5,000+ organizers trust Hi.EventsSwitch from Universe.
Switch from Universe.
Keep your profit.
Universe charges 2% + $0.79 per ticket plus its own payment processing, and releases funds 48 hours after the event on Universe Payments. Hi.Events charges 1.25% + $0.60, card processing is Stripe's standard rate paid to Stripe, and the money settles into your own account as tickets sell.
Selling 250 tickets at $30? You'd keep $104 more than on Universe.
§ 01 · Organizers
Why organizers move to Hi.Events
We’ve used Hi.Events now for a few events and really love it. It’s also been fun to see improvements roll out as we go. We’re definitely never going back to Eventbrite.
Co-op bookstore & event spaceAs our exclusive ticketing and event management partner, JuliaCon Global 2026 would literally not be possible without their support. If you have bought your ticket, you have already got a taste of the smooth registration experience.
The Julia programming language conference§ 02 · Fees
Keep more of every ticket you sell
$0 for organizers. Pass the 1.25% + $0.60 fee to buyers or absorb it yourself. No monthly fee, no contract.
ADMIT ONE
Hi.Events · 1.25% + $0.60$244
Universe · 2% + $0.79$348
Illustrative comparison of platform fees only; payment processing is charged on top by both platforms. Self-hosted Hi.Events has no platform fees.
§ 03 · Compared
Hi.Events vs Universe
Where the two differ, and where they don't.
| Feature | Universe | Hi.Events |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee per paid ticket | 2% + $0.79 | 1.25% + $0.60 |
| Card processing | Universe Payments adds 3% in the US and 2% in the UK and Australia; or connect your own Stripe account | Stripe's standard rate, on top |
| Free events | Free | Free |
| When you're paid | After the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe Connect | As tickets sell, on your Stripe payout schedule |
| Payment processor | Universe Payments by default, or your own Stripe account | Your own Stripe account |
| Fee can be passed to the buyer | Yes, except in eight European countries | Yes |
| Your branding at checkout | Not stated | Yes |
| Embed checkout on your site | Yes | Yes |
| Tickets work without an app | Yes | Yes |
| Promo codes | Yes | Yes |
| Waitlists | Yes | Yes |
| Registration questions | Yes | Yes |
| Reserved seating | Not stated | No |
| Listed in a consumer marketplace | Yes | No |
| Open source | No | Yes |
§ 04 · FAQ
Before you switch
How do the fees compare?
Universe charges 2% + $0.79 in the US, 2% + £0.99 in the UK, 2% + A$0.99 in Australia. 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. Hi.Events charges 1.25% plus a small fixed amount per paid ticket: 1.25% + $0.60 in the US, 1.25% + €0.50 in the EU, 1.25% + £0.45 in the UK, 1.25% + A$0.85 in Australia, with Stripe's card rate paid separately. Both platforms leave card processing to your own payment account, so the comparison is platform fee against platform fee. On Hi.Events you can pass the fee to the buyer at checkout or absorb it.Universe fees explained →
Can I get my events onto Ticketmaster from Hi.Events?
No. Universe's Pro plan can distribute through Ticketmaster, and Hi.Events has no marketplace or distribution deal of any kind. You sell from your own event page, your website and your socials, and keep the fee difference for your own promotion.
Universe caps its service fee. Does Hi.Events?
No cap is needed: at 1.25% plus a small fixed amount, the Hi.Events fee on a $500 ticket is $6.85, against Universe's $10.79 service fee before processing. Universe's cap of $19.95 only matters above about $958 a ticket.
Does Hi.Events have timed entry and add-ons like Universe?
Yes. Tickets can carry their own dates and times, capacity can be set per date, and add-ons can be attached to any ticket or sold on their own. Registration questions, promo codes and waitlists are included too.
When do I get paid?
On Universe: after the event with Universe Payments, 48 hours after it ends; on your Stripe schedule with Stripe Connect. On Hi.Events you connect your own Stripe account and card payments settle into it as tickets sell, on your Stripe payout schedule. We never hold your money.Connecting Stripe →
Can I move my events over from Universe?
Yes, and the usual time to do it is between events. Recreating an event takes a few minutes, then you point your ticket links at the new page. Existing orders stay on Universe while new sales run through Hi.Events.
Do attendees need an account or an app?
No. They check out on your event page or in the widget on your own site, get their ticket by email with a link to the ticket page where the QR code is, and you scan it at the door from any phone.
Is Hi.Events really open source?
Yes, under the AGPL licence. Most organizers use the hosted version so they never touch a server, but the code is public and you can self-host it if you prefer.View on GitHub →
Start selling today
Create your next event on Hi.Events and share the link. No credit card, no plan to choose, no contract.
Free events cost nothing. Paid tickets are 1.25% + $0.60, with no monthly fee and no contract — see the full pricing.