Universe vs Luma

It depends on the ticket price. Luma (5%) is cheaper on lower-priced tickets and Universe (2% + $0.79) is cheaper from around $20. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Universe costs $2.29 and Luma costs $2.67.

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

Universe and Luma at a glance

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

Luma

Luma is an event page, registration and community calendar tool, popular for meetups and tech events. It is free to use with a 5% fee on paid tickets, or 0% on the Luma Plus subscription, and payments run through the organizer's own Stripe account. Guest messaging by email, SMS and WhatsApp is built in.

Fee per paid ticket
5%plus card processing
When you're paid
As tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Best for
Community meetups and tech events with free or simple paid registration
Based in
San Francisco, USA, founded 2020

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 Universe and Luma 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
Universe · 2% + $0.79$573

$348 platform fee + about $225 card processing.

Luma · 5%$668

$375 platform fee + about $293 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

Universe vs Luma, feature by feature

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

FeatureUniverseLumaHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket2% + $0.795%1.25% + $0.60
Card processingCharged on topCharged on topCharged on top
Free eventsFreeFreeFree
When you're paidAfter the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe ConnectAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout scheduleAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorUniverse Payments by default, or your own Stripe accountYour own Stripe accountYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyersYes, except in eight European countriesNo Yes
Your branding at checkoutNot statedCustom event URLs on Luma Plus 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, BoxOffice YesYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seatingNot statedNot statedNo
Recurring events and time slots YesNo Yes
Promo codes Yes Yes Yes
Waitlist Yes Yes Yes
Custom checkout questions Yes Yes Yes
API and webhooksGraphQL API and webhooksOn Luma Plus onlyWebhooks
Official ticket resaleTicket transfers onlyNoNo
Open sourceNoNo Yes
Can be self-hostedNoNo Yes
§ 03 · Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

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.

Luma

Strengths

  • Free plan with unlimited events and guests
  • Luma Plus removes the platform fee entirely
  • Money goes to your own Stripe account as tickets sell
  • Email, SMS and WhatsApp guest messaging built in

Limitations

  • Fees cannot be passed to the buyer
  • No recurring events or time slots; you clone events instead
  • API, webhooks and Zapier need the paid plan
  • Built for registration more than box-office ticketing

Luma Plus, at $59 a month billed annually, removes the 5% fee and adds API access, Zapier and tax collection. Fees cannot be added on top of the ticket price, so the organizer always absorbs 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

Universe vs Luma: common questions

Is Universe cheaper than Luma?
It depends on the ticket price. Luma (5%) is cheaper on lower-priced tickets and Universe (2% + $0.79) is cheaper from around $20. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Universe costs $2.29 and Luma costs $2.67. Card processing is charged on top by both.
Which pays out faster, Universe or Luma?
Universe: after the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe Connect. Luma: as tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule. Luma gets money to you sooner, which matters if you have deposits or suppliers to pay before the event.
Do Universe and Luma promote events in a marketplace?
Yes, both do. Universe and Luma 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 Universe and Luma?
Universe: free. Luma: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Universe and Luma?
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

Universe vs

Luma vs

See every comparison → · Universe fees explained → · Luma 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 Universe or Luma.

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 Universe and Luma 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.