Eventbrite Fees Exposed: 2025 Organizer Wake-Up Call

Eventbrite fees have seen dramatic increases since 2007. Their service fee climbed from 3.5% to 3.7%, while their per-ticket fee rose from $1.59 to $1.79 in 2023. The company also raised its credit card processing fee from 2.5% to 2.9% during the same period.

Users now face total fees of 11% or more per ticket sale, making Eventbrite one of the costliest ticketing platforms available. The platform’s new monthly charges range from $9.99 to $49.99 per event based on ticket volume. They have also removed their free tier by adding an organizer fee for events selling more than 25 tickets.

Event creators express growing frustration with these pricing changes. Many question whether Eventbrite provides enough value to justify such costs. TicketsCandy offers a refreshing alternative with its predictable, low-cost structure and transparent fees that avoid hidden charges or unexpected increases.

This piece will examine Eventbrite’s complex fee structure in detail. You’ll see ground cost comparisons and learn why thousands of event organizers choose simpler, more affordable ticketing options.

Eventbrite Fee Increases Over Time

Let’s look at how Eventbrite fees have changed through the years. The pattern shows steady price increases that affect event organizers by a lot. Here’s a breakdown of these cost changes and what they mean for your events now.

2007 to 2024: 11 Pricing Changes Tracked

Eventbrite has raised its prices 11 times in almost two decades^[3]. The platform started with reasonable ticketing prices but has become one of the most expensive options out there. The fees changed like this:

The per-ticket fee went from $0.99 to $1.59, and jumped to $1.79 in 2023^[25]. The service fee percentage grew from 2.5% to 3.5%, and now sits at 3.7%^[25]. Credit card processing fees also went up from 2.5% to 2.9%^[10].

The company raised its fees right after their $200 million IPO in 2018^[3]. They started charging a $1.00 fee for every door sale in 2021. This applies to both credit card and cash payments^[25].

The company’s fee increases often came after getting funding. They doubled their fee cap from $9.95 to $19.95 after raising $60 million in 2016^[3]. The per-ticket fee doubled from $0.99 to $1.99 just months after they got $134 million in Series G funding in 2017^[3].

Removal of Fee Caps and Refund Policies

Eventbrite used to have a maximum fee cap—first at $9.95, later at $19.95. This protected organizers who sold expensive tickets. The company removed this cap completely^[25], so fees now increase without any limit based on ticket price.

The company made another big change in 2023 that hits organizers’ profits: they stopped refunding their fees when events get canceled or tickets are refunded^[25]. You’ll still pay Eventbrite fees even if you give refunds to your attendees.

Organizers could get their service fees back during cancelations before this change. Now these fees are gone—adding extra costs when events change or get canceled.

Monthly Subscription Tiers and Email Limits

Eventbrite added a new pricing model with mandatory monthly fees in late 2023^[25]. They started with three Event Listing plans—Flex, Pro, and Premium^[26]. The Flex plan fees ranged from $9.99 (up to 100 tickets) to $49.99 (unlimited tickets) per event^[10].

The company has now removed the Flex plan. They only offer Pro plans with monthly subscriptions that start at $29.00 and go up to $159.00 based on ticket volume^[10][26].

Email marketing has new limits too. Organizers without a Pro subscription can send only 250 marketing emails per day^[4]. A Pro plan increases this to 10,000 emails daily^[20].

The Boost subscription costs between $15 and $100 monthly and gives you more marketing tools^[20][3]. Active organizers using all Eventbrite’s services might pay between $159 to over $2,000 monthly^[26].

The platform has moved away from simple percentage-based fees. Now it uses a mix of service fees, processing fees, monthly subscriptions, and marketing add-ons. This makes it harder to figure out your total costs when planning events.

Eventbrite Pricing Plans in 2025 Explained

Eventbrite completely revamped its pricing model in 2025. The platform now emphasizes marketing features but keeps its layered fee structure. Let’s get into what you’ll pay to use their platform now.

Pro Plan Tiers: $15 to $100 per Month

The platform’s subscription model now revolves around email marketing capabilities. You’ll find three Pro plan tiers that differ based on daily email volume^[6]:

• Pro 2K: $15.00/month for up to 2,000 daily emails
• Pro 6K: $50.00/month for up to 6,000 daily emails
• Pro 10K: $100.00/month for up to 10,000 daily emails

Your daily marketing emails are capped at 250 without a Pro subscription^[4]. Event organizers who depend on email marketing will need a Pro plan to run their campaigns effectively.

