pretix vs Purplepass

pretix (2.5% (max $16.30)*) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, pretix costs $1.92 and Purplepass costs $2.64.

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

pretix and Purplepass at a glance

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

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

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, 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
§ 01 · Fees

What pretix 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
pretix · 2.5% (max $16.30)*$480

$188 platform fee + about $292 card processing.

Purplepass · 2.5% + $0.99$660

$435 platform fee + about $225 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

pretix vs Purplepass, feature by feature

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

FeaturepretixPurplepassHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket2.5% (max $16.30)*2.5% + $0.991.25% + $0.60
Card processingCharged on topCharged on topCharged on top
Free eventsThe first 500 free tickets a year are free, then €0.50 eachFreeFree
When you're paidAs tickets sell, directly into your own payment provider or bank accountThe Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant accountAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorYour own payment provider, such as Stripe, Mollie or PayPalPurplepass by default, or your own PayPal or Authorize.net-compatible merchant accountYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyersPayment provider fees only Yes Yes
Your branding at checkoutYour colors, logo and domainEvent page images and your own CSS Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplaceNoEvents are listed and searchable on purplepass.comNo
Tickets work without an app or account YesNot stated Yes
QR check-in appYes, pretixSCANYes, for iOS and AndroidYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seating Yes Yes Yes
Box office for door salespretixPOS Android appYes, in its app or on an iPad terminal, with no service fee Yes
Recurring events and time slots Yes Yes Yes
Promo codes Yes Yes Yes
Waitlist YesNot stated Yes
Custom checkout questions Yes Yes Yes
Agenda or lineup on the event pageNot statedNot statedLineup and agenda by room
API and webhooks YesZapier integrationREST API and webhooks
Single sign-on (SSO) for your teamSelf-hosted only, via an auth pluginNot statedOIDC, on request (no SAML)
Official ticket resaleNot statedNot statedNo
Open source YesNo Yes
Can be self-hosted YesNo Yes
§ 03 · Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

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.

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

pretix vs Purplepass: common questions

Is pretix cheaper than Purplepass?
pretix (2.5% (max $16.30)*) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, pretix costs $1.92 and Purplepass costs $2.64. Card processing is charged on top by both.
Which pays out faster, pretix or Purplepass?
pretix: as tickets sell, directly into your own payment provider or bank account. Purplepass: the Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant account. pretix gets money to you sooner, which matters if you have deposits or suppliers to pay before the event.
Do pretix 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. pretix does not, so you bring your own audience.
Are free events free on pretix and Purplepass?
pretix: the first 500 free tickets a year are free, then €0.50 each. Purplepass: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to pretix and Purplepass?
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

pretix vs

Purplepass vs

See every comparison → · pretix fees explained → · 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 pretix or Purplepass.

Switching platforms? 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 →

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 pretix and Purplepass 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.