Universe vs Purplepass

Universe (2% + $0.79) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Universe costs $2.29 and Purplepass costs $2.64.

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

Universe and Purplepass 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

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 Universe 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
Universe · 2% + $0.79$573

$348 platform fee + about $225 card processing.

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

Universe vs Purplepass, feature by feature

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

FeatureUniversePurplepassHi.Events
Platform fee per paid ticket2% + $0.792.5% + $0.991.25% + $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 ConnectThe 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 processorUniverse Payments 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 buyersYes, except in eight European countries 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 marketplace YesEvents are listed and searchable on purplepass.comNo
Tickets work without an app or account YesNot stated Yes
QR check-in appYes, BoxOfficeYes, for iOS and AndroidYes, in any phone browser
Reserved seatingNot stated 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 webhooksGraphQL API and webhooksZapier integrationREST API and webhooks
Single sign-on (SSO) for your teamNot statedNot statedOIDC, on request (no SAML)
Official ticket resaleTicket transfers onlyNot statedNo
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.

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

Universe vs Purplepass: common questions

Is Universe cheaper than Purplepass?
Universe (2% + $0.79) is cheaper than Purplepass (2.5% + $0.99) at every ticket price we checked. On a $30 ticket, with card processing included, Universe costs $2.29 and Purplepass costs $2.64. Card processing is charged on top by both.
Which pays out faster, Universe or Purplepass?
Universe: after the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe Connect. 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 Universe and Purplepass promote events in a marketplace?
Yes, both do. Universe 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 Universe and Purplepass?
Universe: free. Purplepass: free.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Universe 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

Universe vs

Purplepass vs

See every comparison → · Universe 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 Universe 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 Universe 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.