Compared, November 2026
The best event ticketing platforms in 2026, compared
7 event ticketing platforms and the software behind them, with what each one charges for free and paid tickets, when you get your money, where it is strong and where it falls short. Every fact comes from the platform's own pricing or help pages, read in November 2026. We make SwarmTix, so it is on the list. It does not win every category, and each section says where another platform is the better pick.
At a glance
| Platform | Best for | Free events | Paid tickets (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SwarmTix (ours) | Organizers who sell to their own audience and want low per-ticket fees with the money in their own Stripe account | Free | $0.99 (~€0.86) + 1.5% per paid ticket |
| Eventbrite | Public events that need buyers to find them on a big event marketplace | Free | 3.7% + $1.79 (~€1.56) per paid ticket |
| Ticket Tailor | Organizers who want the lowest flat fee per ticket and can buy credits in advance | Free for up to 5,000 free tickets a year | $0.85 (~€0.74) per ticket pay as you go, or from $0.30 (~€0.26) per ticket with prepaid credits |
| Luma | Community meetups and invite-style events with approval or guest lists | Free, with unlimited events and guests | 5% on the Free plan (0% on Luma Plus, $59 (~€51)/month) |
| Tito | Conferences and developer events that want one simple percentage and every feature included | Free | 3% per ticket (capped at €25 per ticket) |
| Humanitix | Organizers who want their booking fees to fund charity, and schools and charities that get a lower rate | Free | 2.1% + $0.99 (~€0.86) per paid ticket |
| TicketLeap | Organizers who pass all fees to buyers and also sell at the door | Free | $1 (~€0.87) + 2% per ticket |
Platform fees only; card processing comes on top on every platform (details in each section). Prices are in US dollars and the euro value in brackets is a rough guide. Prices change, so check each pricing page before you choose.
How we chose
These are the ticketing platforms organizers compare most often when they sell tickets online. We looked at each one the same way:
- What a free event costs.
- What the platform takes from a paid ticket in the US, and what card processing adds.
- Where the ticket money goes, and when it reaches you.
- What it does well, and what it lacks.
Every price and limit comes from the platform's own pages, linked in its section and read on 5 November 2026. We did not rate or score the platforms, and nobody paid to be listed.
1. SwarmTix (ours)
Best for: Organizers who sell to their own audience and want low per-ticket fees with the money in their own Stripe account.
- Free events: Free. Free tickets have no fee.
- Paid tickets (US): $0.99 (~€0.86) + 1.5% per paid ticket. Stripe's card fee comes on top (2.9% + $0.30 (~€0.26) per payment for a standard US card). The flat part is 0.99 in the event currency for USD, EUR, GBP, CAD and AUD.
- Payouts: Each payment goes to your own Stripe account when the ticket is sold. Stripe then pays it to your bank on your Stripe payout schedule.
Where it is strong
- Ticket money lands in your own Stripe account at each sale, not after the event.
- Reserved seating with seat maps, promo codes, access codes for hidden tickets and checkout questions.
- Check-in app for iOS and Android that scans QR codes, with check-ins synced across devices, plus a door sales mode.
- Import past sales from Eventbrite, SimpleTix, Ticket Tailor, TicketSource, Ticketleap or any CSV or Excel file.
- You choose who pays the SwarmTix fee: absorb it, or add it at checkout.
Weak spots
- No marketplace that brings you new buyers. You sell to the audience you already have.
- Check-in needs an internet connection. There is no offline mode.
- No badge printing, no waitlists and no ticket transfers between buyers.
- No tool to email your attendees from SwarmTix, and reminder emails only exist for online talks.
- PayPal is not offered as a payment method.
- On price alone, Ticket Tailor's flat fee is lower per paid ticket, Luma's 5% is lower below about $28 (~€24) and Tito's 3% is lower below about $66 (~€57).
- SwarmTix is a small company, and we have no customer numbers or reviews to show you on this page.
2. Eventbrite
Best for: Public events that need buyers to find them on a big event marketplace.
- Free events: Free. Eventbrite lists unlimited free events at no cost.
- Paid tickets (US): 3.7% + $1.79 (~€1.56) per paid ticket. Plus 2.9% payment processing per order. Buyers pay the fees by default, or you absorb them.
- Payouts: Sent three business days after the event ends, then 2-3 business days for a US bank. After your first event you may get payouts before the event; Instant Payouts (some US organizers) cost 3% per payout, $2.99 (~€2.60) minimum.
Where it is strong
- A large discovery marketplace that shows your event to local ticket buyers.
- Built-in promotion: Eventbrite Ads, email campaigns and Facebook and Instagram ad tools.
- Reserved seating, timed entry, waitlists, add-ons and an organizer app with mobile check-in.
- 24/7 chat support for paid events.
Weak spots
- Its $1.79 (~€1.56) flat part per ticket is the highest on this list, and 2.9% processing comes on top.
- First-time organizers are paid after the event ends.
- Extra email volume costs extra: Eventbrite Pro starts at $15 (~€13)/month.
SwarmTix as a Eventbrite alternative Eventbrite pricing Eventbrite payouts Eventbrite Instant Payouts
Eventbrite details checked on 5 November 2026.
