timed-entry specialist (don't leave SimpleTix solely for 15-minute slotting)
❌ No Square-native POS story
❌ Season-pass depth isn't SimpleTix-level
Choose TixFox if fees, series ops, and cash flow matter more than attraction-grade slotting.
Stay on SimpleTix if 15-minute entry windows are the whole business.
Try TixFox Free → · All features → · Fee calculator →
#2: TicketSpice: Best When You Need the Builder
TicketSpice keeps timed entry and adds a serious page builder (RealView, conditional logic, custom CSS). Pricing is typically $0.99 per ticket + card processing. Weekly payouts. Custom domain often ~$150/year. Multiple processors (Stripe, Authorize.net, NMI, and more).
Vs SimpleTix
On mid-price tickets, TicketSpice and SimpleTix can land in a similar band once processing is in. You switch for control, white-label domain, and processor choice, not because it's always cheaper than TixFox.
800 × $45: SimpleTix service ≈ $0.79 + $0.90 = $1.69 × 800 ≈ $1,352. TicketSpice base $0.99 × 800 = $792 before processing. Your processor still applies on both.
Best for
Branded attraction sites, complex forms, fee markup control, non-Square stacks.
Skip if
You want the absolute lowest platform fee (use TixFox) or you're happy inside Square + SimpleTix.
#3: Ticket Tailor: Best Flat-Fee Nonprofit Path
Ticket Tailor sits around $0.85 USD pay-as-you-go, prepaid credits from about $0.30, charity pricing often ~50% off. Own processor. B Corp. Strong free-event allowance.
Vs SimpleTix on 1,000 × $35
- SimpleTix service: $0.79 + $0.70 = $1.49 × 1,000 = $1,490
- Ticket Tailor platform: ~$850 (less with prepaid/charity)
- TixFox platform: $390
No advanced timed entry. If slots aren't required, the fee story is cleaner than SimpleTix.
#4: Accelevents: Best for Enterprise Hybrid
Accelevents is a different category: in-person, virtual, and hybrid conferences with badge printing, lead capture, sponsor tools, and a full event app. Pricing is custom.
Vs SimpleTix
You're not comparing museum timed entry to conference software. Switch only if you're running large hybrid programs SimpleTix was never meant to host.
#5: Eventbrite: Best for Discovery (Not Savings)
US Eventbrite: 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket + 2.9% processing per order. Premium plans around $69/mo. Free events free. No fee cap.
Vs SimpleTix on 200 × $30
- SimpleTix service: ~$278 + processor
- Eventbrite all-in: ~$754
You pay more for marketplace reach and brand familiarity. Timed entry on Eventbrite is weaker than SimpleTix.
#6: Universe: Best for Music, Not Museums
Universe runs about 3.5% + $1.50 plus processing, with social-first pages and faster payouts than Eventbrite (often 2-3 days). Great for clubs and concerts. Poor swap if you needed SimpleTix for time slots.
Feature Snapshot
| Need | Leader |
|---|---|
| Lowest platform fee | TixFox ($0.39) |
| Timed entry | SimpleTix / TicketSpice |
| Square POS depth | SimpleTix |
| Page customization | TicketSpice |
| Nonprofit / prepaid | Ticket Tailor |
| Marketplace | Eventbrite |
| Music nightlife UX | Universe |
| Hybrid enterprise | Accelevents |
Scenario Math (Platform Fees)
Small museum: 200/day × $30 × 30 days = 6,000 tickets/mo
| Platform | Monthly platform-ish cost |
|---|---|
| SimpleTix | $1.39 × 6,000 ≈ $8,340 |
| TixFox | $0.39 × 6,000 = $2,340 |
| Ticket Tailor | $0.85 × 6,000 = $5,100 |
| Eventbrite all-in | ~$22,600 class |
Tour desk: 150/day × $65
SimpleTix service = $0.79 + $1.30 = $2.09/ticket. TixFox stays $0.39. Over a year of daily sales the gap is enormous even before you debate processors.
High ticket: 100 × $150
SimpleTix service approaches the $9.99 cap (before processor). TixFox is still $39 total platform fee for the whole event. Cap helps vs percentage giants; it doesn't beat $0.39.
Who Should Switch (and Who Shouldn't)
Move to TixFox if volume is high, tickets are mid-price, timed entry is "nice" not "mission critical," and you want recurring/duplicate workflows plus fee control.
Move to TicketSpice if you need slots and a serious builder.
Move to Ticket Tailor for nonprofit pricing without attraction complexity.
Stay on SimpleTix for best-in-class timed entry + Square floor sales.
Use Eventbrite only when discovery revenue beats the fee hit.
Migration Notes
- Export pass holders, slot configs, and attendee lists.
- Rebuild one recurring product (not the whole catalog).
- Retest capacity rules if you leave timed entry behind.
- Reconnect or replace Square/Stripe payouts.
- Train door staff on the new scanner before a busy Saturday.
FAQ
Is TixFox always cheaper than SimpleTix?
On the platform fee, almost always. SimpleTix's $9.99 cap only softens very high ticket prices, and even then $0.39 wins. Both sides still pay card processing through their connected processor.
Who wins timed entry?
SimpleTix first, TicketSpice second. Don't switch to TixFox solely for slotting.
Can I leave Square?
Yes. TixFox uses Stripe. Ticket Tailor and TicketSpice support multiple processors. SimpleTix also supports Stripe/PayPal, but Square is where it shines.
What about 200 tickets at $25?
SimpleTix service ≈ $258. TixFox platform = $78. Run your own numbers in the fee calculator.
Bottom Line
SimpleTix earns its keep on attractions. If you're mostly selling standard tickets and watching the 2% eat margin, TixFox at $0.39 is the straightforward alternative, with recurring events, duplicate setups, custom fields, and analytics for calendars that aren't slot-driven. Keep SimpleTix when time slots and Square POS are the product.