Software · head to head
Ticketmaster vs CVent Events
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Ticketmaster high fees of 10-30% per ticket with some events reaching 40%, higher than competing platforms; CVent Events pricing is by quote only: the pricing page publishes no rate, no minimum and no per seat cost and routes buyers to sales
- They diverge on capability: Ticketmaster covers Ticket sales, CVent Events covers Event registration.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Ticketmaster and CVent Events actually diverge.
| Attribute | Ticketmaster | CVent Events |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $1500/month |
| Pricing model | transaction | subscription |
| Founded | 1978 | 1999 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Ticketmaster
- Ticket sales
- Mobile ticketing
- Verified tickets
- Resale marketplace
- Venue management
- Spotify
- Apple Music
Only in CVent Events
- Event registration
- Mobile event app
- Attendee hub
- Event marketing
- Advanced analytics
- Salesforce
- Marketo
- Microsoft Dynamics
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Ticketmaster
- Event planningnot CVent Events
- Ticket salesnot CVent Events
- Attendee managementnot CVent Events
- Virtual eventsnot CVent Events
- Event marketingnot CVent Events
CVent Events
- Managing event registration and attendee data for large eventsnot Ticketmaster
- Running a virtual or hybrid event attendee hubnot Ticketmaster
- Onsite check in and badge printingnot Ticketmaster
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
CVent Events
- Pricing is by quote only: the pricing page publishes no rate, no minimum and no per seat cost and routes buyers to sales
- The Professional tier includes 15 user logins; unlimited logins require Enterprise
- Professional licenses individual solutions such as Registration, Attendee Hub and OnArrival separately rather than bundling them
- Bundled access to all solutions requires the Enterprise tier
Pricing, plan by plan
Ticketmaster
On request- StandardFree
- Global distribution
- Mobile ticketing
- Fan verification
CVent Events
$1500/month- Professional$1500/month
- Event registration
- Email marketing
- Basic analytics
- Enterprise$4000/month
- Mobile app
- Advanced analytics
- Integrations
- Ultimate$8000/month
- Full suite
- Dedicated support
- Custom development
Which should you pick?
Choose Ticketmaster if
- You need ticket sales.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want mobile ticketing.
Choose CVent Events if
- You need event registration.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want mobile event app.
Questions people ask
- Is Ticketmaster or CVent Events better?
- Neither clearly leads. Ticketmaster starts at On request and CVent Events at $1500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Ticketmaster or CVent Events?
- Ticketmaster starts at On request and CVent Events at $1500/month.
- Does Ticketmaster or CVent Events run on more platforms?
- Ticketmaster runs on Web, iOS, Android. CVent Events runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- What is Ticketmaster best used for?
- Ticketmaster is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events. Of those, event planning and ticket sales are not what CVent Events is typically brought in for.
- What can Ticketmaster do that CVent Events cannot?
- Ticketmaster covers Ticket sales, Mobile ticketing, Verified tickets, Resale marketplace. CVent Events covers Event registration, Mobile event app, Attendee hub, Event marketing. 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.
SourceTicketmaster: 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.
SourceTicketmaster: 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.
SourceTicketmaster: 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