TicketSource vs Purplepass

TicketSource (3.5% + $0.99) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, TicketSource costs $2.04 and Purplepass costs $2.64.

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

TicketSource and Purplepass at a glance

TicketSource

TicketSource is a UK box office platform that started with amateur theatre and now covers community, school, charity, arts and sports events. There is no subscription: a booking fee applies only to online sales of paid tickets, and it includes a seating plan designer.

Fee per paid ticket
3.5% + $0.99includes card processing
When you're paid
After the event, sent the following Monday; as tickets sell with your own Stripe account
Best for
Community theatre, schools, charities and venues that need reserved seating
Based in
Penarth, Wales, founded 2004

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 TicketSource 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
TicketSource · 3.5% + $0.99$510

Card processing is included in the fee.

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.

§ 02 · Features

TicketSource vs Purplepass, feature by feature

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

FeatureTicketSourcePurplepassHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket3.5% + $0.992.5% + $0.991.25% + $0.60
Card processingIncluded in the feeCharged on topCharged on top
Free eventsFreeFreeFree
When you're paidAfter the event, sent the following Monday; as tickets sell with your own Stripe 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 processorTicketSource, or your own Stripe accountPurplepass by default, or your own PayPal or Authorize.net-compatible merchant accountYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyers Yes Yes Yes
Your branding at checkoutNot statedEvent page images and your own CSS Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplaceWhat's On listingsEvents are listed and searchable on purplepass.comNo
Tickets work without an app or accountNot statedNot stated Yes
QR check-in app YesYes, for iOS and AndroidYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seating Yes Yes Yes
Box office for door sales YesYes, in its app or on an iPad terminal, with no service fee Yes
Recurring events and time slotsNot stated Yes Yes
Promo codesNot stated Yes Yes
Waitlist YesNot stated Yes
Custom checkout questionsNot stated Yes Yes
Agenda or lineup on the event pageNot statedNot statedLineup and agenda by room
API and webhooksAPIZapier integrationREST API and webhooks
Single sign-on (SSO) for your teamNot statedNot statedOIDC, on request (no SAML)
Official ticket resaleNot statedNot statedNo
Open sourceNoNo Yes
Can be self-hostedNoNo Yes
§ 03 · Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

TicketSource

Strengths

  • No fees for free events or in-person bookings
  • Seating plan designer shared by online and box office sales
  • Lower fee and earlier payouts if you connect your own Stripe account
  • Discounted fee for registered charities

Limitations

  • Payouts arrive after the event unless you connect Stripe
  • A percentage fee gets expensive on higher-priced tickets
  • The payout bank account must be in the same territory as the account

Registered charities get a discount. Fees apply to online bookings only; in-person bookings recorded in the dashboard are free.

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

TicketSource vs Purplepass: common questions

Is TicketSource cheaper than Purplepass?
TicketSource (3.5% + $0.99) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, TicketSource costs $2.04 and Purplepass costs $2.64. TicketSource's published fee includes card processing and Purplepass' does not, so the figures above add card processing to Purplepass to keep the comparison like for like.
Which pays out faster, TicketSource or Purplepass?
TicketSource: after the event, sent the following Monday; as tickets sell with your own Stripe account. Purplepass: the Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant account. In practice the two are similar.
Do TicketSource and Purplepass promote events in a marketplace?
Yes, both do. TicketSource and Purplepass 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 TicketSource and Purplepass?
TicketSource: free. Purplepass: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to TicketSource 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

TicketSource vs

Purplepass vs

See every comparison → · TicketSource 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 TicketSource 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 TicketSource 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.