Universe vs Posh

Universe (2% + $0.79) is cheaper than Posh (10% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Universe costs $2.29 and Posh costs $3.99.

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

Universe and Posh 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

Posh

Posh is a US ticketing platform and app built for nightlife, parties and culture-led events. It bundles marketing tools such as unlimited SMS campaigns, affiliate links and an Explore discovery feed with ticketing, and its fee is added to the buyer's price with card processing included.

Fee per paid ticket
10% + $0.99includes card processing
When you're paid
As tickets sell; sales become available 24 to 48 business hours after purchase
Best for
US nightlife and party organizers who want SMS and affiliate marketing built in
Based in
New York, USA, founded 2019

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 Posh 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.

Posh · 10% + $0.99$998

Card processing is included in the fee.

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 Posh, feature by feature

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

FeatureUniversePoshHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket2% + $0.7910% + $0.991.25% + $0.60
Card processingCharged on topIncluded in the feeCharged 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; sales become available 24 to 48 business hours after purchaseAs tickets sell, on your own Stripe payout schedule
Payment processorUniverse Payments by default, or your own Stripe accountStripe, managed through PoshYour own Stripe account
Pass fees on to buyersYes, except in eight European countriesAlways; the fee is added to your base price Yes
Your branding at checkoutNot statedEvent pages; branding removal not stated Yes
Embed checkout on your site Yes Yes Yes
Listed in a consumer marketplace Yes YesNo
Tickets work without an app or account YesBuyers need a Posh account Yes
QR check-in appYes, BoxOffice YesYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seatingNot statedTable maps onlyNo
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 webhooksGraphQL API and webhooksWebhooks onlyWebhooks
Official ticket resaleTicket transfers onlyTransfers and waitlist returnsNo
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.

Posh

Strengths

  • Money is available before the event, with free standard payouts
  • Unlimited SMS campaigns, affiliate links and a discovery feed included
  • Embeddable checkout, custom questions and webhooks
  • Event series, waitlists and table-service maps

Limitations

  • A comparatively high fee per paid ticket
  • US-focused, with no published rates outside USD
  • Instant payouts cost 5%
  • Buyers must create a Posh account to buy

The fee is added on top of your base price and shown to buyers as one all-in price. Standard payouts are free; an instant payout costs 5%.

§ 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 Posh: common questions

Is Universe cheaper than Posh?
Universe (2% + $0.79) is cheaper than Posh (10% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Universe costs $2.29 and Posh costs $3.99. Posh'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, Universe or Posh?
Universe: after the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe Connect. Posh: as tickets sell; sales become available 24 to 48 business hours after purchase. Posh gets money to you sooner, which matters if you have deposits or suppliers to pay before the event.
Do Universe and Posh promote events in a marketplace?
Yes, both do. Universe and Posh 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 Posh?
Universe: free. Posh: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Universe and Posh?
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

Posh vs

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

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 Posh 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.