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Software · head to head

Eventbrite vs Thinkific

Eventbrite logo

Eventbrite

Software

Where event planners thrive

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Thinkific logo

Thinkific

Software

Create and sell online courses your way

From
$36/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Eventbrite has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Eventbrite service fees total 6.59% + $1.79 per ticket (3.7% service + 2.9% payment processing), among the highest in the industry; Thinkific no free plan, 14-day trial only
  • They diverge on capability: Eventbrite covers Event Discovery, Thinkific covers Course builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Eventbrite and Thinkific actually diverge.

Attributes where Eventbrite and Thinkific differ
AttributeEventbriteThinkific
Starting priceFree$36/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile
Founded20062012

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Eventbrite

  • Event Discovery
  • Ticketing
  • Event Management
  • Marketing Tools
  • Virtual Events
  • Salesforce
  • Zoom
  • Ios support

Only in Thinkific

  • Course builder
  • Website builder
  • Quizzes
  • Certificates
  • Communities
  • Memberships
  • Marketing tools
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • Mailchimp
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Eventbrite

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

Thinkific

  • Course creationnot Eventbrite
  • Membership sitesnot Eventbrite
  • Coaching programsnot Eventbrite
  • Corporate trainingnot Eventbrite

Where each one falls short

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

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

Thinkific

  • No free plan, 14-day trial only
  • Transaction fees on third-party payment processors (5% on Basic tier)
  • PayPal only available on Grow plan ($199/month), not on Basic or Start
  • Limited customization on lower-tier plans
  • Cannot embed courses in external domains or iframes
  • Limited number of spaces per plan
  • Less interactive community features compared to alternatives
  • Features continuously moved to higher-priced tiers
  • Payment processing delays reported (up to 90 days)

Pricing, plan by plan

Eventbrite

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

Thinkific

$36/month
  • Basic$36/month
    • 1 course
    • Up to 500 students
    • Thinkific Payments (0% fees)
  • Start$74/month
    • Up to 3 courses
    • Up to 2,000 students
    • Third-party payment (3% fees)
  • Grow$149/month
    • Unlimited courses
    • Unlimited students
    • Third-party payment (0% fees)

Which should you pick?

Choose Eventbrite if

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

Choose Thinkific if

  • You need course builder.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want website builder.
Thinkific review

Questions people ask

Is Eventbrite or Thinkific better?
Neither clearly leads. Eventbrite starts at Free and Thinkific at $36/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Eventbrite or Thinkific?
Eventbrite has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Eventbrite and $36/month for Thinkific.
Does Eventbrite or Thinkific run on more platforms?
Eventbrite runs on Web, iOS, Android. Thinkific runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Eventbrite for free?
Yes. Eventbrite has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Thinkific starts at $36/month.
What is Eventbrite best used for?
Eventbrite is most often used for selling tickets for concerts, festivals and nightlife events, running conferences and corporate events with registration, nonprofit fundraising events, reserved seating and timed entry admission. Of those, selling tickets for concerts, festivals and nightlife events and running conferences and corporate events with registration are not what Thinkific is typically brought in for.
What can Eventbrite do that Thinkific cannot?
Eventbrite covers Event Discovery, Ticketing, Event Management, Marketing Tools. Thinkific covers Course builder, Website builder, Quizzes, Certificates. Both handle Analytics, Mailchimp, Android support, Web 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
Thinkific: Does Thinkific have a free plan?

No. Thinkific does not offer a free plan but provides a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $36/month (Basic tier).

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
Thinkific: Are there transaction fees on Thinkific?

Thinkific charges no transaction fees when using their built-in Thinkific Payments. Third-party payment processors incur 5% fees (Basic) down to 0% (Plus), plus 3.6% for Stripe with subscriptions.

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
Thinkific: What payment methods does Thinkific support?

PayPal is locked to Grow plan ($199/month). Basic and Start plans do not support PayPal, limiting payment options for international creators and potentially reducing conversions.

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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