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Software · head to head

Luma vs Universe

Luma logo

Luma

Software

Delightful events for communities

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Universe logo

Universe

Software

Ticketing and event management made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Luma and Universe actually diverge.

Attributes where Luma and Universe differ
AttributeLumaUniverse
Founded20202011

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

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

  • Registration
  • Calendar sync
  • Community features
  • Google Calendar
  • Apple Calendar
  • Zoom
  • Discord

Only in Universe

  • Guest lists
  • Check-in app
  • Analytics
  • PayPal
  • Facebook
  • Google Analytics
  • Mailchimp

Both cover

  • Event pages
  • Ticketing
  • Stripe
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Luma

  • Event planning
  • Ticket sales
  • Attendee management
  • Virtual events
  • Event marketing

Universe

  • Event planning
  • Ticket sales
  • Attendee management
  • Virtual events
  • Event marketing

Both are used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events, event marketing, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

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

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

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 Luma if

  • You need registration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want calendar sync.
Luma review

Choose Universe if

  • You need guest lists.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want check-in app.
Universe review

Questions people ask

Is Luma or Universe better?
Neither clearly leads. Luma 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, Luma or Universe?
Luma starts at Free and Universe at Free.
Does Luma 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 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.
What can Luma do that Universe cannot?
Luma covers Registration, Calendar sync, Community features, Google Calendar. Universe covers Guest lists, Check-in app, Analytics, PayPal. Both handle Event pages, Ticketing, Stripe, Web 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.

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
Luma: 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.

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
Luma: 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.

Source
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Related pages

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