Eventbrite

What is eventbrite

Eventbrite is a web-based event management and ticketing platform that helps organizers publish events, sell tickets, manage registrations, and handle attendee check‑in. The platform supports a wide range of event formats including single-ticket workshops, recurring classes, conferences, festivals, fundraisers, and virtual webinars. Eventbrite combines a public event discovery marketplace with organizer-facing tools for event setup, payment processing, and attendee management.

Eventbrite is used by individual creators and small organizations for local meetups and ticketed classes, and by mid-market and enterprise teams for multi-session conferences and ticketed festivals. The platform integrates public-facing event pages and discovery features with backend admin tools like ticketing rules, promo codes, custom registration forms, and reporting. Eventbrite also provides a mobile check-in solution and a developer API for custom integrations.

Because Eventbrite’s model mixes marketplace discovery with organizer tools, it serves both organizers who want to attract attendees through Eventbrite’s listings and teams who already have an audience and need a reliable ticketing and registration backbone. For organizers focused strictly on registration and ticket distribution without marketplace discovery, Eventbrite can be configured to minimize public discovery and integrate with external websites.

Eventbrite features

What does eventbrite do?

Eventbrite provides a suite of features to run ticketed and free events: event creation and publishing, customizable event pages, multiple ticket types (general admission, reserved seating, early bird), promo codes and discounts, integrated payments, attendee management and reporting, email communication with attendees, ticket scanning and mobile check-in, and native support for virtual event links (webinar and livestream support). The platform also exposes an API and webhooks for custom workflows and integrations with CRM, marketing automation, and analytics systems.

Key organizer-facing capabilities include advanced ticket configuration (quantity limits, tiers, reserved seating maps via integrations), custom registration forms to capture attendee metadata, automated confirmation and reminder emails, and exportable attendee lists. On the attendee side Eventbrite provides a streamlined checkout flow, e‑mail/SMS ticket delivery, and calendar integration for purchased tickets.

Eventbrite includes discovery features: public event listing pages, category browsing, and location-based search that can drive organic attendee acquisition. The platform supports cross‑posting and social sharing tools and offers simple embeddable widgets to sell tickets from an organizer’s own website.

Additional features commonly used by larger organizers include white‑label or branded embeds, multiple organizers and team accounts, role-based access control for event staff, and integrations for payment reconciliation and tax reporting. For in-person events, the Eventbrite Organizer mobile app provides on-site check-in and door sales capabilities.

Eventbrite pricing

Eventbrite offers these pricing plans:

• Free Plan: $0/event for free events; fees apply for paid events (payment processing and service fees per ticket)
• Starter: % + per-ticket fee variable depending on country and chosen payment processor
• Professional: % + per-ticket fee higher-tier feature package with marketing and analytics tools
• Enterprise: custom pricing for high-volume organizations and advanced security or integration needs

Eventbrite’s fee structure is primarily transaction-based for paid events rather than a flat monthly subscription. Organizers typically pay a combination of a percentage fee of ticket price plus a fixed fee per ticket, and a separate payment processing fee. Fees vary by country, event currency, and whether the organizer chooses to pass fees to attendees or absorb them.

For the most accurate, up-to-date numbers and country-specific fees, check Eventbrite’s current fee structure on Eventbrite’s fees information page: View Eventbrite's current fee structure (https://www.eventbrite.com/fees/). The page lists service fees, payment processing rates, and options for offering free events without per-ticket service fees.

Eventbrite also offers custom contracts for large organizations with high ticket volume or additional requirements. Enterprise customers can negotiate flat-fee arrangements, priority support, dedicated account management, and integrations that are priced outside the standard transaction model.

How much is eventbrite per month

Eventbrite starts at $0/month for organizers running free events or using basic event pages. Because Eventbrite primarily charges per ticket for paid events, many organizers do not pay a recurring monthly fee unless they opt for enterprise or custom subscription services.

For organizers who use Eventbrite’s advanced marketing features or a packaged plan, costs can effectively behave like a monthly subscription when event volume is high. In these cases, Eventbrite sales or support can provide plan-based fees under negotiated contracts.

How much is eventbrite per year

Eventbrite costs $0/year for basic usage with free events. For paid events, annual costs scale with event volume and ticket prices because Eventbrite charges per-ticket service and payment processing fees rather than flat annual pricing.

Organizations running frequent events can estimate annual expense by multiplying their average per-ticket fee by expected ticket volume. Enterprise contracts may convert transaction fees to predictable annual or monthly invoices under negotiated terms.

How much is eventbrite in general

Eventbrite pricing ranges from $0 for free events to a per-ticket fee model for paid events. Eventbrite’s per-ticket fees typically combine a percentage of the ticket price plus a fixed amount per ticket and a separate payment processing fee. That makes overall cost dependent on ticket price, volume, and whether fees are passed to attendees.

Because pricing varies by market and event type (paid, paid with reserved seating, donations, virtual), many organizers review Eventbrite’s fees page and use the platform’s fee calculator while setting ticket prices. Eventbrite’s fee model is intended to be self‑serving for occasional event organizers and scalable for high-volume producers via enterprise agreements.

