Eventbrite vs pretix

pretix (2.5% (max €15)) is cheaper than Eventbrite (5.9% + €0.79 (Ireland)) at every ticket price we checked. On a €30 ticket, with card processing included, Eventbrite costs €2.56 and pretix costs €1.45.

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

Eventbrite and pretix at a glance

Eventbrite

Eventbrite is a self-service ticketing platform joined to a large consumer event marketplace and app. Organizers of every size use it for classes, community events, music and conferences. Ticket money is collected by Eventbrite and paid out to the organizer, by default after the event.

Fee per paid ticket
5.9% + €0.79 (Ireland)includes card processing
When you're paid
After the event by default, sent three business days after it ends
Best for
Organizers who want exposure on a large event discovery marketplace
Based in
San Francisco, USA, founded 2006

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 €15)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% + €0.50plus 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 Eventbrite 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
Eventbrite · 5.9% + €0.79 (Ireland)€640

Card processing is included in the fee.

pretix · 2.5% (max €15)€363

€188 platform fee + about €175 card processing.

Hi.Events · 1.25% + €0.50€394

€219 platform fee + about €175 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 1.5% + €0.25 per ticket, so every total is like for like. Your actual card rate depends on your processor and the cards your buyers use.

§ 02 · Features

Eventbrite vs pretix, feature by feature

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

FeatureEventbritepretixHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket5.9% + €0.79 (Ireland)2.5% (max €15)1.25% + €0.50
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 by default, sent three business days after it endsAs tickets sell, directly into your own payment provider or bank accountAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorEventbrite Payment ProcessingYour own payment provider, such as Stripe, Mollie or PayPalYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyers YesPayment provider fees only Yes
Your branding at checkoutCheckout colors and fonts onlyYour colors, logo and domain Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplace YesNoNo
Tickets work without an app or accountBuyers need an Eventbrite account to open tickets Yes Yes
QR check-in app YesYes, pretixSCANYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seating Yes YesNo
Recurring events and time slots Yes Yes Yes
Promo codes Yes Yes Yes
Waitlist Yes Yes Yes
Custom checkout questions Yes Yes Yes
API and webhooks Yes YesWebhooks
Official ticket resaleNoNot statedNo
Open sourceNo Yes Yes
Can be self-hostedNo Yes Yes
§ 03 · Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

Eventbrite

Strengths

  • Large consumer marketplace and app that can bring new buyers
  • Free for free events
  • Broad feature set, including reserved seating and timed entry
  • Public API, webhooks and a free organizer check-in app

Limitations

  • Payouts arrive after the event by default
  • Among the higher published fees, with 2.9% processing added in the US
  • Buyers need an Eventbrite account to access their tickets
  • Eventbrite collects the money, not your own payment account

Euro rates vary by country: Ireland is 5.9% + €0.79, Germany 5.5% + €0.99 and France 3.5% + €0.49. Buyers pay the fees by default and organizers can absorb them instead.

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

Eventbrite vs pretix: common questions

Is Eventbrite cheaper than pretix?
pretix (2.5% (max €15)) is cheaper than Eventbrite (5.9% + €0.79 (Ireland)) at every ticket price we checked. On a €30 ticket, with card processing included, Eventbrite costs €2.56 and pretix costs €1.45. Eventbrite'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, Eventbrite or pretix?
Eventbrite: after the event by default, sent three business days after it ends. 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 Eventbrite and pretix promote events in a marketplace?
Eventbrite 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 Eventbrite and pretix?
Eventbrite: free. pretix: the first 500 free tickets a year are free, then €0.50 each.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Eventbrite and pretix?
Hi.Events charges 1.25% + €0.50 per paid ticket, the same for every organizer, with no monthly fee. On a €30 ticket that is €1.58 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

Eventbrite vs

pretix vs

See every comparison → · Eventbrite 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 Eventbrite 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 Eventbrite and pretix for yourself.

Get started free

Free events cost nothing. Paid tickets are 1.25% + €0.50, with no monthly fee and no contract — see the full pricing.