IndustryMay 15, 2026· 6 min read· By TicketCrest Team

Eventbrite Fees in 2026: What You're Really Paying (And What They Don't Tell You)

Eventbrite has raised its fees 11 times since 2007. On a $25 ticket you pay 13.6% in combined fees. We break down every charge and show you how much you're losing.

Eventbrite has raised its prices 11 times since 2007. If you are an event organizer in 2026, you are paying more than ever — and the increases are not slowing down.


In December 2025, Eventbrite was acquired by Italian tech giant Bending Spoons for $500 million. Based on Bending Spoons' history with other acquisitions, event organizers should prepare for further pricing changes in 2026.


What Eventbrite Actually Charges You


Here is the real math on Eventbrite's US pricing as of 2026:


  • Service fee: 3.7% per ticket
  • Fixed fee: $1.79 per ticket
  • Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per order

    • On a $25 ticket, you are paying $3.40 in fees — that is 13.6% of the ticket price gone before you see a cent.


    On a $10 ticket, fees exceed 20% of the ticket price. Two dollars of every ten goes to Eventbrite.


    Sell 200 tickets at $30 each and you hand over roughly $580 in platform fees before a single vendor is paid. G2 reviewers cite "Expensive" and "High Fees" as the top two complaints, appearing in 18 and 16 reviews respectively.


    The Fees Eventbrite Doesn't Advertise


    Beyond the headline numbers, there are costs organizers consistently miss:


    Refund fees. When an attendee requests a refund, Eventbrite keeps their service fee. You refund the attendee out of your own pocket but Eventbrite still takes their cut. Starting in 2023, this became policy.


    In-person sales fee. Since 2021, Eventbrite charges $1 per ticket plus 2.99% on all in-person door sales — including cash. You pay a fee on cash transactions.


    Fee cap removed. Eventbrite used to promise "we will never charge you more than $9.95 per ticket." That promise was broken. The cap no longer exists.


    Pro plan for email. In 2025 Eventbrite changed its model to charge based on email marketing volume. If you rely on email to promote your events, you now need a paid subscription on top of per-ticket fees.


    What TicketCrest Charges


    TicketCrest charges 4.5% total on paid events, added on top of the ticket price (buyers pay it, not you). Your first 5 paid events are completely free — no fees at all.


    On a $25 ticket, that is $1.13 for the buyer. Compare that to Eventbrite's $3.40.


    EventbriteTicketCrest$10 ticket fee$2.08+ (20%+)$0.45$25 ticket fee$3.40 (13.6%)$1.13$50 ticket fee$5.64 (11.3%)$2.25First events freeNoYes — first 5 paid eventsEmail marketingPaid subscription requiredIncluded

    See the full breakdown on our [pricing page](/pricing).


    The Bottom Line


    Eventbrite works well when everything goes right. But when something goes wrong — a refund dispute, an account issue, a payout problem — their 1.2 out of 5 Trustpilot rating tells the real story.


    If you are running events where margins matter — workshops, community events, fundraisers, small conferences — the fee difference is real money that stays in your pocket with TicketCrest.


    Read our full [Eventbrite alternative comparison](/compare/eventbrite-alternative).


    Create your first event free on TicketCrest →

    FAQs

    What is the cheapest Eventbrite alternative for small events?

    For small organizers, a lower-fee platform like TicketCrest can be cheaper because free events are free, the first 5 paid events have no platform fee, and later paid events use a simple buyer-paid fee.

    Does TicketCrest charge monthly fees?

    TicketCrest does not charge monthly setup fees for organizers. Free events are free, and paid events use a platform fee model after the first 5 paid events.

    Try TicketCrest free

    Your first 5 paid events are completely free. No monthly fees, no setup costs. Money goes directly to your account.

    Create your first event →