DICE vs pretix

pretix (2.5% (max $16.30)*) is cheaper than DICE (13%) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, DICE costs $3.90 and pretix costs $1.92.

Fees and features from each platform's public pricing pages, checked September 2026.

DICE and pretix at a glance

DICE

DICE is a mobile-first ticketing and discovery app used mainly by music venues, promoters, festivals and club nights. Tickets live in the DICE app with a QR code that activates on the day, and fans see one all-in price. Organizers either sign up on standard terms or negotiate a partnership deal.

Fee per paid ticket
13%includes card processing
When you're paid
After the event, within five business days
Best for
Music venues and promoters who want app-based tickets and in-app discovery
Based in
London, UK, founded 2014

pretix

pretix is an open-source ticketing system from Germany, offered as a hosted service and as a free self-hosted Community edition. Conferences, festivals, exhibitions and museums use it. Attendees pay the organizer directly through the organizer's own payment provider, and pretix invoices its fee separately.

Fee per paid ticket
2.5% (max $16.30)*plus card processing
When you're paid
As tickets sell, directly into your own payment provider or bank account
Best for
European conferences and organizers who want open-source or self-hosted ticketing
Based in
Heidelberg, Germany, founded 2014

Hi.Events

Also worth a look

Hi.Events is an open-source ticketing platform with a hosted cloud version. Organizers sell from their own branded event pages or an embedded widget, and card payments settle straight into their own Stripe account as tickets sell.

Fee per paid ticket
1.25% + $0.60plus card processing
When you're paid
As tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Best for
Organizers who want low published fees, their own branding and their money as tickets sell
Based in
Ireland
Start selling for free
§ 01 · Fees

What DICE and pretix cost

The all-in cost of selling 250 tickets at $30 each: platform fee plus card processing. Move the sliders to match your event.

Ticket price$30
Tickets sold250
DICE · 13%$975

Card processing is included in the fee.

pretix · 2.5% (max $16.30)*$480

$188 platform fee + about $292 card processing.

Hi.Events · 1.25% + $0.60$536

$244 platform fee + about $292 card processing.

Illustrative, from each platform's published standard rate. Where a platform charges card processing on top, we add its own stated rate or a standard 2.9% + $0.30 per ticket, so every total is like for like. Your actual card rate depends on your processor and the cards your buyers use. * 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.

§ 02 · Features

DICE vs pretix, feature by feature

Where the two differ, and where they don't.

FeatureDICEpretixHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket13%2.5% (max $16.30)*1.25% + $0.60
Card processingIncluded in the feeCharged on topCharged on top
Free eventsFreeThe first 500 free tickets a year are free, then €0.50 eachFree
When you're paidAfter the event, within five business daysAs tickets sell, directly into your own payment provider or bank accountAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorDICE collects the money and pays you outYour own payment provider, such as Stripe, Mollie or PayPalYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyersAlways; fees are built into one all-in pricePayment provider fees only Yes
Your branding at checkoutNoYour colors, logo and domain Yes
Embed checkout on your siteEvent list widget Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplace YesNoNo
Tickets work without an app or accountNo, tickets live in the DICE app Yes Yes
QR check-in app YesYes, pretixSCANYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seatingNot stated YesNo
Recurring events and time slotsNot stated Yes Yes
Promo codes Yes Yes Yes
Waitlist Yes Yes Yes
Custom checkout questionsNot stated Yes Yes
API and webhooksRead-only API for partners YesWebhooks
Official ticket resaleYes, through the official Wait ListNot statedNo
Open sourceNo Yes Yes
Can be self-hostedNo Yes Yes
§ 03 · Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

DICE

Strengths

  • Discovery app that DICE says prompts a large share of its sales
  • App-held tickets and an official Wait List keep tickets off resale sites
  • Fans see one all-in price with no fees added at checkout
  • No fees on free tickets

Limitations

  • Payouts arrive after the event
  • Fans need the DICE app and an account to hold a ticket
  • Fees sit on top of your price and cannot be absorbed or shown separately
  • Partnership rates are negotiated, so what you pay may differ from the published defaults

These are the default self sign-up rates. Venues and promoters on a partnership agreement negotiate their own. Fees are added on top of your price and shown to fans as a single all-in figure.

pretix

Strengths

  • Open source, with a free self-hosted edition
  • Hosted fee of 2.5% capped at €15 a ticket, with no monthly fee
  • Payments go directly to your own provider or bank, with 40+ providers supported
  • Seating plans, event series, vouchers, waiting list, API and point-of-sale apps

Limitations

  • Hosted pricing is published in EUR only
  • Free tickets cost €0.50 each beyond the first 500 a year
  • Seating and point of sale need a paid licence when self-hosting
  • No consumer marketplace

The self-hosted Community edition is free. When self-hosting, seating plans and the point-of-sale app need a paid Enterprise licence.

§ 04 · Verdict

Which should you choose?

Choose Hi.Events if

you want a low published fee, your own branding at checkout and card payments in your own Stripe account as tickets sell.

Start selling for free →
§ 05 · FAQ

DICE vs pretix: common questions

Is DICE cheaper than pretix?
pretix (2.5% (max $16.30)*) is cheaper than DICE (13%) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, DICE costs $3.90 and pretix costs $1.92. DICE's published fee includes card processing and pretix's does not, so the figures above add card processing to pretix to keep the comparison like for like.
Which pays out faster, DICE or pretix?
DICE: after the event, within five business days. pretix: as tickets sell, directly into your own payment provider or bank account. pretix gets money to you sooner, which matters if you have deposits or suppliers to pay before the event.
Do DICE and pretix promote events in a marketplace?
DICE lists events in its own consumer marketplace, which can bring you buyers you would not otherwise reach. pretix does not, so you bring your own audience.
Are free events free on DICE and pretix?
DICE: free. pretix: the first 500 free tickets a year are free, then €0.50 each.
Is there a cheaper alternative to DICE and pretix?
Hi.Events charges 1.25% + $0.60 per paid ticket, the same for every organizer, with no monthly fee. On a $30 ticket that is $2.15 including Stripe's card processing. Card payments settle into your own Stripe account as tickets sell, and free events are free. It has no consumer marketplace, so it suits organizers who bring their own audience.See pricing →
§ 06 · More comparisons

Compare with something else

DICE vs

pretix vs

See every comparison → · DICE fees explained → · pretix fees explained →

Sources and corrections

Every figure on this page comes from the platform's own pricing and help pages, checked September 2026. Platforms change their pricing, so confirm with the vendor before you decide. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it. Product names are trademarks of their owners; Hi.Events is not affiliated with DICE or pretix.

Or skip both

Hi.Events gives you a low published fee, your own branding and your money as tickets sell. Create an event and see how it compares with DICE and pretix for yourself.

Get started free

Free events cost nothing. Paid tickets are 1.25% + $0.60, with no monthly fee and no contract — see the full pricing.