Softwr

Event Management · head to head

Guest Manager vs Ticketmaster

Guest Manager logo

Guest Manager

Event Management

Event check-in and registration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ticketmaster logo

Ticketmaster

Event Management

The global leader in live event ticketing

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Guest Manager has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Guest Manager usage is metered in credits consumed by check ins, emails and badges, so cost scales with activity rather than with the subscription alone; Ticketmaster high fees of 10-30% per ticket with some events reaching 40%, higher than competing platforms
  • They diverge on capability: Guest Manager covers Registration, Ticketmaster covers Ticket sales.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Guest Manager and Ticketmaster actually diverge.

Attributes where Guest Manager and Ticketmaster differ
AttributeGuest ManagerTicketmaster
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumtransaction
Free tierYesNo
Founded20141978

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Event Management).

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 Guest Manager

  • Registration
  • QR check-in
  • Badge printing
  • Attendance tracking
  • Guest communication
  • Eventbrite
  • Mailchimp
  • Zapier

Only in Ticketmaster

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Guest Manager

  • Guest list check in on tablets at eventsnot Ticketmaster
  • Selling and scanning event ticketsnot Ticketmaster
  • Printing name badges onsitenot Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster

  • Event planningnot Guest Manager
  • Ticket salesnot Guest Manager
  • Attendee managementnot Guest Manager
  • Virtual eventsnot Guest Manager
  • Event marketingnot Guest Manager

Where each one falls short

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

Guest Manager

  • Usage is metered in credits consumed by check ins, emails and badges, so cost scales with activity rather than with the subscription alone
  • Check in devices are capped at 2 on On Demand, 4 on Planner and 8 on Professional
  • Ticket fees are $1.00 per ticket on On Demand and Planner and fall to $0.50 only on the $199 per month Concierge plan
  • Priority support and a dedicated account manager are Concierge and Custom only
  • The free trial covers only the first 50 guest check ins
  • The Custom plan is priced by quote

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

Guest Manager

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 guests
    • Basic check-in
    • Email support
  • Pro$79/month
    • Unlimited guests
    • Badge printing
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$199/month
    • API access
    • White-label
    • Priority support

Ticketmaster

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Guest Manager if

  • You need registration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want qr check-in.
Guest Manager review

Choose Ticketmaster if

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

Questions people ask

Is Guest Manager or Ticketmaster better?
Neither clearly leads. Guest Manager starts at Free and Ticketmaster at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Guest Manager or Ticketmaster?
Guest Manager has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Guest Manager and On request for Ticketmaster.
Does Guest Manager or Ticketmaster run on more platforms?
Guest Manager runs on Web, Ios, Android. Ticketmaster runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Guest Manager for free?
Yes. Guest Manager has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ticketmaster starts at On request.
What is Guest Manager best used for?
Guest Manager is most often used for guest list check in on tablets at events, selling and scanning event tickets, printing name badges onsite. Of those, guest list check in on tablets at events and selling and scanning event tickets are not what Ticketmaster is typically brought in for.
What can Guest Manager do that Ticketmaster cannot?
Guest Manager covers Registration, QR check-in, Badge printing, Attendance tracking. Ticketmaster covers Ticket sales, Mobile ticketing, Verified tickets, Resale marketplace. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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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