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The Universe Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Universe 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.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Universe

The Insider’s Guide

Self-service ticketing from the Live Nation and Ticketmaster group

Universe, as pictured on universe.com

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among event ticketing platforms, read from Universe’s own pages.

Made by Universe Experiences Inc. · checked Oct 18, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.6GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Universe’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Universe’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 18, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.6

GPA, above 1 of the 11 other event ticketing platforms we grade

Universe is a self-service ticketing platform for general admission and timed-entry events, such as clubs and attractions, backed by Live Nation Entertainment, the parent of Ticketmaster. Organizers sell on their own site, on Facebook and on Universe's own listings, and its custom Pro plan can put events on Ticketmaster's marketplace. Free events cost nothing; paid tickets carry a service fee per ticket that organizers can pass to buyers.

To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Universe, taken from its own pages and our grades.

Setting up tickets and add-ons is self-service, but sales tax is yours to handle, since Universe doesn't remit it.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for general admission nights and timed-entry attractions

    The big draw is a route onto Ticketmaster's marketplace, but that sits on the custom-priced Pro plan.

  2. 2

    There is a free plan

    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.

  3. 3

    It runs on 3 platforms

    Web, iOS and Android.

  4. 4

    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.

  5. 5

    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.

  6. 6

    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.

  7. 7

    A 2.6 GPA, above 1 of 11

    That is against the other event ticketing platforms we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  8. 8

    Keep it

    The plain part of Universe you could make: reports. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.

Universe at a glance

Pricing
Free plan
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
None stated
Runs on
Web, iOS, Android
Made by
Universe Experiences Inc.
Category
Event Ticketing
Our grade
2.6 GPA, good

The report card

Best for general admission nights and timed-entry attractions

Universe is self-service ticketing from the Live Nation and Ticketmaster group, aimed at clubs, parties and attractions with general admission or timed entry. Starter costs 2% + $0.79 a ticket, and you can pass fees to buyers. The big draw is a route onto Ticketmaster's marketplace, but that sits on the custom-priced Pro plan.

ToolGPA report cardUniverseGraded Oct 18, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyC2% + $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 trialANo 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.
FeaturesCTicket 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 useCNo 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 integrationsBWeb, 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.
Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.6

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 Universe is for

  • Great if you run club nights or parties and may grow into Ticketmaster
  • Handy when you expect a rush, as a waiting room queues buyers
  • Good for attractions selling timed-entry tickets

Who it is not for

  • Skip it if you need reserved seating
  • Not for you if you want sales tax collected and paid over for you
  • Pricey if you need Standard's presales, as the fee jumps to 2.5% + $1.99

Good to know

Good for

  • 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

  • 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.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

3

plans to choose from

Universe has a free plan.

No setup fee, free events cost nothing, and Starter and Standard have no subscription: you only pay per paid ticket.
From our grade for free plan and trial

  • 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.

  • Pro

    Custom

    An a la carte plan with selling on Ticketmaster, dynamic pricing, RFID access control, an account manager, onsite and contact center support.

The free plan

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.

Read from universe.com on Oct 18, 2026.

Ways to pay less

  • 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.

    Stated on universe.com

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

3

Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android

Self-service ticketing from the Live Nation and Ticketmaster group. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, reports, ticketing.

Ticket types, add-ons, presales, payment plans, tiered tickets, a waiting room for busy onsales and a door app.
From our grade for features
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.

Where it runs

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android

What it works with

  • Stripe
  • Mailchimp
  • Zapier
  • Google Analytics
  • Facebook Pixel
  • Ticketmaster

Universe is made by Universe Experiences Inc.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

1/11

Other event ticketing platforms it is graded above

Universe's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 1 of the 11 other event ticketing platforms we grade, and level with 2.

It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 5 of 11) and worst on features (C, above 0).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 12 event ticketing platforms we grade, cut by the letter each got. Universe’s own letter is outlined.

  • CValue for moneyAbove 1 of 11
  • AFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 11
  • CFeaturesAbove 0 of 11
  • CEase of useAbove 0 of 11
  • BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 11

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 Universe you could make: reports. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.

That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 8 of the 11 other event ticketing platforms grade higher.

What you could make

  • Reports: an app builder makes this well.

What you could not

  • Selling tickets and checking them at the door.
  • A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
  • It plugs into other products, Stripe, Mailchimp and Zapier among them, and has an API.
  • What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: roles and permissions.

What this rests on. Universe’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

Eventbrite, Ticket Tailor, Billetto, TicketSpice and Luma

The 5 tools Universe is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

13

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 Universe free?

Universe has a free plan. No setup fee and free events cost nothing.

How much does Universe cost?

Universe lists 3 plans. Starter: $0.

What platforms does Universe work on?

Universe is available on Web, iOS and Android.

Does Universe offer any discounts?

Universe publicly lists the following: Special pricing for registered nonprofits.

Does Universe have a Windows app?

No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Universe is listed for Web, iOS and Android.

Does Universe have a macOS app?

No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Universe is listed for Web, iOS and Android.

Is Universe open source?

Universe is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.

Does Universe have an API?

Yes. Universe offers a public API, according to its own site.

What does Universe integrate with?

Universe's listing names Stripe, Mailchimp, Zapier, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel and Ticketmaster.

Who makes Universe?

Universe is made by Universe Experiences Inc.

What are the alternatives to Universe?

The closest alternatives to Universe in our directory are Eventbrite, Ticket Tailor, Billetto, TicketSpice and Luma.

How does Universe compare with other event ticketing platforms?

Universe's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 1 of the 11 other event ticketing platforms we grade, and level with 2.

Could I make my own version of Universe?

The plain part of Universe you could make: reports. What surrounds it you could not.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Universe’s own pages on Oct 18, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 18, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Universe's own pages on 18 October 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 Universe Experiences Inc. Prices change, so check universe.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

2,281

Tools graded, in 73 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.

ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

  • 2,281

    tools graded

  • 73

    categories

  • 426

    price changes on record

  • 579

    apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

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, "Universe: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 18, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/universe

Know someone choosing between event ticketing platforms?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/universe/guide

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See our other guides

The best-graded event ticketing platforms after Universe, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Universe’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. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Universe is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Universe Experiences Inc. Prices and plans change: check universe.com before you buy.