5 Websites Like Eventbrite That Make You More Money

You pour everything into planning an amazing workshop, a pop-up dinner, or a local music night. The last thing you want is a ticketing platform taking a confusing slice of every sale.

Let's walk through five solid websites like Eventbrite so you can find the right tool for the job. And keep more of your hard-earned money.

Why Look For Eventbrite Alternatives?

Look, Eventbrite is a giant for a reason. It's a familiar name and gets a ton of eyeballs.

If you’re running a huge free event and just need to track RSVPs, it’s a fine choice. But for smaller creators turning a passion into a business, that one-size-fits-all approach can be a real drag.

The murky fee structure and the lack of real branding control often hit the people who need simplicity and cash flow the most. You’re not a multinational concert promoter. You’re a local organizer building something cool from the ground up. You deserve a tool built for you.

Where Eventbrite Fits In The Market

It’s no secret Eventbrite is a major player, but it’s not the only one. The U.S. ticketing world is dominated by Ticketmaster, which holds a massive 63% share of online ticket buyers.

Eventbrite comes in with a respectable 30% share, carving out a niche with smaller, independent events. That number shows how many creators rely on it, but also how much room there is for better options. (You can find more stats over at amraandelma.com).

Here’s the logo we all know.

Seeing this usually means you’re about to deal with percentage-based fees that quietly eat into your event’s bottom line.

A Quick Look At Top Eventbrite Alternatives

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here’s a quick snapshot of who each platform is truly built for. This isn't about which one is "best." It's about which one is best for what you're trying to do.

Platform	Pricing Model	Best For
Eventcube	Percentage Fee (starts at 5%) or Monthly Subscription	Organizers needing a flexible, scalable free plan with white-label options.
Ticketbud	Percentage Fee (2% + $0.99 per ticket)	Creators who want strong reporting tools and flexible daily or weekly payouts.
Ticket Tailor	Flat Fee Per Ticket (starts at $0.30 per ticket)	Non-profits and anyone wanting a simple, pay-as-you-go model.
RSVPify	Flat Fee Per Ticket ($0.90 + 1.95%) or Monthly Subscription	Event hosts focused on managing guest lists and detailed RSVPs.
Ticketsmith	Simple Flat Fee (TBD)	Pop-up chefs and workshop hosts who want zero percentage fees and custom branding.

My goal here is simple. I want to give you a straight-up comparison so you can pick the right tool, stop losing sleep over hidden costs, and get back to creating amazing experiences.

And if you're done with percentage fees, you can join the waitlist for our flat-fee platform at ticketsmith.co.

How Platform Fees Quietly Tank Your Event Budget

Let's talk about the least glamorous part of running an event: the money. Specifically, where your money goes.

The biggest headache with any ticketing platform usually isn't the software. It's the sneaky fees that constantly chip away at your revenue. A "small" percentage sounds harmless, but run the numbers and you'll see hundreds of dollars vanish.

This isn't just an Eventbrite problem. The ticketing world is packed with alternatives fighting for a slice of your sales. While Ticketmaster is the undisputed giant for massive concerts, Eventbrite has a huge space for smaller, independent events.

This chart puts their market share into perspective.

The data makes it clear: Ticketmaster handles the stadium tours, while Eventbrite has a grip on the kinds of events you and I run. And they're not alone. Competitors like Ticketleap, Yapsody, and Ticket Tailor are all in the mix. You can get a deeper look at the competitive landscape in this market research from cognitivemarketresearch.com.

The Math Nobody Shows You

Let's get practical. Imagine you're hosting a pottery workshop for 50 people at $75 a ticket. That’s a potential $3,750. Not bad. But how much do you actually keep?

For this comparison, we'll assume a standard Stripe payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Most platforms pass this cost directly to you.

Here's how a few popular platforms stack up on that $75 ticket.

Fee Comparison For A $75 Workshop (50 Attendees)

See how much you actually take home after all fees are deducted.

