Selling event tickets online has become extremely popular in recent years. With the rise of digital technology and e-commerce platforms, promoters now have more options than ever when it comes to selling tickets directly to fans. But with so many ticket selling platforms out there, how do you know which one is right for your event? Here is a comprehensive guide to the top event ticket selling platforms to help you make the best choice.
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing An Event Ticket Selling Platform
When evaluating ticket selling platforms, there are a few key factors you need to consider:
- Fees and commissions – What percentage cut does the platform take from each ticket sold? This can really eat into your profits.
- Integration and compatibility – Does the platform integrate well with your website, registration system, etc?
- Buyer experience – Is the ticket buying process simple and seamless for attendees?
- Seller features – Does the platform provide useful sales, promotion and analytics features?
- Customer support – What level of customer service does the platform provide?
- Security and reliability – Are the platform’s servers secure and reliable to prevent crashes or outages?
- Branding and customization – Can you customize the checkout pages with your branding?
By evaluating platforms based on these key criteria, you can determine which solution best meets your event’s ticketing needs.
Top Event Ticket Selling Platforms
Here is an overview of some of the most popular online event ticket platforms on the market today:
Eventbrite
Eventbrite is one of the largest and most widely used online event ticketing platforms. Some key features include:
- Easy event setup and customization options.
- Free ticket sales for free events. Paid events have a 2.5% + $0.99 fee per ticket sold.
- Social sharing and invitation capabilities to drive promotion.
- Robust reporting and analytics on sales, traffic, referrals etc.
- Integration with leading services like Mailchimp, Zoom, YouTube, and more.
- responsive event pages that work well on all devices.
Eventbrite is ideal for individuals and small businesses selling tickets to small to midsize events. However, fees can add up quickly for large events.
Ticketmaster
As one of the largest primary ticket outlets in the world, Ticketmaster also offers a dedicated platform for selling your own event tickets. Benefits include:
- Integration with major event venues and promoters.
- High visibility – fans already go to Ticketmaster by default to buy tickets.
- Promotion support across Ticketmaster’s large network.
- Seamless transfers if you need to change venues.
- Dedicated support for large events and high ticket volumes.
While Ticketmaster has fantastic reach, their platform fees tend to be higher than competitors. The major downside is that you don’t have much control over the branding and checkout experience.
Universe
Universe is a newer, modern ticket selling platform designed for virtual events, concerts, conferences and more. Features include:
- Easy creation of live streams, virtual events and hybrid events.
- Customizable event pages and attendee experience.
- Virtual venue creation and interactive seat maps.
- Virtual gifting and tipping capabilities.
- Dedicated mobile apps so attendees can interact during events.
- Affordable pricing starting at just 0.5% per ticket + $0.30 transaction fee.
Universe stands out for providing a stellar experience for selling virtual event tickets. However, it lacks some of the marketing features of other platforms.
Tix
Tix offers a full-service online ticketing solution focused on small to midsize event promoters. Key features:
- Custom designs and branding on every event page.
- Discounts and promo code capabilities.
- Easyrefunds and transfers.
- Robust box office management and reporting.
- Dedicated customer support.
- Seamless integration with Tix’s own POS and hardware solutions.
Tix is competitively priced and great for branded ticket sales. But it lacks some of the marketing features of other platforms.
Comparing Fees Across Platforms
One of the biggest differentiators between ticket platforms is the fees they charge. Here is a breakdown of fee structures:
Platform | Fees |
---|---|
Eventbrite | 2.5% + $0.99 per ticket |
Ticketmaster | 5-20% of ticket price |
Universe | 0.5% + $0.30 per ticket |
Tix | $1.00 + 5% of ticket price |
As you can see, fees vary widely between platforms. Universe tends to have the most affordable rates, while Ticketmaster is on the pricier end. However, you need to weigh fees against each platform’s features, visibility, support options and more.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Platform
Here are some additional tips when evaluating event ticketing platforms:
Events with In-Person Components
If your event has an in-person component, make sure the platform can handle all the logistics like:
- Reserved seating and custom venue maps.
- On-site ticket scanning and box office management.
- Wristbands or badges.
- Integration with access control systems.
Platforms like Ticketmaster, Eventbrite and Tix are designed to handle these needs well.
Fully Virtual or Hybrid Events
For online or hybrid events, choose a platform that offers:
- Tools for live streaming and managing virtual rooms.
- Q&A and chat features for audience interaction.
- Virtual reception areas and networking capabilities.
- Gamification features and ways to boost engagement.
Universe specializes in these areas for virtual events. Zoom and Hopin also provide hybrid event capabilities.
Niche Events
If you are selling tickets for a niche event like a food festival, 5K run, conference, etc. look for platforms designed for those verticals. They will offer more tailored features. For example:
- Certain festivity platforms facilitate vendor applications and payments.
- Fitness event platforms can handle race registrations and timing.
- Conference platforms offer agenda management and session tracking features.
Eventbrite, Universe and Tix have extensive app marketplaces to tap into these specialized tools as needed.
High Volume Events
For high ticket volume events like concerts and festivals, ensure your platform can handle the load. Important considerations:
- Look for load balancing, elastic scalability and redundancy to prevent crashes.
- Request uptime and reliability stats from the provider.
- Inquire about DDoS prevention safeguards.
- Make sure they offer priority support channels for large events.
Platforms like Ticketmaster and Eventbrite are designed to handle huge traffic spikes for popular events.
Recurring Events
If you host the same event on a regular basis, such as conferences, choose a platform that makes it easy to replicate the event setup each time. Features like:
- Save templates for quick event creation.
- Copy previous event settings.
- Auto-import data from previous iterations.
These capabilities streamline operations for frequent events.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a variety of excellent event ticketing platforms to choose from in today’s market. To pick the right solution for your needs:
- Carefully evaluate features against your specific requirements.
- Pay close attention to fee structures to maximize profitability.
- Make sure the platform can provide the right buyer experience.
- Read reviews and talk to reps to verify reliability and support levels.
Leading options like Eventbrite, Ticketmaster and Universe suit most use cases. But take the time to find the platform that best aligns with your event’s goals, tech needs and audience. The right platform will help you sell more tickets and create an amazing event experience for attendees.