The platform rewards annual commitments with a 20% discount compared to monthly payments^[4]. To name just one example, you’ll pay $144.00 for the Pro 2K annual plan instead of $180.00 in monthly installments.

Ticketing Fees: 3.7% + $1.79 + 2.9% Processing

Ticketing fees are the backbone of Eventbrite’s revenue model, and they remain substantial with the new subscription structure. US events face these fees^[7][8]:

• Service fee: 3.7% + $1.79 per sold ticket
• Payment processing fee: An additional 2.9% of the total order

A $50.00 ticket could rack up considerable extra costs^[6]. These fees apply to every paid ticket and add-on sold through the platform.

You have two ways to handle these fees^[7]:

1. Pass fees on: Your attendees cover the fees above your ticket price
2. Absorb fees: You include the fees in your ticket price

On-Site Sales: $1 + 2.9% per Ticket

The platform charges different fees for tickets sold through their Organizer app at the venue^[7][9]:

• Service fee: $1.00 per paid ticket
• Payment processing fee: 2.9% of the total order (credit card sales only)

You’ll pay Eventbrite even when you collect cash payments at your event^[9]. Credit card transactions incur the processing fee, while the $1.00 service fee applies to all on-site sales.

Region-Based Pricing Variations

Your location affects the fee structure, which creates challenges for international event organizers^[10]. Here’s what you’ll see in different regions:

• United Kingdom: 6.95% + £0.59 service fee per ticket with no separate processing fee
• Canada: 3.5% + C$1.29 service fee per ticket plus 2.9% processing fee
• Australia: 5.35% + A$1.19 service fee per ticket with no separate processing fee

On-site sales vary by region too^[7]:

• United Kingdom: £0.50 per paid ticket with no processing fee
• Canada: C$1.00 per paid ticket plus 2.9% processing fee

These regional differences can affect your total costs by a lot, especially if you run events in multiple countries. Make sure to calculate fees for your specific region when planning your event budget.

TicketsCandy Pricing Model: Simple and Transparent

TicketsCandy stands out with its simple pricing model that puts event organizers first, which is a welcome change from Eventbrite’s ever-changing fee structure. My understanding of their approach reveals a system built on clarity and reliability.

Flat Monthly Fee with 0% Ticketing Fees

TicketsCandy has revolutionized the ticketing fee model. Event organizers pay absolutely nothing to use their platform^[11]. The platform adds a small 0.9% service fee to ticket prices that buyers pay at checkout^[12][11][13]. This smart approach lets you keep 100% of your ticket revenue^[11][1].

Other platforms charge 7-20% in service fees^[11], making TicketsCandy’s 0.9% fee remarkably affordable. The difference becomes significant when you compare it to Eventbrite’s total fees, which can exceed 11% per ticket.

This pricing strategy does more than just save money. Customers are nowhere near as likely to abandon their purchase since the checkout price stays close to the original ticket price. The data shows this method can increase ticket sales by up to 30%^[11][12] compared to high-fee platforms.

No On-Site or Processing Add-Ons

TicketsCandy includes everything in their straightforward model, unlike Eventbrite which charges extra for on-site sales and payment processing. You won’t find no hidden charges^[12][2] – no processing fees, on-site fees, or feature costs.

Your account gives you instant access to all premium ticketing features^[2] such as:

• Up-to-the-minute sales data
• Custom ticket creation
• Direct bank account transfers
• Mobile ticket scanning
• Integrated marketing tools

The platform needs no credit card to sign up^[2] and has no long-term contracts^[12]. This gives organizers complete flexibility without losing any features.

Free for Free Events with No Limits

TicketsCandy takes affordability to the next level for free events. Both organizers and attendees pay absolutely nothing^[13]. The service is completely free, with no service or processing fees.

The platform isn’t membership or tier-based^[14], unlike Eventbrite. You get all features for free^[14], whatever your event size or ticket volume. Small community gatherings or large-scale festivals can create unlimited events and tickets^[15] at no extra cost.

Event creation becomes highly flexible. You can create unlimited ticket types^[14] that match your needs – from general admission to VIP access, timed entries, or early bird specials – all for free.

TicketsCandy’s pricing model stands alone in the ticketing industry with its combination of 0% organizer fees, minimal attendee fees, and unlimited features. The transparent structure eliminates the uncertainty that plagues platforms like Eventbrite, where pricing changes often leave organizers struggling with their budgets.