What is eventbrite used for

Eventbrite is used to create and publish event pages, sell tickets, handle registrations, and manage attendees. Organizers use it for a broad set of event types: paid concerts and festivals, ticketed conferences with multiple sessions, single-session classes and workshops, community meetups, fundraising events, and virtual webinars and online workshops.

Eventbrite is also used for attendee communications—sending confirmations, collecting post-event feedback, and distributing reminders. For organizers running recurring events or multi-day conferences, Eventbrite’s ticketing and reporting features help manage complex attendee flows, reserved seating, and session capacity tracking.

Because Eventbrite includes a public discovery layer, many event organizers rely on the platform to attract walk-in attendees or people searching for local events. Conversely, organizations with an established audience use Eventbrite as a backend to process payments and registrations while embedding ticket widgets into their own websites.

Common use-case scenarios include:

• Small organizers and creators: selling tickets to single-session workshops, classes, and community events
• Medium-sized teams: managing multi-session conferences, selling early-bird and tiered tickets, and coordinating team-based check-in
• Large events and festivals: coordinating high-volume sales, badge printing, reserved seating, and integrations with access control systems

Pros and cons of eventbrite

Eventbrite has clear strengths for independent organizers and teams that want a quick, reliable way to publish events and sell tickets. Strengths include an intuitive event creation flow, built-in discovery and marketplace exposure, and a polished attendee checkout experience. The Organizer mobile app and barcode scanning tooling make on‑site check-in straightforward, while the platform’s reporting and export features provide the basic analytics most organizers need.

Eventbrite’s transaction-based pricing is attractive for occasional event organizers because there is no mandatory monthly subscription, but for high-volume producers the per-ticket fees can add up and may be more expensive than specialized enterprise ticketing systems. Enterprise customers can negotiate different terms, but that requires engaging Eventbrite’s sales team.

Limitations include reduced flexibility for highly customized attendee flows without developer work, limits on advanced seating maps without third‑party integrations, and potential higher cost at scale compared with some lower‑fee competitors. Eventbrite’s public marketplace can be advantageous for discovery but may not be desirable for organizers who prefer exclusively private or white‑label sales channels.

Operational considerations:

• Support: Paid plans and enterprise customers can access priority or dedicated support, while free-tier organizers rely primarily on online documentation and community resources
• Branding: Eventbrite event pages are branded by default; full white‑labeling requires embedding and potentially Enterprise arrangements
• Fees: The per-ticket fee model requires careful ticket pricing strategy to determine whether fees are absorbed or passed to attendees

Eventbrite free trial

Eventbrite does not operate like typical SaaS with a time-limited free trial because the platform’s primary costs are transactional. Instead, you can create and publish free events without incurring Eventbrite service fees. This effectively serves as a perpetual free tier for testing the event creation workflow, publishing event pages, and using the Organizer mobile app.

For paid events, you can test the platform by publishing a paid test event with a low ticket price or by setting a ticket price and checking the checkout and reporting flow. Developers building custom integrations can access Eventbrite’s sandbox and API documentation to test API calls and webhooks before going live.

Eventbrite sometimes offers promotional credits, discounted or waived fees for nonprofits, and onboarding support for larger customers—those offers are typically arranged through Eventbrite sales or partner programs. Check Eventbrite’s pricing and nonprofit pages for specifics: View Eventbrite's current fee structure (https://www.eventbrite.com/fees/).

Is eventbrite free

Yes, Eventbrite offers a free option for free events. Organizers can create, publish, and manage events with no Eventbrite service fee when tickets are free. For paid events, Eventbrite charges a service fee and payment processing fees per ticket, which organizers can choose to absorb or pass to attendees.

Eventbrite API

Eventbrite provides a RESTful API and developer platform for programmatic access to organizers’ event data. The API supports endpoints for events, organizers, venues, orders, attendees, ticket classes, check-in events, and webhooks for real-time notifications when orders or attendees change. Authentication uses OAuth 2.0 for third-party apps, and API keys are available for registered developer accounts.

Typical API use cases include: creating and updating events programmatically, syncing attendee lists to a CRM, automating order fulfillment and badge printing, building custom checkout flows, and integrating Eventbrite check-ins with third‑party access control hardware. Developers can receive webhooks for new orders, attendee updates, and ticket changes to keep external systems in sync.

Eventbrite’s developer documentation outlines rate limits, supported HTTP methods, response formats, and sample code. The platform also supports SDKs and community libraries in common languages and provides guidance for creating OAuth applications. For full technical details and examples, see Eventbrite API documentation: View Eventbrite's API documentation (https://www.eventbrite.com/platform/api).

