When it comes to buying concert tickets, you want to find the site that offers the best selection at the lowest prices. With so many ticket sites out there, how do you know which one to use? Here we’ll compare some of the most popular concert ticket sites and review their key features to help you decide where to get your next tickets.
Key Factors in Choosing a Ticket Site
When reviewing and comparing concert ticket sites, some of the key factors to consider include:
- Ticket availability – Which sites give you the best chance to get tickets for hot shows?.
- Pricing – How do the base ticket prices as well as fees compare between sites?
- Buyer guarantees – What protections does the site offer in case you buy invalid or fraudulent tickets?
- Ease of searching – Can you easily search for events and quickly see available ticket options?
- Seat views – Does the site provide interactive seat maps so you can preview your potential seats?
- Mobile experience – Is their mobile app or mobile-optimized site easy to use?
Evaluating sites on those key criteria will help lead you to the best source for concert tickets.
Major Concert Ticket Sites
The most popular online ticket marketplaces include:
Ticketmaster
As one of the largest primary ticket providers, Ticketmaster offers tickets directly from venues and promoters. They sell tickets for concerts in every genre from rock, pop, hip hop, metal, alternative, jazz, and more.
Pros:
- Wide ticket availability including lots of exclusive deals
- Official partnership with many major venues and artists
- Interactive seat maps to preview views
Cons:
- High fees frequently tacked onto ticket prices
- Complaints of delays and glitches during high demand sales
- Lack of buyer guarantees for invalid tickets
StubHub
StubHub is one of the largest secondary marketplaces, allowing fans to resell tickets. You can find tickets being resold for most major concerts and shows on StubHub.
Pros:
- Large supply of tickets, especially for sold out shows
- Guarantee on valid tickets or replacement/refund offered
- Sort tickets based on “Best Value”
Cons:
- Higher average prices due to secondary market dynamic
- Large variation in ticket quality depending on seller
- High fees charged to sellers and buyers
Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is another large secondary ticket marketplace, selling verified resale tickets for concerts, sports, and theater events.
Pros:
- 100% buyer guarantee on ticket validity
- Reward program benefits for frequent buyers
- Rates each ticket deal as “Great”, “Good”, “Overpriced”
Cons:
- Smaller inventory than some competitors
- Fewer interactive seat maps available
- Higher average ticket costs
SeatGeek
SeatGeek is a ticket aggregator, searching resale and primary ticket sites to compare ticket listings in one place.
Pros:
- Aggregates multiple ticket sites in one search
- Interactive color-coded deal score on each ticket
- Detailed historic price charts for events
Cons:
- Doesn’t sell own ticket inventory
- No control over ticket quality
- Smaller selection than primary sellers
Comparing Pricing on Major Sites
To evaluate the pricing differences on major concert ticket platforms, here’s an example comparison for an upcoming 3-day music festival:
Site | Fees | 3-day GA Pass | Total Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Ticketmaster | $25 fee per ticket | $250 ticket | $275 |
StubHub | 15% fee on seller | $350 ticket | $402.50 |
Vivid Seats | $35 fee per ticket | $275 ticket | $345 |
SeatGeek | 18% service fee | $225 ticket | $265.50 |
In this scenario, Ticketmaster offered the cheapest face value ticket while SeatGeek had the best deal with fees included. For high demand shows that are sold out, StubHub or Vivid Seats may offer more ticket availability, but at higher prices.
Factors in Choosing Between Primary and Resale Sites
One major consideration when buying concert tickets online is whether you want to buy from a primary or secondary source. Here are some factors to help decide:
Primary Ticket Sites
Buy from primary sellers like Ticketmaster when:
- You want to secure tickets during the initial on-sale
- You prefer official first-hand tickets direct from the venue
- You want to see all the available ticket options for the event
Downsides to primary sites:
- Tickets may sell out quickly for popular events
- You may still end up paying high service fees
Secondary Resale Sites
Buy from resale sites like Stubhub or Vivid Seats when:
- The event is sold out on primary sites
- You missed out during the initial on-sale
- You’re willing to pay a premium for in-demand tickets
Downsides to secondary sites:
- No guarantees on ticket quality or seat location
- Higher average ticket prices
- May still pay high service fees
Understanding those trade-offs can help you decide which ticket source best meets your needs and budget for a given concert.
Tips for Buying Concert Tickets Online
Follow these tips when buying tickets online to help secure the best deals:
- Check pre-sales. Many artists and venues offer special pre-sales for fans and customers to get early access to tickets before the general public on-sale.
- Use multiple devices. Have friends or family help search for tickets on multiple devices to increase your chances of getting through quickly when sales open.
- Compare all fees. Be sure to factor in all processing fees, service charges, and delivery costs before picking a ticket seller.
- Browse resale markets. If primary sites sell out, resale sites can still have ticket availability closer to the event date.
- Set price alerts. You can get notified when ticket prices drop by setting up price alerts on some sites.
- Read seller ratings. Check seller ratings and reviews carefully before purchasing from secondary marketplaces.
- Use buyer guarantees. Pick sites that offer buyer guarantees or protection in case the tickets are invalid or unusable.
Following those tips can help you score the best ticket deals and avoid overpaying.
Conclusion
While Ticketmaster dominates as the top primary ticket seller, sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats, and SeatGeek give you more options to compare prices between primary and secondary market tickets. Consider the pros, cons, fees, and guarantees of each site. Move quickly during on-sales for the best deal on primary tickets, or look to resale sites later when shows are sold out. With smart shopping, you can find the perfect tickets for your concert at the best available price.