Platform	Platform Fee	Payment Processing Fee	Total Fees Per Ticket	Your Take-Home Per Ticket	Total Profit (50 Tickets)
Eventbrite (Essentials Plan)	$2.78 + $1.79 = $4.57	$2.18 + $0.30 = $2.48	$7.05	$67.95	$3,397.50
Ticketleap	$1.50 + $1.00 = $2.50	$2.18 + $0.30 = $2.48	$4.98	$70.02	$3,501.00
Ticket Tailor (Pay As You Go)	$0.85	$2.18 + $0.30 = $2.48	$3.33	$71.67	$3,583.50

The difference per ticket might not look huge. But it adds up fast.

After selling just 50 tickets, the Ticket Tailor user walks away with $186 more than the one using Eventbrite. That’s real money. Enough to cover your venue insurance or hire a photographer.

This is the kind of detail that's easy to overlook when you just want to get your event page live. For more tips on this, check out our guide to free event planning software.

A Quick Word On Flat-Fee Models

This is exactly why we're building Ticketsmith with a simple, flat-fee model. No percentages. No surprises.

I’ll be totally upfront: this model isn't the absolute cheapest for every event. If you're selling a $5 ticket to a yoga class, a percentage-based platform might save you a few cents. Our system costs us about $0.40 per transaction to run securely. By charging a flat fee, we cover our costs without skimming from your success on higher-priced tickets.

That's the trade-off. In return, you get predictable pricing and custom branding that looks like your business, not ours. You get your money fast.

For creators who pour their heart into their work, we think that predictability is worth it. If that sounds better, join the waitlist for Ticketsmith at ticketsmith.co.

Comparing The Features You Actually Use

Let's be honest. More features don't always mean a better platform.

Do you really need multi-day assigned seating and complex badge printing for your 20-person pottery class? Probably not. It's time to cut through the marketing fluff.

We'll focus on three key areas. First, customization: can you make your event page look like your brand? Second, attendee management: how easy is it to check people in or issue a refund? And third, payouts: how quickly does the money hit your bank account?

We're putting Eventbrite, Ticket Tailor, and Universe under the microscope. The difference between a good platform and a frustrating one is how the features perform when you're in a pinch.

Branding And Customization

Your event page is your digital storefront. It should reflect your brand and the experience you’re promising.

• Eventbrite: Offers only basic customization. You can add a header image and a logo, but the layout is rigid. Your event will always look and feel like it's on Eventbrite. Their persistent branding is key to how they maintain their market presence, which stood at 11.31% as of Q3 2025. You can see more on Eventbrite's market share on csimarket.com.

• Ticket Tailor: Puts you in the driver's seat. You get more control, creating a custom-branded "box office" with your own colors and fonts. Crucially, it lets you embed the checkout process on your own website. This is a huge win for a seamless experience.

• Universe: Sits somewhere in the middle. As a Ticketmaster company, its pages look cleaner than Eventbrite's, but you're still clearly on their turf. It offers more flexibility than Eventbrite but doesn't come close to Ticket Tailor.

For creators building a recognizable brand, owning the customer journey is everything.

Attendee Management

Things happen. Guests cancel, you send last-minute updates, and on event day, you just need to get people in the door without a fuss.

I once ran a pop-up dinner and had to process a refund for a sick guest an hour before we opened. On one platform, it took twelve clicks and a frantic support email. On another, it was two clicks. That’s the kind of real-world difference we’re talking about.

Eventbrite has a ton of tools, but they often feel buried in menus. Issuing a refund is possible, but it takes more clicks than it should. Their check-in app is solid, though.

Ticket Tailor keeps things simple. The dashboard is uncluttered, and common actions are right where you'd expect them to be. Their check-in app is just as straightforward.

Universe also offers a decent check-in app. However, its deeper reporting tools can feel a bit clunky, which makes sense given its focus on larger, corporate-style events.

Getting Paid

This is a big one. For any small operation, cash flow is king.

• Eventbrite: This is their biggest drawback for small creators. They hold your funds until three to five days after your event ends. This can be a major roadblock if you need to pay for a venue or supplies upfront.

• Ticket Tailor: Connects directly to your Stripe or PayPal account. This means you get paid as soon as a ticket is sold. The money goes straight to your account, usually within a couple of days.

• Universe: Also offers daily payouts through Stripe, putting it on par with Ticket Tailor.

The difference between getting paid after an event versus as tickets are sold is night and day. We break down more strategies in our guide on the best way to sell tickets for an event.