10 Eventbrite alternatives

• Ticketmaster — large-scale ticketing with primary market distribution for concerts, sports, and major events
• Cvent — enterprise event management focused on conferences, venue sourcing, and comprehensive event operations
• Bizzabo — event experience platform for conferences and hybrid events with advanced analytics and personalization
• Hopin — virtual and hybrid event platform with integrated stages, networking, and expo features
• Eventzilla — feature-rich event registration and ticketing with tiered pricing and customization
• Meetup — community-focused event discovery and registration for recurring meetups and groups
• Splash — event marketing and design tool with registration and microsites aimed at brand-driven events
• Ticket Tailor — lower-fee ticketing and registration aimed at smaller organizers and non-profits
• Brown Paper Tickets — ticketing service with simple pricing and support for small to medium events
• Pretix — open-source and hosted ticketing solution with advanced customization for ticket rules and access control

Paid alternatives to Eventbrite

• Ticketmaster: large-scale primary ticketing distribution and marketing for high-profile concerts and sporting events; higher fees but extensive reach and resale handling
• Cvent: enterprise-grade event management for conferences with modules for venue sourcing, registration, housing, and onsite services
• Bizzabo: paid platform focused on attendee experience, built-in event marketing, and advanced analytics for professional conferences
• Hopin: paid plans for virtual and hybrid events with integrated stage production, breakout rooms, and networking tools
• Eventzilla: paid tiers for enhanced features like reserved seating, promo codes, and advanced reports; often positioned as a lower-cost alternative

Open source alternatives to Eventbrite

• Pretix: open-source ticketing system with strong customization for ticket rules, voucher systems, and access control; can be self-hosted or used as a hosted service
• Attendize: PHP-based open-source ticketing and event management system that organizers can self-host and customize
• Open Event (FOSSASIA): open-source event and ticketing ecosystem that includes server and client components for managing conferences and meetups
• CiviCRM (Events module): open-source CRM with event management features often used by nonprofits to combine fundraising and event registration
• Odoo Events: part of the Odoo open-source ERP suite with event registration and website integration when using the Odoo platform

Frequently asked questions about Eventbrite

What is Eventbrite used for?

Eventbrite is used for event ticketing and registration. Organizers use it to create event pages, sell tickets (paid or free), manage attendee lists, and run on-site check-in. It supports in-person, virtual, and hybrid event formats and includes tools for email communication and reporting.

Does Eventbrite charge a monthly subscription?

No, Eventbrite does not require a monthly subscription for basic use. Most organizers pay transaction-based service fees and payment processing fees per ticket for paid events. Enterprise customers can negotiate custom pricing that may include subscription-style billing.

Can I use Eventbrite for virtual events?

Yes, Eventbrite supports virtual events. Organizers can add streaming links, integrate webinar providers, and deliver digital tickets with access instructions. Eventbrite’s event pages and confirmations can include virtual access details and automated reminders.

How does Eventbrite process payments?

Eventbrite uses integrated payment processing and third-party processors. Payments are handled via Eventbrite’s payment processing in supported countries (Eventbrite Payments) or via external payment integrations where available. Payment processing fees and payout timing vary by country and payment method.

Can I customize the registration form on Eventbrite?

Yes, Eventbrite allows custom registration forms. Organizers can add custom questions, required fields, and conditional logic in some plans to collect the attendee data they need. For very complex registration flows, developers can use the API to collect and sync registration details.

Is there an Eventbrite API for integrations?

Yes, Eventbrite provides a RESTful API with OAuth 2.0. The API supports events, ticket classes, orders, attendees, venues, and webhooks for real‑time notifications, enabling CRM syncs, custom checkout flows, and automated badge printing.

Can I sell reserved seating or assigned seats on Eventbrite?

Yes, Eventbrite supports reserved seating through integrations and built-in seating maps in some markets. For complex venue maps and seating plans, organizers often use third-party seating partners or enterprise features to manage assigned seating and seat-level pricing.

Does Eventbrite offer discounts or promo codes?

Yes, Eventbrite supports promo codes and discounts. Organizers can create percentage or fixed-amount discounts, promo code campaigns, and limited-quantity offers. These tools are commonly used for early-bird pricing and partner promotions.

How secure is Eventbrite for attendee data?

Eventbrite follows common industry security practices to protect attendee data. The platform uses HTTPS for data in transit and applies access controls and account-based permissions. Enterprise customers can further secure accounts with single sign-on (SSO) and dedicated contractual terms.

Where can I find Eventbrite support and resources?

Eventbrite provides documentation, community forums, and paid support for customers. The Eventbrite Help Center and developer documentation contain step-by-step guides, while paid plans and enterprise agreements include priority support and dedicated account management.

Eventbrite careers

Eventbrite lists open roles across product, engineering, customer support, sales, and marketing on its careers site. Positions vary by office location and remote eligibility; prospective applicants typically find roles for product managers, software engineers, designer roles, and customer success specialists. For current openings and hiring practices, consult Eventbrite’s careers page.

Eventbrite affiliate

Eventbrite has historically worked with partners and affiliates to extend event discovery and distribution. Affiliates can promote events through referral links or partner programs where available. For up-to-date information on affiliate or partner programs, view Eventbrite’s partner resources and partner support pages.

Where to find Eventbrite reviews

Organizer and attendee reviews appear on software review sites, industry blogs, and app stores. For structured feedback, consult review platforms such as G2 and Capterra or read case studies and customer testimonials published on Eventbrite’s website. Attendee experience reviews are also available in mobile app stores under the Eventbrite Organizer and Eventbrite: Tickets apps.