Softwr

Event Management · head to head

Universe vs Eventbrite

Universe logo

Universe

Event Management

Ticketing and event management made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Eventbrite logo

Eventbrite

Webinar & Virtual Events

Where event planners thrive

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Universe limited design customization for event pages and branding control; 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: Universe covers Event pages, Eventbrite covers Event Discovery.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Universe and Eventbrite actually diverge.

Attributes where Universe and Eventbrite differ
AttributeUniverseEventbrite
CategoryEvent ManagementWebinar & Virtual Events
Founded20112006

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 Universe

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

Only in Eventbrite

  • Event Discovery
  • Event Management
  • Marketing Tools
  • Virtual Events
  • Salesforce
  • Zoom

Both cover

  • Ticketing
  • Analytics
  • Mailchimp
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Universe

  • Event planningnot Eventbrite
  • Ticket salesnot Eventbrite
  • Attendee managementnot Eventbrite
  • Virtual eventsnot Eventbrite
  • Event marketingnot Eventbrite

Eventbrite

  • Selling tickets for concerts, festivals and nightlife eventsnot Universe
  • Running conferences and corporate events with registrationnot Universe
  • Nonprofit fundraising eventsnot Universe
  • Reserved seating and timed entry admissionnot Universe
  • Promoting events through the Eventbrite marketplace and paid adsnot Universe

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

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

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 Universe if

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

Choose Eventbrite if

  • You need event discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want event management.
Eventbrite review

Questions people ask

Is Universe or Eventbrite better?
Neither clearly leads. Universe 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, Universe or Eventbrite?
Universe starts at Free and Eventbrite at Free.
Does Universe 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 Universe for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Universe best used for?
Universe 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 Universe do that Eventbrite cannot?
Universe covers Event pages, Guest lists, Check-in app, Stripe. Eventbrite covers Event Discovery, Event Management, Marketing Tools, Virtual Events. Both handle Ticketing, Analytics, Mailchimp, Web 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
Eventbrite: 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.

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
Eventbrite: 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.

Source
Eventbrite: 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.

Source
Eventbrite: 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.

Source
Eventbrite: 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
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