At Ticketsmith, we built our platform to solve these problems. Setup takes minutes, your page is fully branded to look like yours, and our flat-fee pricing means no nasty surprises. Payouts are fast. We're designed for real people running events for five to five thousand attendees.

If that sounds better, join the waitlist at ticketsmith.co to get early access.

Finding the Right Tool for Your Specific Event

Theory is great, but your event has specific needs. The best platform for a thousand-person conference is the worst choice for a community bake sale. It’s about matching a few key features to the job at hand.

Let's walk through three real-world scenarios. We'll look at the problems each organizer faces and figure out which website like Eventbrite is the right fit.

Scenario One: The Weekly Workshop Host

Imagine you run a coding bootcamp for 15 people every Saturday. Your needs are dead simple. You need a way for people to sign up, a reliable way to email them the Zoom link, and a clean page that doesn't look like a corporate mess.

For this kind of recurring event, a platform like Luma is often a much better fit than Eventbrite.

• Why it works: Luma is built for community builders. Its interface is clean, fast, and focused on recurring events. Setting up a series is simple, and it handles reminders automatically.

• The key difference: Where Eventbrite feels like a giant, noisy marketplace, Luma feels more like a personal calendar you can share with your community.

For a weekly workshop, the priority is eliminating friction. You want to spend time teaching, not fighting with a clunky event editor.

Scenario Two: The Pop-Up Chef

Now, let's say you're a chef hosting a dinner for 40 people. This event is all about the experience. The ticket price is higher, maybe $125, and your digital storefront needs to reflect that premium feel.

Your two biggest needs are a beautifully branded page and the ability to collect detailed info from guests—like dietary restrictions. This is a perfect use case for a tool like Ticketsmith.

You’re not just selling a ticket; you're selling an atmosphere. Your event page is the first course. A generic, heavily branded page from Eventbrite can cheapen the experience before a guest even arrives.

Here's why a customizable, flat-fee platform shines here:

• Branding Control: You can spin up a page in minutes that uses your own logo, colors, and photos. It looks like your restaurant, not a third-party service. This builds trust.

• Custom Forms: You can easily add questions to your checkout flow to ask about allergies or seating requests. This is critical for smooth service.

• Predictable Fees: On a $125 ticket, Eventbrite's percentage fees take a serious bite. A simple flat fee means you keep almost all of your revenue, which is crucial when you have high food costs.

Scenario Three: The Local Music Festival

Okay, let's scale up. You're coordinating a one-day music festival with 10 local bands. You expect around 500 attendees. You need to sell early bird tickets, general admission, and a VIP package.

This is where a workhorse like Ticket Tailor really excels.

• Why it works: Ticket Tailor is built to handle volume without charging a percentage of your sales. Their flat fee per ticket can save you a fortune on a 500-person event compared to Eventbrite.

• Key features: You can create unlimited ticket types with different prices. Their check-in app is straightforward and can be used on multiple devices, so your volunteers can get up and running in minutes.

I learned this next lesson the hard way. I ran a small fest: 10 bands, aiming for 500 attendees. The platform I used had a clunky check-in app that crashed on three different phones. We had a 45-minute line at the gate. Angry attendees, stressed volunteers.

A simple, reliable check-in system is essential. After that disaster, I built this one-page check-in process document that I give to every volunteer. It has saved me from repeating that nightmare.

How To Switch Platforms Without The Headache

So, you've picked a new home for your events. Great. But the idea of moving everything can feel daunting.

It doesn't have to be. Switching platforms is just a handful of small, manageable steps. You’re not rebuilding your business from scratch; you're just moving into a better neighborhood.

Let's break it down into three phases: getting your data, setting up your new space, and telling everyone where you've moved.

Step One: Grab Your Attendee Data

First things first: you need your attendee list from Eventbrite. This is your single most valuable asset.

1. Log in to Eventbrite. Head to "Manage my events."

2. Find the "Reports" tab. Look for the "Attendee Summary" report.

3. Export the data. You should see an option to export this list as a CSV file.

This file is your guest list. Guard it. It’s how you'll let everyone know where to find your future events.

Step Two: Set Up Your New Home

Now for the fun part. Setting up your event page on a new platform should be quick. This is where a no-code tool like Ticketsmith shines, because you can get a beautiful, on-brand page live in minutes.

