There are many options when it comes to buying tickets online these days. With so many websites to choose from, how do you know which one to use? The ticket buying website you choose depends on several factors, including the type of event, ticket availability, fees, reliability and buyer protection.
What types of tickets can I buy online?
You can buy all kinds of tickets online nowadays. Some of the most common types of tickets purchased online include:
- Concert tickets – For individual concerts or music festivals
- Theater tickets – For Broadway shows, plays, musicals etc.
- Sporting event tickets – For games like baseball, football, basketball etc.
- Movie tickets – For advance movie screenings or openings
- Airline tickets
- Train tickets
- Event tickets – For conferences, comic cons, food festivals and more
- Theme park tickets – For Disney World, Universal Studios, Six Flags etc.
The events and venues will usually have deals with certain ticket sellers, so you’ll want to check who is authorized to sell tickets for the specific event you want to attend.
What are the main ticket buying websites?
Here are some of the most popular websites for purchasing tickets online:
StubHub
StubHub is one of the largest ticket marketplaces, allowing buyers and sellers to trade tickets for sports, concerts, theater and other live entertainment events. They have a large secondary market for sold out and hard to find tickets.
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is a huge primary ticket outlet that sells tickets directly on behalf of the venues and promoters for various events. They are an official ticket source for many major concerts, shows and sporting events.
Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is a large secondary ticket marketplace where buyers can search millions of tickets being resold by other fans or season ticket holders. They offer a buyer guarantee on the validity of tickets.
SeatGeek
SeatGeek is a search engine that scans multiple ticket sites and aggregators to compare tickets available for concerts, theater and sports. They don’t sell the tickets directly but redirect you to trusted ticket partners.
AXS
AXS is a digital ticketing platform owned by AEG that lets you purchase tickets directly from the venues, sports teams and event organizers. Many major arenas, stadiums and theaters use AXS as their official ticketing service.
LiveNation
LiveNation owns Ticketmaster and sells tickets for concert tours and festivals through Ticketmaster. LiveNation venues also sell tickets directly for events at their concert halls, amphitheaters and clubs.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite is a self-service ticketing platform used by many event organizers to handle registration and ticketing for smaller venues and independent events like local concerts, conferences, marathons and fundraisers.
Fandango
In addition to being an online movie ticket service, Fandango also lets you buy tickets to select live theater, comedy and music events at major venues across the country.
Airlines, trains and transportation
You can book tickets directly through airline, train, bus and other transportation operator websites and mobile apps. For example, sites like Delta, Amtrak, Greyhound, etc.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each site?
Website | Advantages | Disadvantages |
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StubHub |
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Ticketmaster |
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Vivid Seats |
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SeatGeek |
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AXS |
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LiveNation |
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Eventbrite |
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Fandango |
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As you can see, each ticket buying website has its own pros and cons. You need to weigh the options based on your specific needs.
What fees and services charges should I look out for?
When buying tickets online, there are usually additional fees and service charges added on top of the base ticket price. Here are some common fees to look out for:
- Service fees – This is an added fee that goes to the ticketing website for providing the platform and services to sell tickets online. Can be $10-$25 per ticket.
- Order processing fees – On top of service fees, you may see an additional per ticket order processing fee. Usually $5-$15 extra per order.
- Delivery fees – If you choose to have printed tickets shipped by mail, look out for delivery fees of $10-$15 per order.
- Convenience fees – Some sites will charge a per ticket convenience fee for the ease of buying tickets online, which could be an extra $5-$20 per ticket on top of other fees.
These extra fees can really add up and increase the cost of tickets significantly. Make sure to factor them in when comparing ticket prices across different websites.
How can I get the cheapest ticket prices?
