Skiddle vs TryBooking

TryBooking (5% + 15p) is cheaper than Skiddle (10% + 27p (min £1)) at every ticket price we checked. On a £30 ticket, with card processing included, Skiddle costs £3.27 and TryBooking costs £1.65.

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

Skiddle and TryBooking at a glance

Skiddle

Skiddle is a UK ticket outlet and what's-on guide. Promoters manage events in the Skiddle Promotion Centre and tickets sell through Skiddle's consumer site and app as well as embeddable widgets. It is used mainly for club nights, festivals and gigs.

Fee per paid ticket
10% + 27p (min £1)includes card processing
When you're paid
After the event, on twice-weekly remittance runs; at the time of sale with your own Stripe account
Best for
UK club nights, gigs and festivals that want marketplace exposure
Based in
Preston, UK, founded 2001

TryBooking

TryBooking is a self-service ticketing and registration platform from Melbourne, with sites for Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Schools, community groups, charities and clubs use it widely, and it also runs donation and fundraising pages.

Fee per paid ticket
5% + 15pincludes card processing
When you're paid
On request from your TryBooking balance; requests before the event can be held for checks of up to seven days
Best for
Australian, New Zealand and UK schools, community groups and charities
Based in
Melbourne, Australia, founded 2008

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% + £0.45plus 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 Skiddle and TryBooking 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
Skiddle · 10% + 27p (min £1)£818

Card processing is included in the fee.

TryBooking · 5% + 15p£413

Card processing is included in the fee.

Hi.Events · 1.25% + £0.45£369

£206 platform fee + about £163 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% + £0.20 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

Skiddle vs TryBooking, feature by feature

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

FeatureSkiddleTryBookingHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket10% + 27p (min £1)5% + 15p1.25% + £0.45
Card processingIncluded in the feeIncluded in the feeCharged on top
Free eventsListing is free; Skiddle does not say whether free tickets carry a feeFreeFree
When you're paidAfter the event, on twice-weekly remittance runs; at the time of sale with your own Stripe accountOn request from your TryBooking balance; requests before the event can be held for checks of up to seven daysAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorSkiddle by default, or your own Stripe account with DirectPayTryBooking by default, or your own Stripe accountYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyers Yes Yes Yes
Your branding at checkoutWidget colors onlyYour branding on tickets and booking pages Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplace Yes YesNo
Tickets work without an app or account Yes Yes Yes
QR check-in appYes, RapidScan YesYes, 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 webhooksEvents API; no webhooks documentedRead-only APIWebhooks
Official ticket resaleYes, Re:Sell at face valueNot statedNo
Open sourceNoNo Yes
Can be self-hostedNoNo Yes
§ 03 · Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

Skiddle

Strengths

  • One of the UK's busiest what's-on guides and apps
  • The booking fee includes card processing and VAT
  • Official face-value resale, waiting lists and payment plans
  • Allocated seating and session-based ticketing

Limitations

  • Payouts arrive after the event by default
  • Sells in GBP and EUR only
  • Buyers also pay a per-order delivery fee
  • No white-label checkout

Buyers pay the booking fee by default, plus a per-order delivery fee of £0.50 to £3. Promoters can absorb the booking fee instead.

TryBooking

Strengths

  • Low Australian and New Zealand fees, with card processing included
  • Free events are free, with the same features as paid ones
  • Seating plans, session times, waitlists and gift certificates included
  • You choose who pays each fee

Limitations

  • Australia, New Zealand and the UK only
  • TryBooking holds the money until you request it, and early withdrawals can be held for checks
  • The UK rate is double the Australian one
  • The API is read-only

In Australia the 50c ticket fee drops to 15c on tickets of A$5 or less. By default the buyer pays the per-ticket fee and the organizer pays the percentage, and either can be switched.

§ 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

Skiddle vs TryBooking: common questions

Is Skiddle cheaper than TryBooking?
TryBooking (5% + 15p) is cheaper than Skiddle (10% + 27p (min £1)) at every ticket price we checked. On a £30 ticket, with card processing included, Skiddle costs £3.27 and TryBooking costs £1.65. Both fees include card processing.
Which pays out faster, Skiddle or TryBooking?
Skiddle: after the event, on twice-weekly remittance runs; at the time of sale with your own Stripe account. TryBooking: on request from your TryBooking balance; requests before the event can be held for checks of up to seven days. TryBooking gets money to you sooner, which matters if you have deposits or suppliers to pay before the event.
Do Skiddle and TryBooking promote events in a marketplace?
Yes, both do. Skiddle and TryBooking each list events in their own consumer marketplace, which can bring you buyers you would not otherwise reach. The trade-off is that your event sits next to other organizers' events.
Are free events free on Skiddle and TryBooking?
Skiddle: listing is free; Skiddle does not say whether free tickets carry a fee. TryBooking: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Skiddle and TryBooking?
Hi.Events charges 1.25% + £0.45 per paid ticket, the same for every organizer, with no monthly fee. On a £30 ticket that is £1.48 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

Skiddle vs

TryBooking vs

See every comparison → · Skiddle fees explained → · TryBooking 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 Skiddle or TryBooking.

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 Skiddle and TryBooking for yourself.

Get started free

Free events cost nothing. Paid tickets are 1.25% + £0.45, with no monthly fee and no contract — see the full pricing.