The goal is to make the transition invisible to your attendees. Your new page should look and feel like your brand.

I made this mistake once. I switched platforms and forgot to redirect an old link in my social media bio. I lost three signups just because the link was broken. That cost me exactly $225 in lost revenue. After that, I created a dead-simple, one-page migration checklist to make sure it never happens again.

Step Three: Tell Your People

With your new page live, it's time to send a simple, clear email to that list you exported. Don't overthink it. Just be direct and friendly.

Here's a template you can steal:

Subject: A Quick Update on Our Events!

Hey everyone,

Exciting news! We're moving our event ticketing to a new, simpler platform to make signing up for workshops even easier.

All future events, including [Your Next Event Name], will now be listed here: [Link to your new event page]

Thanks for being part of this community!

Best,
[Your Name]

That’s it. It’s a simple update. Switching platforms isn't a headache; it's an upgrade. And understanding the core principles of ticketing and sales for your events business is the first step.

We built Ticketsmith for this exact moment. Simple setup, custom branding, and flat-fee pricing so you keep more money. We're currently in waitlist mode, but you can join us at ticketsmith.co to get early access.

Let's be real: Eventbrite isn't always the bad guy. There are times when going with the biggest name in the game makes sense.

If you’re throwing a huge, free event and your only goal is to track RSVPs, its brand recognition is a massive plus. People know the name. Think free community cleanups or a big public festival—for that, it works.

When The Big Name Is The Right Call

Eventbrite’s built-in audience can give you a real discovery boost. If you have zero marketing budget and just need to fill seats for a no-cost event, leaning on their platform is a smart shortcut.

• For large-scale free events: City-wide festivals or charity runs where getting as many people as possible is more important than branding or revenue.

• When you need maximum visibility: If you don't have an email list, the Eventbrite marketplace can put you in front of fresh eyes.

Of course, that visibility comes with a catch. Your event will always look like an Eventbrite event. And the moment you start charging for tickets, the game changes.

When To Find A Better Fit

For most creators selling tickets, the goal is to keep more money, own the customer experience, and build a brand. This is where you feel the limits of a one-size-fits-all platform.

It's probably time to look for websites like Eventbrite if you find yourself nodding along to any of these:

Your main priority is a simple, predictable fee structure that doesn't penalize you for selling more expensive tickets.
You want an event page that actually looks like your brand, with your own colors and logo.
You need your money as tickets are sold, not weeks after the event is over.

This is the exact reason we built Ticketsmith. We made it for the pop-up chef, the workshop host, and the local organizer who pours their heart into creating something special. It's for the person who values simplicity and wants a tool that works for them.

It’s not for everyone. But if this sounds like you, it might be the perfect fit. Our setup takes minutes, there’s no code needed, and payouts go straight to your account. We’re currently on a waitlist.

Join the Ticketsmith waitlist at ticketsmith.co

Still Have Questions?

Switching from a platform like Eventbrite usually brings up a few "what ifs." Let's walk through the questions we hear most often.

Can I Bring My Recurring Events And Subscribers With Me?

Yes, you can—and you absolutely should. Your attendee list is your most valuable asset.

Go into your Eventbrite account, head to "Reports," find the "Attendee Summary," and export it as a CSV file. That spreadsheet is your golden ticket. Once you have that list, you can send a friendly email announcing your new ticketing page.

What's The Real Difference Between Percentage And Flat Fees?

It comes down to who gets rewarded when your event is a success. A percentage-based fee scales with your ticket price, meaning the platform takes a bigger slice from your most valuable tickets.

Let's do some quick math.

• A $25 ticket with a 5% fee costs you $1.25.

• A $150 ticket with that same 5% fee now costs you $7.50.

See how your profit margin shrinks? A flat fee is completely predictable. You pay the same small amount whether you're selling a $25 workshop seat or a $150 pass.

Do These Alternatives Have Mobile Check-In Apps?

Most modern platforms do. Some offer dedicated apps you download from the app store. They’re great for scanning QR codes at the door.

Other platforms use mobile-friendly web pages for check-in. You just open a link in your phone's browser, and it can use your camera to scan tickets. Both get the job done. The most important thing is finding one that's fast and doesn't crash.