pretix vs Zeffy

Zeffy (0%, nonprofits only) is cheaper than pretix (2.5% (max €15)) at every ticket price we checked. On a €30 ticket, with card processing included, pretix costs €1.45 and Zeffy costs €0.00.

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

pretix and Zeffy 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 €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

Zeffy

Zeffy is a fundraising platform for nonprofits that includes event ticketing alongside donations, raffles, auctions and memberships. It charges no platform or card processing fees and is funded by an optional contribution that buyers can add at checkout. Only registered nonprofits can use it.

Fee per paid ticket
0%, nonprofits onlyincludes card processing
When you're paid
Weekly by default, after a fraud review of one to three business days
Best for
Registered nonprofits and charities running fundraising events
Based in
Montréal, Canada

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 pretix and Zeffy 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 €15)€363

€188 platform fee + about €175 card processing.

Zeffy · 0%, nonprofits only€0

Card processing is included in the fee.

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

pretix vs Zeffy, feature by feature

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

FeaturepretixZeffyHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket2.5% (max €15)0%, nonprofits only1.25% + €0.50
Card processingCharged on topIncluded in the feeCharged 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 accountWeekly by default, after a fraud review of one to three business daysAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorYour own payment provider, such as Stripe, Mollie or PayPalZeffy, through StripeYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyersPayment provider fees onlyNo fees to pass on; buyers see an optional tip Yes
Your branding at checkoutYour colors, logo and domainYour logo and colors on forms Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplaceNoNot statedNo
Tickets work without an app or account Yes Yes Yes
QR check-in appYes, pretixSCANYes, in any phone browserYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seating YesNoNo
Recurring events and time slots Yes Yes Yes
Promo codes Yes Yes Yes
Waitlist YesNo Yes
Custom checkout questions Yes Yes Yes
API and webhooks YesRead-only APIWebhooks
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.

Zeffy

Strengths

  • No platform or card processing fees for the organization
  • Ticketing sits next to donations, raffles, auctions and tax receipts
  • Multi-date events, discount codes and custom questions included
  • Weekly payouts by default

Limitations

  • Nonprofits only, in six countries
  • Buyers are asked for a contribution to Zeffy that you cannot remove
  • No waitlist or reserved seating
  • The API is read-only

Zeffy is funded by an optional contribution shown to each buyer at checkout. The buyer can set it to zero, but the organization cannot remove or change the suggested amounts. Businesses and individuals cannot use Zeffy.

§ 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 Zeffy: common questions

Is pretix cheaper than Zeffy?
Zeffy (0%, nonprofits only) is cheaper than pretix (2.5% (max €15)) at every ticket price we checked. On a €30 ticket, with card processing included, pretix costs €1.45 and Zeffy costs €0.00. Zeffy'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, pretix or Zeffy?
pretix: as tickets sell, directly into your own payment provider or bank account. Zeffy: weekly by default, after a fraud review of one to three business days. pretix gets money to you sooner, which matters if you have deposits or suppliers to pay before the event.
Do pretix and Zeffy promote events in a marketplace?
No. Neither pretix nor Zeffy runs a consumer marketplace, so you bring your own audience to both.
Are free events free on pretix and Zeffy?
pretix: the first 500 free tickets a year are free, then €0.50 each. Zeffy: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to pretix and Zeffy?
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

pretix vs

Zeffy vs

See every comparison → · pretix fees explained → · Zeffy 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 Zeffy.

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 Zeffy 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.