If you’ve organized or bought tickets to an event, chances are you’ve heard of Eventbrite. While it’s a popular event management platform, Eventbrite is also known for its high and often confusing fees. Recent changes—like sudden fee hikes and removing fee caps—have frustrated many event creators.
In this guide, we’ll break down Eventbrite’s fee history, current pricing, and pros/cons. By the end, you’ll know whether it’s worth the cost—and how Checkout Page offers a simpler, more affordable alternative.
Eventbrite fees: What’s all the fuss about?
If you are new to ticket sales, it’s worth knowing that Eventbrite fees have long been a hot topic among ticket sellers, and things really ramped up in late 2023 when Eventbrite introduced a new “organizer fee” for hosts of events with more than 25 tickets, including free tickets.
This move effectively eliminated the platform’s free tier for most users. Understandably, many event organizers were left feeling frustrated, and criticism was sparked in forums like Reddit.
Eventbrite pricing: Changes and free tier adjustments in 2023–2024
Let’s look at a sample of the changes to fees and tiers in the last two years to get a picture of the shifting landscape in the world of Eventbrite fees. I
It's important to note that Eventbrite's default is that buyers pay the fees on ticket purchases, although as a seller, you can opt to absorb these yourself instead.
March 2023:
- Service fee increase: Raised from 3.5% to 3.7% per ticket
- Per-ticket fee increase: Increased from $1.59 to $1.79
- Credit card processing fee increase: Upped from 2.5% to 2.9%
- North American restrictions: Removed the Essentials plan for North American customers, forcing them onto the more expensive Professional plan.
August 2023:
- Introduction of monthly fees:
- Flex plan: Per-event fees range from $9.99 (up to 100 tickets) to $49.99 (unlimited tickets).
- Pro plan: Monthly subscriptions start at $29 (up to 100 tickets) and go up to $159 (unlimited tickets).
- Elimination of fee refunds: Eventbrite stopped refunding their fees on canceled or refunded tickets.
- On-site fees: Maintained $1 per ticket for credit card and cash sales at the door.
September/October 2023: Revamp of pricing plans
- 25 ticket limit for free events: Eventbrite introduced an organizer fee for free events with more than 25 attendees, effectively ending its truly free tier for larger events. This move sparked a significant backlash from event creators, as expressed by the Reddit user above.
2024: Some backtracking (but fees remain high)
- Unlimited free listings: Starting September 4th, Eventbrite announced it will be free to list unlimited events of any size again, removing the 25 ticket restriction. This change makes Eventbrite more accessible to all organizers, promoting growth and sharing of live experiences.
- Flex plan removed and Pro plans added: Eventbrite creates new Pro plans with enhanced email marketing capabilities for event organizers.
The tiers for this plan are as follows:- Pro 2k: Send up to 2,000 daily emails for $15/month
- Pro 6k: Send up to 6,000 daily emails for $50/month)
- Pro 10k: Send up to 10,000 daily emails for $100/month (USD)
- Increase to onsite ticket fees: On top of the $1 per ticket, Eventbrite introduced a 2.9% on-site fee for credit cards and cash
Key takeaways from Eventbrite’s pricing volatility
- Frequent changes: Eventbrite has adjusted its pricing 11 times since 2007, with significant hikes in 2023 and 2024.
- Increasing complexity: The introduction of monthly fees, tiered plans, and on-site charges has made the fee structure more convoluted.
- Broken customer trust: Eventbrite has repeatedly walked back on fee caps and free event tiers, eroding user trust.
- High costs for paid events: Despite adjustments to the free tier, Eventbrite’s fees remain among the highest in the industry and may remain unstable.
- Free tier improvements: Reintroducing unlimited free events and no fees on free tickets is a positive step, but users are legitimately concerned about what changes may be on the horizon.
On top of the headache that the calculation of fees brings, these frequent changes have left many wondering:
Is Eventbrite worth it? And how long it will be before yet another change is announced?
How much does Eventbrite charge (2025)
Eventbrite’s most up-to-date pricing model has shifted from attendee-based fees to a focus on marketing capabilities. Here’s a breakdown of the current plans, which are correct as of February 9th, 2025:
Unlimited events: Publish unlimited free or paid events with no fees on free tickets
Ticketing fees: Standard service and payment processing fees apply
- Paid tickets incur 3.7% + $1.79 service fee per ticket in the USA
- Paid tickets incur 6.95% + £0.59 service fee per ticket in the UK
- A 2.9% payment processing fee is taken per order
Eventbrite Pro plans
Eventbrite offers Pro plans that cater to professional event organizers' needs, offering enhanced email marketing capabilities.
These plans provide access to features such as customizable email templates, automated reminders, and targeted campaigns.
The Pro plan tiers are as follows:
- Pro 2k: Send up to 2,000 daily emails for $15/month
- Pro 6k: Send up to 6,000 daily emails for $50/month)
- Pro 10k: Send up to 10,000 daily emails for $100/month (USD)
While the Pro plan offers valuable features, its focus on email marketing may not suit all organizers. If you don’t rely heavily on email campaigns, you might pay for tools you don’t need.
Discounts
Nonprofits receive a 50% discount, and annual subscribers save 20%.
