It depends on the ticket price. Fatsoma (10%) is cheaper on lower-priced tickets and Universe (2% + $0.79) is cheaper from around $10. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Fatsoma costs $4.17 and Universe costs $2.29.
Fees and features from each platform's public pricing pages, checked September 2026.
Fatsoma is a UK ticketing platform and consumer app that grew out of student and club nights. Organizers sell through its marketplace and app, message their followers for free, and recruit reps who earn commission for selling tickets.
Universe is a self-service ticketing platform owned by Ticketmaster. Organizers sell through hosted event pages, an embeddable widget and the Universe discovery site, and a custom-priced Pro plan adds Ticketmaster distribution.
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.
The all-in cost of selling 250 tickets at $30 each: platform fee plus card processing. Move the sliders to match your event.
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.
Where the two differ, and where they don't.
| Feature | Fatsoma | Universe | Hi.Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee per paid ticket | 10% | 2% + $0.79 | 1.25% + $0.60 |
| Card processing | Charged on top | Charged on top | Charged on top |
| Free events | Free | Free | Free |
| When you're paid | After the event; funds clear 48 hours after it ends and you then request a payout | After the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe Connect | As tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule |
| Payment processor | Fatsoma collects the money and pays you out | Universe Payments by default, or your own Stripe account | Your own Stripe account |
| Pass fees on to buyers | Yes | Yes, except in eight European countries | Yes |
| Your branding at checkout | On the Professional plan, from £1,500 | Not stated | Yes |
| Embed checkout on your site | Widget that hands off to Fatsoma checkout | Yes | Yes |
| Listed in a consumer marketplace | Yes | Yes | No |
| Tickets work without an app or account | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| QR check-in app | Yes, Fatsoma Scan | Yes, BoxOffice | Yes, in any phone browser |
| Reserved seating | Not stated | Not stated | No |
| Recurring events and time slots | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Promo codes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Waitlist | Not stated | Yes | Yes |
| Custom checkout questions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API and webhooks | Not stated | GraphQL API and webhooks | Webhooks |
| Official ticket resale | Not stated | Ticket transfers only | No |
| Open source | No | No | Yes |
| Can be self-hosted | No | No | Yes |
A Professional plan with a branded website and apps starts at £1,500 plus the 10% fee. Organizers can pass the fee to buyers or absorb it.
Starter plan rates. The Standard plan, which adds team permissions and payment plans, is 2.5% + $1.99 in the US and 5.5% + £0.99 in the UK. The service fee is capped at $19.95 or £9.95 a ticket; processing is not capped.
you sell student or club nights through a team of reps and want their commission tracked for you.
Switching from Fatsoma to Hi.Events →you want a capped service fee on expensive tickets, timed entry, or a path onto Ticketmaster later.
Switching from Universe to Hi.Events →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 →See every comparison → · Fatsoma fees explained → · Universe fees explained →
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 Fatsoma or Universe.
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 Fatsoma and Universe for yourself.
Free events cost nothing. Paid tickets are 1.25% + $0.60, with no monthly fee and no contract — see the full pricing.