Eventbrite vs Universe
We give Eventbrite a 3.0 GPA and Universe a 2.6, out of 4.0. Eventbrite grades higher on features and ease of use. Universe grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Eventbrite
Ticketing and event marketplace, with fees usually paid by buyers
Universe
Self-service ticketing from the Live Nation and Ticketmaster group
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAEventbriteVery good | 2.6GPAUniverseGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CBuyers pay by default, so you keep the ticket price, but the fee is the dearest here: 3.7% + $1.79 a ticket is $506 on 200 $20 tickets, with 2.9% processing per order on top that we haven't counted. Absorb it and it's yours. More than 250 emails a day needs Pro from $15 a month. | C2% + $0.79 a ticket on Starter, $238 on 200 $20 tickets, with processing on top that we haven't counted. You absorb it or pass it to buyers. Standard's 2.5% + $1.99 makes the same month $498. Middle of the pack here. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree to publish as many events as you like, and free events carry no fees at all. The free account sends 250 marketing emails a day, and more needs Pro from $15 a month. A small series could run on it for good. | ANo setup fee, free events cost nothing, and Starter and Standard have no subscription: you only pay per paid ticket. Only the custom Pro plan costs more, and most organizers won't need it. |
| Features | BMarketplace listing, ticket types, add-ons, waitlists, reserved seating, timed entry, email campaigns, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok promotion, a check-in app with Tap to Pay, and payouts before the event. It covers the whole job. | CTicket types, add-ons, presales, payment plans, tiered tickets, a waiting room for busy onsales and a door app. But it's built for general admission and timed entry, with no reserved seating on record, and selling on Ticketmaster needs Pro. |
| Ease of use | A4.79 from 32,637 App Store ratings, and that's for the Eventbrite Organizer app, the one you use to run the door. Making an event is guided, with AI help to write it up. | CNo App Store rating on record. Setting up tickets and add-ons is self-service, but sales tax is yours to handle, since Universe doesn't remit it. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iPhone and Android, with Mailchimp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and a public API. No desktop app, which an A needs, and its pricing plans are offered only in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland. | BWeb, iPhone and Android, with Stripe, Mailchimp, Zapier, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel and a GraphQL API. Ticketmaster's marketplace needs Pro, and there's no desktop app. |
| Best for | getting found by buyers on a big marketplace | general admission nights and timed-entry attractions |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Eventbrite and Universe. How we grade
Where they differ
- Eventbrite also covers email campaigns.
At a glance
| Eventbrite | Universe | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $15 per month and up, for Eventbrite Pro email sends | Not published |
| Free plan | Free to publish unlimited events. Free tickets carry no fees; paid tickets carry a 3.7% + $1.79 service fee and 2.9% processing per order, paid by buyers by default. Up to 250 marketing emails a day. | No setup fee and free events cost nothing. Paid tickets carry a service fee of 2% + $0.79 on Starter, capped at $19.95 a ticket, plus processing; organizers can pass it to buyers. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Eventbrite, Inc. | Universe Experiences Inc. |
| Price read from | eventbrite.com | universe.com |
| Checked | Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Eventbrite
- Organizers who want buyers to find their events through a marketplace
- Free community events, which pay no fees
- Promoters who want email and ad tools beside ticketing
Universe
- Clubs, attractions and other general admission or timed-entry events
- Organizers who may later want to sell through Ticketmaster
- Free events, which carry no fees
Worth knowing
Eventbrite
- Paid tickets carry a 3.7% + $1.79 service fee and 2.9% processing per order; buyers pay them by default, or the organizer can absorb them.
- The free account sends up to 250 marketing emails a day; more needs Pro from $15 a month, and ad spend for Eventbrite Ads, Facebook and Instagram is extra.
- Eventbrite says its pricing plans are offered in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland, and Eventbrite Ads only in select markets.
- 24/7 chat support covers paid events; phone support and a strategic advisor come with the sales partnership.
Universe
- Paid tickets cost 2% + $0.79 on Starter or 2.5% + $1.99 on Standard, capped at $19.95 a ticket, plus processing; buyers can be made to pay both.
- Selling on Ticketmaster, dynamic pricing, RFID and account management come only with the custom-priced Pro plan.
- There is no free trial of paid plans, though accounts and event pages are free to create.
- Universe does not remit taxes: organizers who add sales tax at checkout must handle it themselves.
Key features
Eventbrite
- Events marketplace
- Events are listed on Eventbrite's own discovery marketplace, where buyers browse local events, so organizers can reach people beyond their own following.
- Ticketing and registration
- Custom event pages, several ticket types, add-ons, custom registration forms, waitlists, promo codes, embedded checkout and AI-assisted event creation.
- Reserved seating and timed entry
- Seat maps that let buyers pick seats, and timed-entry ticketing for attractions and exhibitions that admit people in time slots.
- Marketing tools
- Email campaigns to segmented lists of past buyers, Facebook and Instagram ad tools, TikTok promotion and paid Eventbrite Ads placements on the marketplace.
- Organizer app and Tap to Pay
- The iOS and Android Organizer app scans QR-code tickets, tracks live attendance and sales, and takes payment for tickets and merchandise at the door.
- Payouts before the event
- Eventbrite Payment Processing pays out before the event, with Instant Payouts in minutes or a custom schedule, and sales and fee reports.
Universe
- Ticket types and add-ons
- Unlimited ticket types including password-protected, discounted and donation tickets, add-ons with pictures, custom checkout questions and ticket transfers.
- Sales channels
- Sell on your own website, on Facebook and on Universe's own event listings; Pro adds Ticketmaster's marketplace and partner affiliate channels.
- Presales and payment plans
- Standard adds cardholder presales, payment plans (not offered in Europe), tiered tickets that open when another type sells out, and team permissions.
- BoxOffice app
- The BoxOffice app for iOS and Android scans tickets and sells at the door; RFID access control, paper tickets and badges cost extra.
- High-demand onsales
- A waiting room queues buyers during busy onsales, and Universe submits chargeback evidence for disputes on Universe Payments.
- API and integrations
- A GraphQL API and webhooks for event and sales data, plus Mailchimp, Zapier, Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel.
Plans
Eventbrite
Free$0
No subscription. Each paid ticket carries 3.7% + $1.79 plus 2.9% processing per order, paid by the buyer unless the organizer absorbs it; free events cost nothing.
Pro$15
per month and up
A subscription add-on for marketing email that raises the daily limit from 250 sends to between 2,000 and 10,000. Ticket fees still apply.
Sales partnershipCustom
For large or complex events: a strategic advisor, Eventbrite-sponsored marketing, and priority phone and 24/7 chat support.
Universe
Starter$0
2% + $0.79 per paid ticket, capped at $19.95, plus VAT and processing; absorbed or passed to buyers. Ticket types, add-ons, door sales and analytics.
Standard$0
2.5% + $1.99 per paid ticket, capped at $19.95, plus processing. Adds team permissions, cardholder presales, payment plans and tiered tickets.
ProCustom
An a la carte plan with selling on Ticketmaster, dynamic pricing, RFID access control, an account manager, onsite and contact center support.
Ways to pay less
Eventbrite
- Nonprofit
50% off Pro for qualifying nonprofits
Qualifying nonprofits get half off Eventbrite's Pro plans, and donation tickets carry discounted ticketing fees.
Universe
- Nonprofit
Special pricing for registered nonprofits
Registered nonprofits and charities can request special pricing; once approved they get a referral code to enter on each event page.
