TicketSource vs Universe

It depends on the ticket price. Universe (2% + $0.79) is cheaper on lower-priced tickets and TicketSource (3.5% + $0.99) is cheaper from around $15. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, TicketSource costs $2.04 and Universe costs $2.29.

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

TicketSource and Universe 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

Universe

Universe is a self-service ticketing platform owned by Ticketmaster. Organizers sell through hosted event pages, an embeddable widget and the Universe discovery site, and a custom-priced Pro plan adds Ticketmaster distribution.

Fee per paid ticket
2% + $0.79plus card processing
When you're paid
After the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe Connect
Best for
Organizers who want self-service ticketing with a route into Ticketmaster
Based in
Toronto, Canada, founded 2011

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% + $0.60plus 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 Universe 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.

Universe · 2% + $0.79$573

$348 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 Universe, feature by feature

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

FeatureTicketSourceUniverseHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket3.5% + $0.992% + $0.791.25% + $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 accountAfter the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe ConnectAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorTicketSource, or your own Stripe accountUniverse Payments by default, or your own Stripe accountYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyers YesYes, except in eight European countries Yes
Your branding at checkoutNot statedNot stated Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplaceWhat's On listings YesNo
Tickets work without an app or accountNot stated Yes Yes
QR check-in app YesYes, BoxOfficeYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seating YesNot statedNo
Recurring events and time slotsNot stated Yes Yes
Promo codesNot stated Yes Yes
Waitlist Yes Yes Yes
Custom checkout questionsNot stated Yes Yes
API and webhooksAPIGraphQL API and webhooksWebhooks
Official ticket resaleNot statedTicket transfers onlyNo
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.

Universe

Strengths

  • The service fee is capped per ticket in the US and UK
  • Choice of Universe Payments or your own Stripe account
  • Timed entry, waitlists, add-ons and custom questions on the entry plan
  • API, webhooks and an embeddable widget on every plan

Limitations

  • Funds are released 48 hours after the event on Universe Payments, then withdrawn on request
  • Fees vary a lot by country, and processing is charged on top
  • The built-in pass-fees-to-buyer option is missing in eight European countries
  • Pro plan pricing is not published

Starter plan rates. The Standard plan, which adds team permissions and payment plans, is 2.5% + $1.99 in the US and 5.5% + £0.99 in the UK. The service fee is capped at $19.95 or £9.95 a ticket; processing is not capped.

§ 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 Universe: common questions

Is TicketSource cheaper than Universe?
It depends on the ticket price. Universe (2% + $0.79) is cheaper on lower-priced tickets and TicketSource (3.5% + $0.99) is cheaper from around $15. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, TicketSource costs $2.04 and Universe costs $2.29. TicketSource's published fee includes card processing and Universe's does not, so the figures above add card processing to Universe to keep the comparison like for like.
Which pays out faster, TicketSource or Universe?
TicketSource: after the event, sent the following Monday; as tickets sell with your own Stripe account. Universe: after the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe Connect. In practice the two are similar.
Do TicketSource and Universe promote events in a marketplace?
Yes, both do. TicketSource and Universe 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 Universe?
TicketSource: free. Universe: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to TicketSource and Universe?
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

Universe vs

See every comparison → · TicketSource fees explained → · Universe 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 Universe.

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 Universe 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.