Eventbrite is the name most people think of first when they need to sell tickets, and for good reason. It is quick to set up, buyers recognise it, and its marketplace can put your event in front of people who would never have found it otherwise. The complaints in its reviews tend to cluster around three things: fees, when you get paid, and how hard it can be to reach a person when something goes wrong.
Here is a fair summary of both sides, so you can decide whether Eventbrite suits the events you run.
What organisers like about Eventbrite
It is quick and easy to set up
Most reviewers agree that getting an event live on Eventbrite is simple. You can create a page, add ticket types and start selling in an afternoon without any technical help. For a one-off event run by volunteers, that matters.
People already know it
Buyers are used to Eventbrite’s checkout, which can make them more comfortable paying. A familiar name helps when your event or organisation is new.
The marketplace can bring in new buyers
Eventbrite lists events in its own search and recommendations. For workshops, talks and city events, some organisers find a meaningful share of sales comes from people browsing Eventbrite itself. For local fetes, club dinners and school events, where the audience is mostly people you already know, the marketplace tends to matter less.
The most common complaints
Fees that add up on cheaper tickets
In the UK, Eventbrite charges 6.95% of the ticket price plus 59p per paid ticket, with card processing included. By default the fee is added on top of your ticket price, so your buyers pay it. On a Ā£10 ticket that adds Ā£1.29 at checkout. On a Ā£5 ticket it adds 94p, close to a fifth of the price, which is where a lot of the frustration in reviews comes from. You can read a full breakdown of Eventbrite’s UK fees, including what they come to at different ticket prices.
Waiting until after the event to get paid
By default, Eventbrite pays out three business days after your event ends, and new organisers always receive their first payout after the event. Experienced organisers can apply for an earlier schedule. For committees paying deposits on marquees, bands and fireworks weeks in advance, waiting until after the event for the ticket money is a common sore point in reviews.
Getting hold of a person
Reviewers often describe support as slow or automated, particularly when an account is put on hold, a payout is delayed or a refund needs sorting quickly. When the problem is happening on the day of your event, that delay is what people remember.
Sharing a marketplace with everyone else
Because anyone can list on Eventbrite, buyers sometimes report listings that turn out not to be genuine. That is not a problem with your event, but it is worth knowing if your audience is wary of buying online.
Is Eventbrite right for your event?
Eventbrite is a reasonable choice if you want to reach new people through its marketplace, run occasional free events, or need something you can set up today without any help.
It is worth looking elsewhere if:
- your tickets are cheap and the per-ticket fee feels like a big slice of the price
- you need ticket money before the event to cover deposits and suppliers
- you want to speak to someone in the UK when something goes wrong
- you are a charity and want buyers’ money to go to the cause, not to fees
How Comus approaches the same problems
We built Comus after running into the same frustrations ourselves, so it is set up differently. Our Eventbrite alternative page goes into more detail, but in short:
Lower checkout prices and no fees for charities
Registered charities pay no platform fee on Comus. Other organisers pay 3% per ticket, and buyers pay a 60p booking fee plus card processing. On a Ā£20 ticket, buyers pay Ā£21.40 at checkout on Comus compared with Ā£21.98 on Eventbrite. Full details are on our Comus pricing page.
Paid weekly, not after the event
Comus pays out every week, roughly seven days after each sale, so the money is there when the deposits are due. Read more about weekly payouts.
Support from people in the UK
Our support team is based in the UK and works UK hours. If something needs sorting, you speak to someone who understands how British events run. More on our UK-based support.
Your customers stay yours
You get full access to your buyers’ details, so you can tell them about next year’s event yourself.
The one thing Comus does not offer is a public marketplace. If most of your sales come from people finding you on Eventbrite, factor that in. If your buyers already know you, it rarely makes a difference.
Eventbrite reviews: common questions
Is Eventbrite worth it for small events?
It can be, especially for free events, which cost nothing to run on Eventbrite. For small paid events with low ticket prices, the fixed 59p per ticket makes up a large share of each sale, so it is worth comparing the checkout price on other platforms.
When does Eventbrite pay organisers?
By default, three business days after the event ends. New organisers receive their first payout after the event. Some organisers can apply for an earlier schedule once they have run an event.
Does Eventbrite charge for free events?
No. Eventbrite only charges fees on paid tickets.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Eventbrite in the UK?
Several UK platforms charge less at checkout, including Comus. The right choice depends on your ticket price, whether you need the money before the event, and whether you are a registered charity.
If you would like to see how your next event would work on Comus, set up a free account. There is no subscription and you only pay when you sell.
