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Software · head to head

Brown Paper Tickets vs Eventbrite

B

Brown Paper Tickets

Software

The fair-trade ticketing company

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Eventbrite logo

Eventbrite

Software

Where event planners thrive

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Brown Paper Tickets fees are charged to ticket buyers rather than the organiser, at $1.49 plus 6.0% of the ticket price in USD; Eventbrite service fees total 6.59% + $1.79 per ticket (3.7% service + 2.9% payment processing), among the highest in the industry
  • They diverge on capability: Brown Paper Tickets covers Will call, Eventbrite covers Event Discovery.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Brown Paper Tickets and Eventbrite actually diverge.

Attributes where Brown Paper Tickets and Eventbrite differ
AttributeBrown Paper TicketsEventbrite
Pricing modeltransactionUnknown
Founded20002006

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Brown Paper Tickets

  • Will call
  • Seating charts
  • Reporting
  • Customer service
  • PayPal
  • Google Analytics
  • Facebook

Only in Eventbrite

  • Event Discovery
  • Event Management
  • Marketing Tools
  • Analytics
  • Virtual Events
  • Salesforce
  • Zoom

Both cover

  • Ticketing
  • Mailchimp
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Brown Paper Tickets

  • Selling tickets for events, performances and workshopsnot Eventbrite
  • Handling ticket distribution and door lists for independent organisersnot Eventbrite

Eventbrite

  • Selling tickets for concerts, festivals and nightlife eventsnot Brown Paper Tickets
  • Running conferences and corporate events with registrationnot Brown Paper Tickets
  • Nonprofit fundraising eventsnot Brown Paper Tickets
  • Reserved seating and timed entry admissionnot Brown Paper Tickets
  • Promoting events through the Eventbrite marketplace and paid adsnot Brown Paper Tickets

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Brown Paper Tickets

  • Fees are charged to ticket buyers rather than the organiser, at $1.49 plus 6.0% of the ticket price in USD
  • The 6.0% applies regardless of payment method, including when the organiser uses their own merchant account or PayPal
  • The flat component varies by currency, running from roughly $0.99 to $1.99 equivalent
  • Because the buyer pays, the advertised ticket price is not what the buyer is charged

Eventbrite

  • Service fees total 6.59% + $1.79 per ticket (3.7% service + 2.9% payment processing), among the highest in the industry
  • Holds 20% of net sales in reserve until event completion and delays payout 3 days after event, creating cash flow problems for organizers
  • Limited event page customization with no white-label option and events must be registered on eventbrite.com domain

Pricing, plan by plan

Brown Paper Tickets

Free
  • StandardFree
    • $0.99 + 5% per ticket
    • Free events free
    • All features

Eventbrite

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited free events
    • No platform fees for free events
  • Pro$15/month
    • Email marketing
    • Custom branding
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Brown Paper Tickets if

  • You need will call.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want seating charts.
Brown Paper Tickets review

Choose Eventbrite if

  • You need event discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want event management.
Eventbrite review

Questions people ask

Is Brown Paper Tickets or Eventbrite better?
Neither clearly leads. Brown Paper Tickets starts at Free and Eventbrite at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Brown Paper Tickets or Eventbrite?
Brown Paper Tickets starts at Free and Eventbrite at Free.
Does Brown Paper Tickets or Eventbrite run on more platforms?
Brown Paper Tickets runs on Web, Ios, Android. Eventbrite runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Brown Paper Tickets for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Brown Paper Tickets best used for?
Brown Paper Tickets is most often used for selling tickets for events, performances and workshops, handling ticket distribution and door lists for independent organisers. Of those, selling tickets for events, performances and workshops and handling ticket distribution and door lists for independent organisers are not what Eventbrite is typically brought in for.
What can Brown Paper Tickets do that Eventbrite cannot?
Brown Paper Tickets covers Will call, Seating charts, Reporting, Customer service. Eventbrite covers Event Discovery, Event Management, Marketing Tools, Analytics. Both handle Ticketing, Mailchimp, Web support, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Eventbrite: Is Eventbrite free for hosting free events?

Yes, Eventbrite is completely free for events with free tickets. You can publish unlimited free events with no platform fees, service fees, or payment processing fees. Features like custom branding and advanced analytics are only available on paid plans.

Source
Eventbrite: What are the fees for paid-ticket events in the US?

Eventbrite charges 3.7% plus $1.79 per ticket sold, plus 2.9% payment processing fee per order. Organizers can pass these fees to attendees or absorb them.

Source
Eventbrite: When do I receive payments from ticket sales?

Payouts are sent 3 days after your event ends (or on a custom schedule if you set one), and funds appear in your bank account within 5 business days in the US or 7 days internationally. Eventbrite also holds 20% in reserve until after the event to cover refunds and chargebacks.

Source
Eventbrite: Can I customize branding on my event page?

Customization is limited to basic colors and images. You cannot white-label the event page or remove Eventbrite branding, and all registration flows pass through Eventbrite's domain, not your own.

Source
Eventbrite: Does Eventbrite offer an API for integrations?

Yes, Eventbrite provides an OAuth API for developers to build custom integrations. Full documentation is available on their platform portal with support for app authentication and API keys.

Source
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