Selling Tickets Online for Free

Selling tickets for your event or activity can feel complicated—especially if you want to do it for free. Many ticketing systems promise “free ticket sales,” but there’s often a catch. In this article we explain how to spot hidden costs and truly sell tickets for free or at a low price.

Also read our analysis of ticketing system costs and compare different ticketing platforms.

What costs are involved in ticket sales?

Ticketing fees usually consist of two parts:

1. Ticket fees: What you pay for using the platform.
2. Transaction fees: The cost of processing payments such as iDEAL or credit cards. For example:
   • iDEAL averages €0.29 per transaction.
   • Credit cards typically cost 2–3% of the ticket price.

Check our accept payments feature for more on payment options.

Some systems bundle these costs into one total, but that often applies only to iDEAL or Bancontact. Choose credit cards or other payments and you may face extra fees.

You might also encounter hidden costs such as:

• Subscription fees: Periodic charges for using the platform.
• Additional features: For example, custom seat maps or enhanced reporting.

How do “free” ticketing systems work?

Many providers advertise “free ticket sales,” but that doesn’t mean there are no costs. Common business models include:

1. Free tickets are truly free
Platforms like Eventbrite are free for events with free tickets. The moment you sell paid tickets, however, the fees rise quickly and eat into your profit.

2. Free for organizers, expensive for visitors
Some platforms don’t charge organizers but pass high service fees on to attendees. That leads to:

• Higher ticket prices for your audience.
• Lower sales when visitors drop off because of the extra cost.

3. Your visitors become the product
Certain platforms sell visitor data to third parties. That can hurt your customer experience and damage your reputation.

4. Free but limited features
Some systems offer a free tier with restricted functionality. Want more—like advanced reports or branding? You’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan.

How to choose the right ticketing platform

To sell tickets for free or affordably, keep an eye on:

• Business model: How does the platform make money? Are there hidden charges?
• Transparency: Are all payment methods included? What do credit card payments cost?
• Ownership of customer data: Do you retain control over your visitors’ information?
• Features: Are the tools you need included in the price?

Why Tickable?

Tickable was born out of frustration with unclear, opaque pricing in existing ticketing platforms. Many promise low rates but hide fees or charge extra for additional payment methods. We believe there’s a better way.

With Tickable you get:

• Low, transparent fees: No hidden surprises.
• More revenue for your event: Keeping your profit matters.
• A quick, easy ticket shop setup: Go live in just a few clicks.

Want to see how simple and fair online ticketing can be? Start now by selling tickets for your event or explore how we help theatres and festivals.

Check our pricing or read how the Port Wine Festival Zwolle sold 600+ tickets.