Feature Comparison: Eventbrite vs TicketsCandy

The long-term value of event platforms depends on their core features, not just their pricing. TicketsCandy and Eventbrite differ in several ways, especially in their approach to branding, data ownership, and marketing tools.

Branding Control: Eventbrite Branding vs White-Label Pages

Event organizers face major constraints with Eventbrite’s branding approach. The platform keeps their branding visible on all event pages, whatever your subscription tier might be. Your brand experience suffers from this disconnect during the ticketing process.

TicketsCandy takes a different path with its fully customizable Website Widget that naturally fits your website’s design. You can make the widget match your site perfectly with these built-in styling tools:

• Accent Color to customize buttons and links
• Text Color that matches your website’s fonts
• Background Color to line up with your site’s look

The platform shows you a live preview as you adjust these colors. You can see exactly how changes will look before saving them^[16]. Your customers stay in your branded environment throughout their purchase because of this white-label approach.

Attendee Data Access: Limited vs Full Ownership

These platforms differ most in how they handle data ownership. Eventbrite puts strict limits on organizers’ access to attendee information.

You need both event and attendee IDs to get even simple information through Eventbrite’s API^[17]. Their Trust & Safety team might restrict your account if they think you’re not following good practices when messaging your audience^[18].

TicketsCandy, in spite of that, gives organizers total control over their customer data. The platform works naturally with popular marketing tools like Mailchimp and Constant Contact. You can run email campaigns without restrictions^[19]. This means you keep direct contact with attendees without any platform getting in the way.

Marketing Tools: Email Limits vs Built-in Integrations

Eventbrite now puts most marketing features behind paywalls. Regular organizers can send only 250 promotional emails daily without upgrading to Pro^[18]. A Boost subscription costs $15 to $100 monthly based on your email needs (2,000 to 10,000 daily emails)^[20].

TicketsCandy handles marketing differently by focusing on integration over restrictions. The platform has:

• Meta Pixel (formerly Facebook Pixel) to track purchases and improve ads
• Google Ads integration to monitor conversions
• Google Analytics to track visitor behavior
• Social media sharing^[19]

The platform also helps spread the word by sharing events on their social channels at no extra cost^[21]. Their App Marketplace puts all your tools in one place. Your dashboard stays clean while you pick which marketing features to use^[19].

You won’t need separate marketing subscriptions or tools that Eventbrite makes necessary through their tiered system and email limits.

Real-World Cost Scenarios: Who Saves More?

Numbers tell the truth when comparing ticketing platforms. Let’s get into how Eventbrite fees compare to TicketsCandy’s pricing model for different event types to see who saves more money.

Small Event: 100 Tickets at $20 Each

The financial gap between platforms makes a big difference for a small event selling 100 tickets at $20 each:

With Eventbrite, organizers pay multiple fees:

• Service fee: 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket = $3.53 per ticket
• Payment processing: 2.9% of total order = $0.58 per ticket
• Total fees per ticket: $4.11
• Total cost for event: $411 (20.6% of gross sales)

TicketsCandy’s math is much simpler:

• Organizer keeps 100% of ticket revenue
• Attendees pay minimal 0.9% service fee ($0.18 per ticket)
• Total cost for event: $0 for organizer

The result? $411 saved – money that could go toward marketing, better venues, or pure profit.

Large Festival: 10,000 Tickets at $50 Each

The cost difference becomes huge at this scale:

Eventbrite costs:

• Service fee: 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket = $3.64 per ticket
• Payment processing: 2.9% of order = $1.45 per ticket
• Total per ticket: $5.09
• Total festival cost: $50,900 (10.2% of gross sales)

TicketsCandy:

• Organizer keeps 100% of ticket revenue
• Attendees pay 0.9% service fee ($0.45 per ticket)
• Total festival cost: $0 for organizer

This adds up to $50,900 in savings – enough money to book more performers, improve production quality, or boost profits substantially.

The $50 price point shows another important difference. Traditional platforms typically add $3-$5 in extra charges to a $50 ticket^[22]. This creates sticker shock and leads many buyers to abandon their purchase.

Recurring Events: Monthly Comedy Shows

Time multiplies these differences for recurring events. A monthly comedy show selling 200 tickets at $25 shows this clearly:

Eventbrite’s ongoing costs:

• Monthly Pro plan subscription: $29 (minimum)
• Per-event fees: $1,027 per show
• Annual cost: $12,684

TicketsCandy’s approach:

• No monthly subscription fees
• No per-ticket commissions for organizers
• Annual cost: $0

This saves venues $1,057 every month – often the difference between making and losing money for small entertainment spots.

