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Event Management · head to head

Guest Manager vs Universe

Guest Manager logo

Guest Manager

Event Management

Event check-in and registration

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: 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; Universe limited design customization for event pages and branding control
  • They diverge on capability: Guest Manager covers Registration, Universe covers Ticketing.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Guest Manager and Universe differ
AttributeGuest ManagerUniverse
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Founded20142011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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
  • Zapier
  • Google Sheets

Only in Universe

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

Both cover

  • Mailchimp
  • 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 Universe
  • Selling and scanning event ticketsnot Universe
  • Printing name badges onsitenot Universe

Universe

  • 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

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

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

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 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 Universe if

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

Questions people ask

Is Guest Manager or Universe better?
Neither clearly leads. Guest Manager 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, Guest Manager or Universe?
Guest Manager starts at Free and Universe at Free.
Does Guest Manager or Universe run on more platforms?
Guest Manager runs on Web, Ios, Android. Universe runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Guest Manager for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Universe is typically brought in for.
What can Guest Manager do that Universe cannot?
Guest Manager covers Registration, QR check-in, Badge printing, Attendance tracking. Universe covers Ticketing, Event pages, Guest lists, Check-in app. Both handle Mailchimp, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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