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Software · head to head

Circle vs Ticketmaster

Circle logo

Circle

Software

The all-in-one community platform

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Ticketmaster logo

Ticketmaster

Software

The global leader in live event ticketing

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Circle location tracking is basic and less granular than some competitors; Ticketmaster high fees of 10-30% per ticket with some events reaching 40%, higher than competing platforms
  • They diverge on capability: Circle covers Spaces, Ticketmaster covers Ticket sales.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Circle and Ticketmaster actually diverge.

Attributes where Circle and Ticketmaster differ
AttributeCircleTicketmaster
Starting price$49/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptiontransaction
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20201978

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Circle

  • Spaces
  • Events
  • Courses
  • Member Directory
  • Live Streams
  • Workflows
  • Zapier
  • Stripe

Only in Ticketmaster

  • Ticket sales
  • Mobile ticketing
  • Verified tickets
  • Resale marketplace
  • Venue management
  • Spotify
  • Apple Music
  • Facebook

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Circle

  • Running a branded online community with discussion spacesnot Ticketmaster
  • Selling and delivering courses to an audiencenot Ticketmaster
  • Hosting events and live streams for membersnot Ticketmaster
  • Operating paid memberships with checkout and paymentsnot Ticketmaster
  • Shipping a branded iOS and Android community appnot Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster

  • Event planningnot Circle
  • Ticket salesnot Circle
  • Attendee managementnot Circle
  • Virtual eventsnot Circle
  • Event marketingnot Circle

Where each one falls short

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

Circle

  • Location tracking is basic and less granular than some competitors
  • Does not monitor social media interactions or private messages
  • Requires Circle Home Plus hardware purchase for full home network control
  • Activity reports are limited and less comprehensive than competing platforms

Ticketmaster

  • High fees of 10-30% per ticket with some events reaching 40%, higher than competing platforms
  • Delayed real-time data on seat availability and resale pricing
  • Strict API rate limits and limited customization for partner integrations
  • Found guilty of operating an illegal monopoly in live concert ticketing by federal jury in April 2026
  • Anticompetitive practices that limit competition for event organizers

Pricing, plan by plan

Circle

$49/month
  • Basic$49/month
    • Community
    • Members
    • Spaces
  • Professional$89/month
    • Courses
    • Workflows
    • Analytics
  • Business$199/month
    • White Label
    • API Access
    • Custom Domain

Ticketmaster

On request
  • StandardFree
    • Global distribution
    • Mobile ticketing
    • Fan verification

Which should you pick?

Choose Circle if

  • You need spaces.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want events.

Choose Ticketmaster if

  • You need ticket sales.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want mobile ticketing.

Questions people ask

Is Circle or Ticketmaster better?
Neither clearly leads. Circle starts at $49/month and Ticketmaster at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Circle or Ticketmaster?
Circle starts at $49/month and Ticketmaster at On request.
Does Circle or Ticketmaster run on more platforms?
Circle runs on Ios, Android, Web. Ticketmaster runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is Circle best used for?
Circle is most often used for running a branded online community with discussion spaces, selling and delivering courses to an audience, hosting events and live streams for members, operating paid memberships with checkout and payments. Of those, running a branded online community with discussion spaces and selling and delivering courses to an audience are not what Ticketmaster is typically brought in for.
What can Circle do that Ticketmaster cannot?
Circle covers Spaces, Events, Courses, Member Directory. Ticketmaster covers Ticket sales, Mobile ticketing, Verified tickets, Resale marketplace. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Circle: How much does Circle cost?

Circle offers a 14-day free trial of the app with all premium features included. After the trial, subscriptions are 9.99 USD per month or 89.99 USD per year. The Circle Home Plus device costs 129 USD upfront and includes one year of free app access, after which the app subscription costs approximately 10 USD per month.

Source
Ticketmaster: How much does Ticketmaster charge in fees?

Ticketmaster typically charges a service fee of 10-30% of the ticket price (sometimes reaching 40% for high-demand events), plus facility fees and order processing fees. Combined fees often result in buyers paying approximately 27% on top of face value.

Source
Circle: What devices does Circle support?

Circle works on Android, Apple iOS, Mac, Windows, Chromebook, Xbox, PlayStation, Kindle, smart speakers, IoT devices, gaming consoles, smart TVs, and iPhones. An unlimited number of devices can be managed from a single Circle account.

Source
Ticketmaster: Who sets ticket prices on Ticketmaster?

Event organizers set the base face value of tickets based on production costs, venue size, and event interest. However, service fees and facility fees are generally negotiated and shared between various parties including Ticketmaster and venues.

Source
Circle: How does Circle Home Plus work?

Circle Home Plus is a router-adjacent device that connects to your home network via Ethernet (with Wi-Fi backup) and manages all connected devices on that network. The Circle app then connects to this device to enforce parental controls across web browsing, app usage, and screen time across all family members' devices.

Source
Ticketmaster: Does Ticketmaster have an API?

Yes, Ticketmaster provides a Partner API and 3rd Party Integration API for developers. However, the API has strict rate limits, poor resale control, and delays in real-time seat-level and resale data updates.

Source
Circle: Does Circle monitor social media?

Circle does not directly monitor social media content, conversations, or private messages. However, it can restrict access to social media apps and websites, and manage time spent on those platforms through screen time controls.

Source
Ticketmaster: What is Ticketmaster's current legal status?

In April 2026, a federal jury found that Live Nation and subsidiary Ticketmaster operated an illegal monopoly in live concert and ticketing markets. In March 2026, they settled with the DOJ agreeing to cap service fees at 15% at certain venues and divest control of 13 amphitheaters.

Source

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