Calculating Eventbrite ticketing fees
By default, Eventbrite fees are handed to your customers to pay; however, you can choose to absorb these yourself. Let’s look at the breakdown of fees and then an example break down for a $40 event ticket sold in the USA.
Standard fees (paid tickets)
| Country | Service fee | Payment processing fee |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 3.7% + $1.79/ticket | 2.9% of order total |
| UK | 6.95% + £0.59/ticket | NA |
| Canada | 3.5% + C$1.29/ticket | 2.9% of order total |
Example: Fees on a $40 ticket (USA)
Service fee: 3.7% of $40 = $1.48
Total after service fee = $40 + $1.79 = $41.79
Payment processing: 2.9% of $41.79 (ticket + service fee) = $1.21
Total fees: $4.52 (11.3% of the ticket price).
On-site and 'at the door' fees
Another cost factor for event organizers wanting to sell tickets to people at the door is that Eventbrite charges additional fees for both cash and credit card transactions.
The fees for tickets at the door vary by region:
- U.S & Canada: There is a service fee of $1 plus a 2.9% payment processing fee.
- U.K: The fee includes a service fee of £0.50, but there is no payment processing fee.
Eventbrite ticketing fees by country
Eventbrite’s fees vary significantly by region, adding another layer of confusion for anyone wanting to sell globally, as many online event creators do.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the fee differences per country for sellers considering ticket sales in multiple regions.
| Country | Service fee | Card processing fee | Donation tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 3.7% + $1.79 per sold ticket | 2.9% of the total order | Payment processing fee: 2.9% of the total order |
| UK | 6.95% + £0.59 per sold ticket | Not applicable | Service fee: 2% |
| Canada | 3.5% + C$1.29 per sold ticket | 2.9% of the total order | Payment processing fee: 2.9% of the total order |
| Ireland | 5.9% + €0.79 per sold ticket | Not applicable | Service fee: 2% |
| Australia | 5.35% + A$1.19 per sold ticket | Not applicable | Service fee: 2% |
| Germany | Service fee: 5.5% per sold ticket | Service fee: 5.5% + €0.99 per sold ticket | Donation tickets: 2% service fee |
| Switzerland | Service fee: 1% + Fr 0.59 per sold ticket | Service fee: 2.5% + Fr 0.99 per sold ticket | |
| Mexico | Payment processing fee: 2% of the total order | Payment processing fee: 2% of the total order |
Beyond fees: Pros and cons of Eventbrite
While fees are an essential consideration when choosing an event ticketing platform, they are far from the only factor in determining whether a particular solution fits your needs.
The cost must be weighed against the platform's value, so let’s take a closer look at Eventbrite’s pros and cons in terms of features:
✅ Pros
- Easy to use: Intuitive setup for beginners.
- Built-in marketing: Email campaigns and social tools.
- Global reach: Supports multiple currencies/languages.
❌ Cons
- High fees: Up to 11%+ per ticket.
- Complex pricing: Varies by country/event type.
- Limited branding: Heavy Eventbrite branding on pages.
- Restricted data access: Attendee info stays in Eventbrite’s ecosystem.
Checkout Page as an alternative to Eventbrite
Checkout Page is a platform designed to address these pain points while offering a streamlined, cost-effective solution for selling event tickets. Here are seven great reasons to consider Checkout Page as an alternative to Eventbrite:
1. Transparent, flat-rate pricing with no ticketing fees
Unlike Eventbrite’s percentage-based fees, Checkout Page offers a straightforward subscription model starting at just $24/month. With 0% transaction fees, you get to keep more of your ticket sales revenue.
2. Fully branded event pages
One of Eventbrite’s most significant drawbacks is its branding overshadows your brand identity. Checkout Page allows you to create white-labeled, fully branded event pages that match your website design seamlessly.
3. Complete control over attendee data
Eventbrite acts as a Merchant of Record, limiting your access to attendee data and communication outside its platform. With Checkout Page, we don’t act as a middleman, so you retain full control over your attendee data.
4. Flexible ticket types and revenue-boosting features
Checkout Page offers flexible ticket types, including name-your-own-price tickets, VIP upgrades, and the ability to sell merchandise or additional products with order bumps and one-click upsells.
5. No-code setup and seamless integration
Setting up events on Checkout Page is quick and easy, with no coding required. You can embed checkout pages directly on your website or share fully branded event pages. Plus, integrations with tools like Zapier and Google Sheets make it simple to streamline your workflows.
6. Fast payouts and no long-term commitments
With Checkout Page, you’ll never have to wait to access the funds from your sales. Checkout Page is built on Stripe, which is where your money stays. Additionally, no contracts or long-term commitments mean you can pause or cancel your subscription as needed.
7. Exceptional customer support
Checkout Page prides itself on offering live support from founders, not AI bots. Whether you need help setting up your event or optimizing your sales funnel process, their team is there to provide fast, expert, human assistance.
Final verdict
Eventbrite works for some, but its fees and limitations make it a poor fit for budget-conscious organizers who value branding and data control. Checkout Page offers a simpler, cheaper, and more flexible way to sell tickets—without surprise costs.
Ready to ditch the fees? Start your free trial today →
