Event Management · head to head
Luma vs Eventbrite
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Luma 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers; Eventbrite service fees total 6.59% + $1.79 per ticket (3.7% service + 2.9% payment processing), among the highest in the industry
- They diverge on capability: Luma covers Event pages, Eventbrite covers Event Discovery.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Luma and Eventbrite actually diverge.
| Attribute | Luma | Eventbrite |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Event Management | Webinar & Virtual Events |
| Founded | 2020 | 2006 |
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 Luma
- Event pages
- Registration
- Calendar sync
- Community features
- Google Calendar
- Apple Calendar
- Stripe
- Discord
Only in Eventbrite
- Event Discovery
- Event Management
- Marketing Tools
- Analytics
- Virtual Events
- Mailchimp
- Salesforce
Both cover
- Ticketing
- Zoom
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Luma
- Event planningnot Eventbrite
- Ticket salesnot Eventbrite
- Attendee managementnot Eventbrite
- Virtual eventsnot Eventbrite
- Event marketingnot Eventbrite
Eventbrite
- Selling tickets for concerts, festivals and nightlife eventsnot Luma
- Running conferences and corporate events with registrationnot Luma
- Nonprofit fundraising eventsnot Luma
- Reserved seating and timed entry admissionnot Luma
- Promoting events through the Eventbrite marketplace and paid adsnot Luma
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Luma
- 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers
- Limited discovery features compared to established platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite
- Smaller organizer community means fewer network effects than larger competitors
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Luma
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited events
- Unlimited guests
- Up to 500 invites per week
- Plus$59/month
- No platform fee
- 5,000 invites per week
- Tax collection
Eventbrite
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited free events
- No platform fees for free events
- Pro$15/month
- Email marketing
- Custom branding
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Luma if
- You need event pages.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want registration.
Choose Eventbrite if
- You need event discovery.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want event management.
Questions people ask
- Is Luma or Eventbrite better?
- Neither clearly leads. Luma starts at Free and Eventbrite at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Luma or Eventbrite?
- Luma starts at Free and Eventbrite at Free.
- Does Luma or Eventbrite run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Luma for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Luma best used for?
- Luma is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events. Of those, event planning and ticket sales are not what Eventbrite is typically brought in for.
- What can Luma do that Eventbrite cannot?
- Luma covers Event pages, Registration, Calendar sync, Community features. Eventbrite covers Event Discovery, Event Management, Marketing Tools, Analytics. Both handle Ticketing, Zoom, Web support, Ios support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Luma: Does Luma have a free plan?
Yes. Luma offers a free plan with unlimited events, unlimited guests, and up to 500 invites per week. Free users pay a 5% platform fee on paid events.
SourceEventbrite: 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.
SourceLuma: How much does Luma Plus cost?
Luma Plus costs $59 per month when billed annually, or $69 per month for month-to-month billing. It removes the platform fee, increases invites to 5,000 per week, and adds tax collection and API access.
SourceEventbrite: 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.
SourceLuma: Can I integrate Luma with other tools?
Yes. Luma Plus includes API access and supports enterprise CRM integrations for larger organizations managing events at scale.
SourceEventbrite: 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.
SourceEventbrite: 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.
SourceEventbrite: 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