3. Ticket Tailor
Best for: Organizers who want the lowest flat fee per ticket and can buy credits in advance.
- Free events: Free for up to 5,000 free tickets a year. Free tickets on a seating chart use a credit.
- Paid tickets (US): $0.85 (~€0.74) per ticket pay as you go, or from $0.30 (~€0.26) per ticket with prepaid credits. Your payment processor's fee comes on top (Stripe, PayPal or Square). A paid ticket on a seating chart uses 2 credits.
- Payouts: Ticket money goes to your own Stripe, PayPal or Square account and shows there almost at once; moving it to your bank can take about a week.
Where it is strong
- A flat fee per ticket that does not grow with the ticket price.
- Prepaid credits lower the fee further and do not expire.
- Free check-in app, reserved seating and a choice of Stripe, PayPal or Square.
- 50% off fees for registered charities.
Weak spots
- Reserved seats cost an extra credit each, even for free tickets.
- Above 5,000 free tickets a year, free events need a quote.
Ticket Tailor details checked on 5 November 2026.
4. Luma
Best for: Community meetups and invite-style events with approval or guest lists.
- Free events: Free, with unlimited events and guests.
- Paid tickets (US): 5% on the Free plan (0% on Luma Plus, $59 (~€51)/month). Luma Plus is $59 (~€51)/month billed yearly or $69 (~€60) month to month. Stripe's card fee (typically 2.9% + $0.30 (~€0.26)) is on top of the platform fee.
Where it is strong
- Free plan with unlimited events and guests.
- Reminders and blasts by email, SMS, push notification and WhatsApp.
- Registration approval or token gating, and a Zoom integration with attendance tracking.
- 0% platform fee on Luma Plus.
Weak spots
- 5% of every paid ticket on the free plan, on top of Stripe.
- Collecting taxes on ticket sales, a custom event URL and the API need Luma Plus.
- Free plan sends up to 500 invites or newsletters a week.
SwarmTix as a Luma alternative Luma pricing
Luma details checked on 5 November 2026.
5. Tito
Best for: Conferences and developer events that want one simple percentage and every feature included.
- Free events: Free.
- Paid tickets (US): 3% per ticket (capped at €25 per ticket). 2.5% for charity, non-profit and community events (by application). Your payment gateway's fee comes on top (Stripe US: 2.9% + $0.30 (~€0.26)). No monthly fee.
- Payouts: Paid by your payment gateway straight to your bank; with Stripe on a rolling basis every 2-7 days.
Where it is strong
- One rate with every feature, no subscription and no setup fee.
- The fee is capped at €25 per ticket, which helps on expensive conference tickets.
- Works with Stripe or PayPal in 139 currencies.
- Lower than SwarmTix on paid tickets below about $66 (~€57).
Weak spots
- 3% on every paid ticket, so expensive tickets pay more than with a flat-plus-percent fee.
- The lower 2.5% rate needs an application.
SwarmTix as a Tito alternative Tito pricing
Tito details checked on 5 November 2026.
6. Humanitix
Best for: Organizers who want their booking fees to fund charity, and schools and charities that get a lower rate.
- Free events: Free.
- Paid tickets (US): 2.1% + $0.99 (~€0.86) per paid ticket. Plus payment processing of 2.9% + $0.30 (~€0.26). Charities and schools pay 1% + $0.99 (~€0.86) per paid ticket.
Where it is strong
- All profits go to charity.
- Every plan has every feature: reserved seating, waitlists, scheduled payouts, gift cards and a scanning app.
- Lower rate for charities and schools.
- No sign-up fees and no contracts.
Weak spots
- The standard fee (2.1% + $0.99 (~€0.86)) is higher than SwarmTix's $0.99 (~€0.86) + 1.5% at every ticket price.
Humanitix details checked on 5 November 2026.
7. TicketLeap
Best for: Organizers who pass all fees to buyers and also sell at the door.
- Free events: Free.
- Paid tickets (US): $1 (~€0.87) + 2% per ticket. Plus a 3% online transaction fee per order. Tickets of $5 (~€4.35) or less pay a flat $0.49 (~€0.43); tickets sold at the door through the Box Office app pay $1 (~€0.87).
- Payouts: Paid to your bank through Stripe 4-7 business days after the event ends.
Where it is strong
- Free to use when buyers pay the fees.
- Low fee for tickets of $5 (~€4.35) or less.
- Free Box Office app with a lower fee for door sales.
- Sales tax can be added as a line at checkout.
Weak spots
- You are paid only after the event ends.
TicketLeap details checked on 5 November 2026.
Try SwarmTix free
Free events cost nothing. Paid tickets cost $0.99 (~€0.86) + 1.5% per paid ticket, plus Stripe's card fee, and the money goes to your own Stripe account as tickets sell. If you need buyers to discover your event on a marketplace, Eventbrite is the better pick; if you want the lowest flat fee and can prepay, look at Ticket Tailor.
More comparisons
Eventbrite alternative Luma alternative Tito alternative How to switch from Eventbrite Eventbrite fee calculator