The Event Smart Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Event Smart in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Event Smart
The Insider’s Guide
Event registration sites with no per-ticket fees
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among event ticketing platforms, read from Event Smart’s own pages.
Made by Event Smart · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Event Smart’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Event Smart’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 36 of the 79 other event ticketing platforms we grade
Event Smart builds an event website for registration and ticket sales, billed as a monthly subscription instead of a cut of each ticket. A free Basic plan exists, with paid Personal and Business plans adding custom forms, ticket delivery with QR codes and check-in. Card payments are an extra monthly upgrade on every plan.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Event Smart, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You build the event page and forms yourself.
- 1
Best for registration sites with a flat monthly fee
Event Smart charges a flat monthly fee, with no per-ticket cut, from a free Basic plan up to $100 a month.
- 2
Paid plans start at $50 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $50 per month.
- 3
There is a free plan
Basic plan: unlimited events and multiple ticket types with no commission, but ads show on the event site and email is capped at 25 per hour.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
No commission or ticket fees
The vendor charges only for subscriptions and upgrades, not per ticket; the payment gateway still charges its own transaction fees.
- 6
Multiple ticket types
Sell several ticket or registration types, with taxes, surcharges and required tickets on the Personal plan and above.
- 7
Custom registration forms
Ask custom questions and mark them required, and send custom registration emails (Personal plan and above).
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 36 of 79
That is against the other event ticketing platforms we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Event Smart you could make: forms and qR codes. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Event Smart at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $50 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial of the Business plan, no card required
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Event Smart
- Category
- Event Ticketing
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for registration sites with a flat monthly fee
Event Smart charges a flat monthly fee, with no per-ticket cut, from a free Basic plan up to $100 a month. Card payments are a $15 upgrade, QR scanning needs Business, and the free plan puts ads on your event page.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Personal is $50 a month, the category middle, but phone scanning needs Business at $100, and card payments add $15 on each plan. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Basic is free with unlimited events, but it shows ads and caps email at 25 an hour. A 14-day Business trial needs no card. |
| Features | C | Ticket types, forms, promo codes and waitlists exist, but card payments and QR delivery are paid add-ons, so the basic job has gaps. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You build the event page and forms yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, with Stripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.net and Google Analytics. Phone scanning is a browser job, with no app listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Event Smart is for
- Fits if you run classes or workshops and want a flat fee, not a cut per ticket
- Works for nonprofits that can use the 15% to 20% discount
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you need QR scanning, which is on Business at $100 a month
- Watch out: card payments are a separate $15 a month, and QR ticket delivery is $20 on lower plans
- Tight if you stay on Basic, with ads on your page and 25 emails an hour
- Watch out: the FAQ quotes $10 for the payment upgrade where the plans say $15
Good to know
Good for
- Organizers who want a flat monthly fee, not per-ticket cuts
- Classes, workshops and small conferences
- Nonprofits using the stated percentage discount
Worth knowing
- Taking card payments is a separate upgrade at $15 a month on each plan (the FAQ cites $10 for an online payment upgrade).
- Basic shows ads on the event website and caps email at 25 per hour.
- On Basic and Personal, QR code ticket delivery is a paid add-on of $20 a month.
- Gateway fees from Stripe, PayPal or similar still apply.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$50
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Event Smart has a free plan. Paid plans start at $50 per month.
Basic
$0
Unlimited events, offline invoice payment, attendee list download, 25 emails per hour and ads on the event site.
Personal
$50
per month
No ads, multi-date events, custom registration emails, laptop check-in, 200 emails per hour.
Business
$100
per month
Adds QR code tickets and phone scanning, promo codes, waitlists, custom CSS, analytics and 500 emails per hour.
The free plan
Basic plan: unlimited events and multiple ticket types with no commission, but ads show on the event site and email is capped at 25 per hour.
Trying it first
14-day free trial of the Business plan, no card required
Read from eventsmart.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Nonprofit
15% to 20% off for nonprofits
Nonprofit, NGO and charity organizations get 15% off the Personal plan and 20% off the Business plan.
Stated on eventsmart.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Event registration sites with no per-ticket fees. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: forms, qR codes, ticketing.
Ticket types, forms, promo codes and waitlists exist, but card payments and QR delivery are paid add-ons, so the basic job has gaps.
- No commission or ticket fees
- The vendor charges only for subscriptions and upgrades, not per ticket; the payment gateway still charges its own transaction fees.
- Multiple ticket types
- Sell several ticket or registration types, with taxes, surcharges and required tickets on the Personal plan and above.
- Custom registration forms
- Ask custom questions and mark them required, and send custom registration emails (Personal plan and above).