Cart abandonment rates make the cost gap even clearer. TicketsCandy’s small attendee fee (0.9%) leads to 30% fewer abandoned purchases^[12] compared to platforms charging higher fees.

The ticketing world keeps changing. Eventbrite has changed its pricing structure 11 times since 2007^[10], which makes budget planning tough. These ground scenarios show why event creators now value fee transparency as much as platform features.

Trust and Predictability: Why Simplicity Matters

Your long-term satisfaction with a ticketing platform largely depends on stable pricing policies. Event organizers and their ticketing providers need more than just features – they need trust and predictability to build lasting business relationships.

Eventbrite’s History of Sudden Changes

Your budget planning and profit margins take a direct hit from unpredictable ticketing costs. Eventbrite changes their pricing “more often than Taylor Swift switches boyfriends”^[3]. Many organizers have struggled to keep up with their pattern of unexpected fee adjustments.

Eventbrite made what seemed like an iron-clad promise in March 2011: “We will never charge you more than USD 9.95 per ticket”^[3]. They broke this promise by June 2016, right after raising $60 million in funding, and more than doubled the maximum to $19.95^[3].

The whole ordeal didn’t stop there. Since 2007, Eventbrite has rolled out 11 separate price increases^[3], usually after funding rounds or IPO events. They doubled their per-ticket fee from $0.99 to $1.99^[3] after getting $134 million in Series G funding in 2017. The fees went up again right after their $200 million IPO in 2018^[3].

A closer look at Eventbrite’s business performance tells the real story. Even with all these fee increases, they’ve lost money consistently – $68 million annually over five years^[23]. This might mean more price hikes are coming as they try to turn a profit.

TicketsCandy’s Consistent Pricing Promise

Trust serves as the life-blood of TicketsCandy’s pricing approach. They built their fee structure to create lasting relationships with organizers and attendees alike.

TicketsCandy believes that “transparency in pricing helps build trust with your audience, as they appreciate knowing the total cost upfront without any hidden fees”^[5]. This isn’t just marketing talk – it shows in how they’ve designed their platform.

TicketsCandy stands out by offering “a consistent and clear pricing experience across all events and states” that “helps reduce confusion and improve customer satisfaction”^[5]. Their dedication to clear pricing goes beyond smart business – it keeps them ahead of new state pricing transparency laws^[5].

Customer reactions to pricing changes make this difference matter even more. Studies show that “frequent price changes can annoy customers” who “might think dynamic pricing is unfair, leading to frustration and a loss of trust”^[24]. TicketsCandy’s strategy matches what customers want and expect.

Stable pricing does more than just help with immediate costs – it creates stronger bonds between organizers and their attendees.

Comparison Table

Conclusion

The choice between Eventbrite and TicketsCandy is crystal clear after looking at both platforms closely. Eventbrite keeps raising fees, hiding costs, and putting essential features behind subscription paywalls. TicketsCandy takes the opposite approach with clear, predictable pricing.

Eventbrite fees have kept climbing and now sit at about 11% per ticket. They’ve also added monthly subscriptions that pile on extra costs. What’s worse, they restrict email marketing unless you pay premium rates – a huge pain point for organizers trying to promote their events.

TicketsCandy has built everything around keeping things simple and open. You keep much more revenue from every ticket sold thanks to their 0% organizer fees and just 0.9% attendee fees. This makes a huge difference for bigger events, where organizers can save thousands of dollars.

The platform goes beyond just better pricing. TicketsCandy gives you full data ownership, white-label branding, and unlimited marketing tools at no extra cost. Organizers get complete control over their events without worrying about surprise fee hikes or feature restrictions.

Ground examples show that events of all sizes benefit from TicketsCandy’s straightforward approach – from neighborhood gatherings to major festivals. On top of that, their steady low fees mean fewer abandoned carts and often better sales overall.

Trust is everything in ticketing. Eventbrite’s track record of breaking fee cap promises and hiking prices after funding rounds raises red flags about what’s next. TicketsCandy’s steady approach gives you peace of mind that the rules won’t change halfway through.

Event organizers need a ticketing platform that helps them succeed instead of seeing them as a cash cow. Based on this detailed look, TicketsCandy stands out as the more organizer-friendly choice for those who value openness, reliability, and affordable pricing in their ticketing partner.