Here are some tips for getting the most affordable ticket prices:
- Buy directly from the venue box office if possible – this avoids online ticketing fees
- Check promoter and radio presales before public sales – presales have limited tickets at discounted prices
- Buy early before prices increase closer to the event date
- Join fan clubs and mailing lists for special presale ticket access
- Use ticket aggregators like SeatGeek to compare prices across multiple sites
- Consider reseller sites like StubHub for sold out events and last minute deals
- Buy upper level or obstructed view seats which are usually cheaper
- Avoid paper tickets shipped by mail to avoid delivery fees
- Look for special discounts and promotions on social media and deals sites
Finding ticket discounts takes some work, but can help you save a lot of money compared to just buying tickets directly at full price on a primary retailer site like Ticketmaster.
Which sites offer the best buyer protections?
You want to feel confident that the tickets you buy online are valid and that you’ll get refunded if the purchase doesn’t go as planned. Here are some of the best sites for buyer protections:
- StubHub – Offers a FanProtect Guarantee to refund tickets if the event is canceled or you don’t receive valid tickets in time from the seller.
- Vivid Seats – Has a 100% Buyer Guarantee to provide a refund or comparable replacement tickets if there is an issue.
- Ticketmaster Verified – Verified resale tickets on Ticketmaster are 100% valid and you are guaranteed entry.
- AXS – As an official first-party ticketing site, all tickets are guaranteed valid and you can get a refund before event starts.
- LiveNation – Official tickets purchased directly through Ticketmaster have a Purchase Policy guaranteeing satisfaction.
These large established sites have strong guarantees, protections and customer service. Smaller ticketing platforms may not back up their tickets, so beware.
How early should I buy tickets?
In general, it’s best to buy tickets as early as possible once they officially go on sale to the public. Here are some guidelines on when to purchase tickets:
- Popular concerts – Buy as soon as tickets go on sale, the best seats sell out very quickly.
- Sporting events – Buy tickets a few months in advance for the regular season, or 1-2 months before playoff games.
- Theater shows – Typically 1-2 months in advance, unless it’s a very popular show that could sell out further in advance.
- Movies – You can usually buy opening weekend movie tickets 1-2 weeks before, but major blockbusters can sell out quicker.
- Flights – Ideally 2-3 months in advance for domestic flights, 4-6 months for international.
- Trains – 1-2 months in advance for best fares on popular routes, can buy closer for less crowded trains.
The earlier you buy, the better selection you’ll have. Last minute tickets also tend to be much more expensive. Booking in advance also lets you lock in tickets before prices increase over time leading up to events.
Should I use mobile apps or websites to buy tickets?
Most major ticket sellers now offer both mobile apps and desktop websites for ticket purchases. Here’s a comparison:
Ticketing Mobile Apps | Ticketing Websites |
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In general, mobile apps provide a quicker and more convenient booking experience if you buy tickets frequently from one provider. But desktop websites allow easier comparison shopping across multiple ticket sellers. Choose whatever works best for your needs.
What verification should I look for to avoid ticket scams?
To ensure you’re getting valid event tickets and avoid scams, look for these signs of verification when buying:
- Use official artist fan club presales whenever possible.
- Only buy from trusted sellers with guarantees and buyer protection policies.
- Look for the Verified Ticket tag or guarantee on resale marketplaces like StubHub.
- Check for ticket barcodes, QR codes, seat numbers, section info etc. on digital tickets.
- See that Identification or Credit Card Entry is required – this prevents duplicates.
- Register purchased paper tickets in your name when possible.
- Only download official branded ticket provider mobile apps.
- Review seller ratings and feedback for issues before purchasing.
As long as you stick to reputable ticketing websites and resellers, you can feel confident you’ll receive authentic event tickets. Avoid buying from unknown sellers or secondary markets without buyer protections.
Conclusion
The best ticketing website for you depends on the specific event, costs, buyer guarantees and convenience factors. Large marketplaces like StubHub and Ticketmaster are safe bets for popular major concerts and sporting events. For smaller events, try event-specific official ticket sellers or platforms like AXS and Eventbrite. Being flexible across different ticket providers can help you find the best deals.