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Webinar & Virtual Events · head to head

Eventbrite vs Universe

Eventbrite logo

Eventbrite

Webinar & Virtual Events

Where event planners thrive

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Universe logo

Universe

Event Management

Ticketing and event management made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Universe limited design customization for event pages and branding control
  • They diverge on capability: Eventbrite covers Event Discovery, Universe covers Event pages.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Eventbrite and Universe actually diverge.

Attributes where Eventbrite and Universe differ
AttributeEventbriteUniverse
CategoryWebinar & Virtual EventsEvent Management
Founded20062011

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

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

Only in Universe

  • Event pages
  • Guest lists
  • Check-in app
  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Facebook
  • Google Analytics

Both cover

  • Ticketing
  • Analytics
  • Mailchimp
  • Ios support
  • 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 Universe
  • Running conferences and corporate events with registrationnot Universe
  • Nonprofit fundraising eventsnot Universe
  • Reserved seating and timed entry admissionnot Universe
  • Promoting events through the Eventbrite marketplace and paid adsnot Universe

Universe

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

Universe

  • Limited design customization for event pages and branding control
  • User interface becomes unintuitive for advanced features and complex event types
  • No ability to transfer attendees between time slots; requires full refund and repurchase
  • Difficult walk-up/credit card sales processing at physical events
  • Slow customer support for refunds and technical issues

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

Universe

Free
  • Free EventsFree
    • Free event creation and ticketing
  • Starter$0.79/per ticket
    • 2% + $0.79 per ticket
    • Capped at $19.95 per ticket
    • Basic event management
  • Standard$1.99/per ticket
    • 2.5% + $1.99 per ticket
    • Capped at $19.95 per ticket
    • Advanced features
  • Pro$null/custom
    • Dynamic pricing
    • RFID access control
    • Ticketmaster distribution

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 event management.
Eventbrite review

Choose Universe if

  • You need event pages.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want guest lists.
Universe review

Questions people ask

Is Eventbrite or Universe better?
Neither clearly leads. Eventbrite starts at Free and Universe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Eventbrite or Universe?
Eventbrite starts at Free and Universe at Free.
Does Eventbrite or Universe run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Eventbrite for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Universe is typically brought in for.
What can Eventbrite do that Universe cannot?
Eventbrite covers Event Discovery, Event Management, Marketing Tools, Virtual Events. Universe covers Event pages, Guest lists, Check-in app, Stripe. Both handle Ticketing, Analytics, Mailchimp, 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
Universe: What platforms does Universe support?

Universe is available on web, iOS, and Android, with support across 25 countries and 9 languages. Organizers can accept online, mobile, onsite, kiosk, and print-at-home tickets.

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
Universe: Does Universe integrate with other tools?

Yes. Universe integrates with 5,000+ partner applications through Zapier, allowing automation of ticket sales data to CRM, invoicing, and other business tools without code.

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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