TryBooking vs Purplepass

TryBooking (5% + $0.19*) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, TryBooking costs $1.69 and Purplepass costs $2.64.

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

TryBooking and Purplepass at a glance

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% + $0.19*includes 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

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 TryBooking 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
TryBooking · 5% + $0.19*$423

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. * 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

TryBooking vs Purplepass, feature by feature

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

FeatureTryBookingPurplepassHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket5% + $0.19*2.5% + $0.991.25% + $0.60
Card processingIncluded in the feeCharged on topCharged on top
Free eventsFreeFreeFree
When you're paidOn request from your TryBooking balance; requests before the event can be held for checks of up to seven daysThe 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 processorTryBooking by default, 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 checkoutYour branding on tickets and booking pagesEvent page images and your own CSS Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplace YesEvents are listed and searchable on purplepass.comNo
Tickets work without an app or account YesNot 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 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 webhooksRead-only APIZapier 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

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.

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

TryBooking vs Purplepass: common questions

Is TryBooking cheaper than Purplepass?
TryBooking (5% + $0.19*) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, TryBooking costs $1.69 and Purplepass costs $2.64. TryBooking'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, TryBooking or Purplepass?
TryBooking: on request from your TryBooking balance; requests before the event can be held for checks of up to seven days. Purplepass: the Thursday after your event by default; as tickets sell if you connect your own PayPal or merchant account. TryBooking gets money to you sooner, which matters if you have deposits or suppliers to pay before the event.
Do TryBooking and Purplepass promote events in a marketplace?
Yes, both do. TryBooking 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 TryBooking and Purplepass?
TryBooking: free. Purplepass: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to TryBooking 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

TryBooking vs

Purplepass vs

See every comparison → · TryBooking 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 TryBooking 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 TryBooking 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.