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Gaming · head to head

itch.io vs StubHub

itch.io logo

itch.io

Gaming

Open marketplace for indie games and game assets

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
StubHub logo

StubHub

Entertainment

Ticket resale marketplace charging both buyers and sellers, with combined fees often a large share of face value

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: itch.io open publishing means enormous variance in quality and very little curation; StubHub combined buyer and seller fees can amount to a large fraction of a ticket's face value, so the printed listing price understates the real total cost by a wide margin.
  • They diverge on capability: itch.io covers Open publishing, StubHub covers Buy and sell marketplace.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which itch.io and StubHub actually diverge.

Attributes where itch.io and StubHub differ
Attributeitch.ioStubHub
Pricing modelFree to publish; creator-set revenue share on salesFree to browse, two sided transaction fees on buyers and sellers
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, LinuxiOS, Android, Web
CategoryGamingEntertainment

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 itch.io

  • Open publishing
  • Creator-set revenue share
  • Game jams
  • Pay what you want

Only in StubHub

  • Buy and sell marketplace
  • FanProtect guarantee
  • Price alerts
  • Interactive seat maps
  • Mobile and PDF ticket delivery
  • Seller payout tracking

What people use each for

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

itch.io

  • Publishing an independent or experimental game without an approval processnot StubHub
  • Running or entering a game jamnot StubHub
  • Buying game assets, tools and charity bundlesnot StubHub

StubHub

  • A fan trying to buy a ticket to a sold-out event no longer available at face value from the primary sellernot itch.io
  • Someone who bought tickets they can no longer use and wants to resell themnot itch.io
  • A buyer wanting a guarantee that a resold ticket will be valid and delivered on timenot itch.io
  • Comparing seat locations and prices across multiple listings for the same event before buyingnot itch.io

Where each one falls short

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

itch.io

  • Open publishing means enormous variance in quality and very little curation
  • Discovery is difficult: without curation, a new release can go entirely unseen
  • Consumer audience is far smaller than the mainstream storefronts
  • Client and library features are minimal compared with Steam or GOG

StubHub

  • Combined buyer and seller fees can amount to a large fraction of a ticket's face value, so the printed listing price understates the real total cost by a wide margin.
  • Buyer fees are typically not shown until near checkout, which regulators in the US and UK have specifically targeted as a form of drip pricing in the ticketing industry.
  • Sellers receive less than their listed price after StubHub's seller fee is deducted, which can surprise first-time sellers expecting to net the full listed amount.
  • As a secondary market, prices for popular events can be well above face value, and there is no guarantee of a cheaper option appearing before the event date.
  • Refund and guarantee terms depend on FanProtect policy conditions, and disputes over cancelled or changed events can take time to resolve through customer support.

Pricing, plan by plan

itch.io

Free
  • itch.ioFree
    • Free publishing
    • Creator-set revenue share
    • Game jam hosting

StubHub

Free
  • Buyer fee$undefined/per transaction
    • Service fee added at checkout, commonly around 20 to 30 percent or more of ticket price
    • Fee amount varies by event and is shown before final purchase confirmation
  • Seller fee$undefined/per transaction
    • Service fee deducted from the sale proceeds, historically around 10 to 15 percent
    • Rate can vary by event and seller volume

Which should you pick?

Choose itch.io if

  • You need open publishing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want creator-set revenue share.
itch.io review

Choose StubHub if

  • You need buy and sell marketplace.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want fanprotect guarantee.
StubHub review

Questions people ask

Is itch.io or StubHub better?
Neither clearly leads. itch.io starts at Free and StubHub at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, itch.io or StubHub?
itch.io starts at Free and StubHub at Free.
Does itch.io or StubHub run on more platforms?
itch.io runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. StubHub runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use itch.io for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is itch.io best used for?
itch.io is most often used for publishing an independent or experimental game without an approval process, running or entering a game jam, buying game assets, tools and charity bundles. Of those, publishing an independent or experimental game without an approval process and running or entering a game jam are not what StubHub is typically brought in for.
What can itch.io do that StubHub cannot?
itch.io covers Open publishing, Creator-set revenue share, Game jams, Pay what you want. StubHub covers Buy and sell marketplace, FanProtect guarantee, Price alerts, Interactive seat maps.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

itch.io: Is itch.io free?

Yes to publish, and creators set their own revenue share on sales — including zero.

StubHub: Does StubHub charge fees to both buyers and sellers?

Yes, it charges a service fee to sellers deducted from their proceeds, and a separate service fee to buyers added at checkout.

itch.io: Who uses itch.io?

Independent and experimental developers, students, and most major game jams including Ludum Dare submissions.

StubHub: How much are StubHub fees in total?

They vary by event, but buyer fees are commonly in the range of 20 to 30 percent or more of the ticket price, and seller fees historically around 10 to 15 percent, so combined fees can be a large share of face value.

itch.io: Why is discovery hard there?

Because publishing is open and uncurated. That is what makes it accessible to any creator, and it means new releases can go unseen.

StubHub: Are resold tickets guaranteed?

StubHub's FanProtect guarantee covers ticket validity, on-time delivery and event cancellation or significant changes, subject to its terms.

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