A small event has no budget for a subscription and no time for a sales call, so the questions are short: what each ticket costs when there is no monthly fee, whether free events are free, whether the fee can be passed to the buyer, and how soon the money arrives. These are the platforms people running small events shortlist, with each one's published fee and what it is good at.
Fees and features from each platform's own pricing pages, checked September 2026. We make Hi.Events, so it is listed first and labelled. Every figure for the others is sourced on its comparison page.
No monthly fee or minimums, free events free, a fee of 1.25% plus a small fixed amount that can be passed to the buyer, card payments in your own Stripe account as tickets sell, and check-in from a link on your own phone.
Worth knowing: No consumer marketplace to help people find a small event, and no reserved seating for small seated shows.
A free plan with unlimited events and guests, a 5% fee on paid tickets that the organizer absorbs, and money into your own Stripe account as tickets sell.
Worth knowing: Fees cannot be passed to the buyer.
A large consumer marketplace that can bring new buyers, free for free events, with payouts after the event by default.
Worth knowing: Payouts arrive after the event by default.
A not-for-profit platform that says it gives its booking-fee profits to charity, with every feature on every plan and free events free.
Worth knowing: Payouts arrive after the event on the default gateway.
No subscription, no fees on free events or in-person bookings, and a seating plan designer for small seated shows.
Worth knowing: Payouts arrive after the event unless you connect Stripe.
Low fees in Australia and New Zealand with card processing included, and free events free with the same features as paid ones.
Worth knowing: Australia, New Zealand and the UK only.
Published standard fees, cheapest first on a $30 ticket once card processing is counted.
| Platform | Published fee | Card processing | All-in on $30 | When you're paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TryBooking | 5% + $0.19* | Included in the fee | $1.69 | On request from your TryBooking balance; requests before the event can be held for checks of up to seven days |
| TicketSource | 3.5% + $0.99 | Included in the fee | $2.04 | After the event, sent the following Monday; as tickets sell with your own Stripe account |
| Hi.Events | 1.25% + $0.60 | Charged on top | $2.15 | As tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule |
| Luma | 5% | Charged on top | $2.67 | As tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule |
| Humanitix | 2.1% + $0.99 | Charged on top | $2.79 | After the event, within about five business days; earlier by request or with your own Stripe account |
| Eventbrite | 3.7% + $1.79 | Charged on top | $3.77 | After the event by default, sent three business days after it ends |
Standard published rates, excluding negotiated, nonprofit and subscription pricing. Where card processing is charged on top, the all-in figure adds the platform's own stated rate or a standard 2.9% + $0.30. * No published rate in this currency. Converted from the platform's published rate at approximate exchange rates (1 USD ≈ €0.92, £0.78 and A$1.55); the vendor may price differently, or not sell, in this currency.
The features that tend to decide it for this kind of event, platform by platform.
| Platform | Pass fees on to buyers | Listed in a consumer marketplace | Tickets work without an app or account | QR check-in app | Waitlist | Custom checkout questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hi.Events | Yes | No | Yes | Yes, in any phone browser | Yes | Yes |
| Luma | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eventbrite | Yes | Yes | Buyers need an Eventbrite account to open tickets | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Humanitix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TicketSource | Yes | What's On listings | Not stated | Yes | Yes | Not stated |
| TryBooking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Shortlists for other kinds of event
Create the event and share the link. No credit card, no sales call, and nothing to move until you're ready.
Free events cost nothing. Paid tickets are 1.25% + $0.60, with no monthly fee and no contract — see the full pricing.