Hi.Events vs Purplepass

Hi.Events (1.25% + $0.60) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Hi.Events costs $2.15 and Purplepass costs $2.64.

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

Hi.Events and Purplepass at a glance

Hi.Events

Hi.Events is an open-source ticketing platform with a hosted cloud version. Organizers sell from their own branded event pages, an embedded widget or a box office at the door, 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

Purplepass

Purplepass is a US ticketing platform for venues, schools, festivals and other events that sell both online and at the door. It builds assigned-seating maps for its organizers, runs a box office and scanning app, and sells printed ticket stock and wristbands. By default Purplepass processes the card payments and pays the organizer after the event.

Fee per paid ticket
2.5% + $0.99plus card processing
When you're paid
The Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant account
Best for
US venues and schools that sell a lot at the box office and want seat maps built for them
Based in
Not stated
§ 01 · Fees

What Hi.Events and Purplepass 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
Hi.Events · 1.25% + $0.60$536

$244 platform fee + about $292 card processing.

Purplepass · 2.5% + $0.99$660

$435 platform fee + about $225 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.

§ 02 · Features

Hi.Events vs Purplepass, feature by feature

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

FeatureHi.EventsPurplepass
Platform fee per paid ticket1.25% + $0.602.5% + $0.99
Card processingCharged on topCharged on top
Free eventsFreeFree
When you're paidAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout scheduleThe Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant account
Payment processorYour own Stripe accountPurplepass by default, or your own PayPal or Authorize.net-compatible merchant account
Pass fees on to buyers Yes Yes
Your branding at checkout YesEvent page images and your own CSS
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplaceNoEvents are listed and searchable on purplepass.com
Tickets work without an app or account YesNot stated
QR check-in appYes, in any phone browserYes, for iOS and Android
Reserved seating Yes Yes
Box office for door sales YesYes, in its app or on an iPad terminal, with no service fee
Recurring events and time slots Yes Yes
Promo codes Yes Yes
Waitlist YesNot stated
Custom checkout questions Yes Yes
Agenda or lineup on the event pageLineup and agenda by roomNot stated
API and webhooksREST API and webhooksZapier integration
Single sign-on (SSO) for your teamOIDC, on request (no SAML)Not stated
Official ticket resaleNoNot stated
Open source YesNo
Can be self-hosted YesNo
§ 03 · Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

Hi.Events

Strengths

  • Low, published fee that is the same for every organizer
  • Card payments settle into your own Stripe account as tickets sell
  • Your branding on the event page, checkout and tickets
  • Reserved seating and a box office for door sales, with cards on a Stripe reader
  • Open source, with a self-hosted option

Limitations

  • No consumer marketplace, so it does not bring you an audience
  • No built-in ticket resale
  • Stripe is the only card payment provider
  • When self-hosting, reserved seating, a box office and company SSO need a commercial licence (on Cloud they are switched on by request, at no extra charge)

The same fee for every organizer, with no monthly fee or contract. Self-hosting has no platform fee.

Purplepass

Strengths

  • No service fee on box office sales, and no charge for seat maps, comp tickets or free events
  • Assigned-seating maps built for you, with rows, tables and booths drawn to scale
  • Box office and scanning app for iOS and Android, plus an iPad terminal with a built-in card reader
  • Printed ticket stock and wristbands available from the same supplier

Limitations

  • Online tickets cost 5.5% + $0.99 all-in with Purplepass processing
  • Payouts arrive the Thursday after the event unless you connect your own PayPal or merchant account
  • Fees are published in USD only
  • Service fees are kept when tickets are refunded

Non-profits pay 2.0% + $0.99. Box office sales carry no service fee, and card payments at the door cost 2.5% + $0.25 a transaction. Buyers pay the fees by default, and you can absorb or split them.

§ 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

Hi.Events vs Purplepass: common questions

Is Hi.Events cheaper than Purplepass?
Hi.Events (1.25% + $0.60) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Hi.Events costs $2.15 and Purplepass costs $2.64. Card processing is charged on top by both.
Which pays out faster, Hi.Events or Purplepass?
Hi.Events: as tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule. Purplepass: the Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant account. Hi.Events gets money to you sooner, which matters if you have deposits or suppliers to pay before the event.
Do Hi.Events and Purplepass promote events in a marketplace?
Purplepass lists events in its own consumer marketplace, which can bring you buyers you would not otherwise reach. Hi.Events does not, so you bring your own audience.
Are free events free on Hi.Events and Purplepass?
Hi.Events: free. Purplepass: free.
Can I move my events from Purplepass to Hi.Events?
Yes, and most organizers do it between events. Recreating an event takes a few minutes, then you point your ticket links at the new page. Existing orders stay on Purplepass while new sales run through Hi.Events.Switching from Purplepass →
§ 06 · More comparisons

Compare with something else

Purplepass vs

See every comparison → · Purplepass 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 Purplepass.

Switching from Purplepass? We'll pay you €250.

Sell at least 50 tickets at €10 or more on your first Hi.Events event, and we send you €250 no later than 10 days after it. 20 places, for approved applicants.

See the switch fund →

Start selling today

Create your next event on Hi.Events and share the link. No credit card, no sales call, nothing to move until you're ready.

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.