- QR code tickets and scanning
- Email tickets with QR codes or barcodes and scan them with a phone or tablet at the door (Business plan).
- Waitlists and promo codes
- The Business plan adds a waitlist for sold-out events, discount codes and an event shopping cart.
- Event calendar and embeds
- Show events on a calendar and embed event listings on another site through an iframe.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Stripe
- PayPal
- Square
- Authorize.net
- Google Analytics
Event Smart is made by Event Smart.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
36/79
Other event ticketing platforms it is graded above
Event Smart's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 36 of the 79 other event ticketing platforms we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 20 of 79) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $50 a month, against a middle price of $50 for the category: 11 of the 22 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 12 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 80 event ticketing platforms we grade, cut by the letter each got. Event Smart’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 8 of 79
- CFree plan and trialAbove 34 of 79
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 79
- CEase of useAbove 4 of 79
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 20 of 79
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 36 event ticketing platforms. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Event Smart is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Event Smart you could make: forms and qR codes. What surrounds it you could not. The 2 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $600 a year.
What you could make
- Forms and qR codes: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Selling tickets and checking them at the door.
- It plugs into other products, Stripe, PayPal and Square among them.
What this rests on. Event Smart’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Event Espresso, Eventzilla, Ticket Tailor, Eventbrite and TicketSpice
The 5 tools Event Smart is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Event Espresso
Free plan · from $129/yr
WordPress plugin for event calendars, registration and tickets.
- Event Smart also covers forms and qR codes.
- Event Espresso also covers calendar.
- 2.6GPA
Eventzilla
Free plan
Registration and ticketing for conferences, training and fundraisers.
- Event Smart also covers forms and qR codes.
- Eventzilla also covers reports and email campaigns.
- 3.0GPA
Ticket Tailor
Free
Event ticketing for a flat fee per ticket, with prepaid credits.
- Only Ticket Tailor lists iOS and Android apps.
- Event Smart also covers forms and qR codes.
- Ticket Tailor also covers reports and email campaigns.
- 3.0GPA
Eventbrite
Free plan · from $15/mo
Ticketing and event marketplace, with fees usually paid by buyers.
- Only Eventbrite lists iOS and Android apps.
- Event Smart also covers forms and qR codes.
- Eventbrite also covers reports and email campaigns.
- 2.6GPA
TicketSpice
Free
Ticketing for events and attractions at a flat 99¢ per ticket.
- Only TicketSpice lists iOS and Android apps.
- Event Smart also covers forms and qR codes.
- TicketSpice also covers reports, email campaigns and sMS marketing.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Event Smart free?
Event Smart has a free plan. Basic plan: unlimited events and multiple ticket types with no commission, but ads show on the event site and email is capped at 25 per hour.
How much does Event Smart cost?
Event Smart lists 3 plans. Basic: $0.
What platforms does Event Smart work on?
Event Smart is available on Web.
Does Event Smart offer any discounts?
Event Smart publicly lists the following: 15% to 20% off for nonprofits.
Does Event Smart have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Event Smart is listed for Web.
Does Event Smart have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Event Smart is listed for Web.
Is Event Smart open source?
Event Smart is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Event Smart integrate with?
Event Smart's listing names Stripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.net and Google Analytics.
Does Event Smart have a free trial?
Yes. 14-day free trial of the Business plan, no card required.
Who makes Event Smart?
Event Smart is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Event Smart?
The closest alternatives to Event Smart in our directory are Event Espresso, Eventzilla, Ticket Tailor, Eventbrite and TicketSpice.
How does Event Smart compare with other event ticketing platforms?
Event Smart's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 36 of the 79 other event ticketing platforms we grade, and level with 2.
Is Event Smart good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Event Smart C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $50 a month, against a middle price of $50 for the category: 11 of the 22 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Event Smart?
The plain part of Event Smart you could make: forms and qR codes. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Event Smart’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Event Smart's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Event Smart. Prices change, so check eventsmart.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Event Smart, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/eventsmart
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Event Smart: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/eventsmart
Know someone choosing between event ticketing platforms?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/eventsmart/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded event ticketing platforms after Event Smart, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Event Ticketing Insider's GuideEvery one of the 81 event ticketing platforms we grade, compared
- Luma Insider's GuideEvent pages and calendars for community events, free or paid3.2 GPA
- Zeffy Insider's GuideFree event ticketing and fundraising for nonprofits3.2 GPA
- Billetto Insider's GuideEuropean ticketing marketplace with ads you pay for per sale3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Event Smart’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Event Smart is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Event Smart. Prices and plans change: check eventsmart.com before you buy.