13 Reasons Friends Don’t let Friends Use Eventbrite

We are seeing a large migration of events from Eventbrite to TicketSignup. Why? Friends don’t let friends use Eventbrite. RunSignup users know that TicketSignup, our ticketing product, has many advantages over Eventbrite. If you have friends who still use Eventbrite, let them know about the differences between TicketSignup and Eventbrite.

Eventbrite Costs More

1. $1.79 per Ticket Fee on Eventbrite is Costly and Not Family Friendly

TicketSignup charges a simple $1.00 on the whole cart – no matter how many tickets are bought. So a family of 4 buying festival tickets on Eventbrite $7.16 in fixed fees, whereas that same family would only pay $1.00 in fixed fees if those tickets were being sold on TicketSignup.

2. Eventbrite’s Variable Fee is $6.6% of the Total Transaction Fee

In addition to the fixed fee ($1/cart on TicketSignup, $1.79/ticket on Evenbrite), both companies charge a variable fee based on a percent of the transaction total. This fee includes all credit card processing fees. Again, Eventbrite costs ticket buyers more, with a 6.6% variable fee compared to TicketSignup’s 6%. For events with over 5,000 tickets, the TicketSignup fee drops to 4.8%. For that family of 4 buying $25 tickets to a large event, that is a total fee of $13.76 on Eventbrite vs. $5.80 on TicketSignup

3. Slow Payments from Eventbrite

Unless an event can reach a real person to complain and have some history with the platform, Eventbrite holds all event money until after the event. In fact, they actually use this “float” to help finance their company. TicketSignup, on the other hand, pays events as money on a weekly basis, as money comes in.

Eventbrite “Marketing” Is Just Spam

4. Eventbrite Markets Other Events to Your Customers

Eventbrite puts ads for other event (sometimes directly competing events) right on event pages. Then, they keep your customer email addresses and send them promotions for other events. Since they are trying to “match behavior” in their email sends, this often means they are marketing competing events to your attendees. TicketSignup does not use or resell your customer data. Event websites are all customer branded; no ads, spam, or mention of other events.

Ads on an Eventbrite Event Website

5. Eventbrite Can’t Promote Word of Mouth Marketing

Eventbrite is obsessed with the idea that all people go to Eventbrite to find events. Not true. The best source of growth is word of mouth, and with TicketSignup Referral Rewards, events can encourage ticket buyers to invite friends. Just ask Harpoon Brewery, which saw an 8% growth in ticket sales and a 3,000% ROI on their referral rewards after moving from Eventbrite to TicketSignup.

Successful Referral Rewards Report + Promotional Email Marketing

Eventbrite Technology Hasn’t Kept Up

6. Eventbrite’s Timed Entry Ticketing is Archaic, Slow, and Confusing

Eventbrite slapped together a way to do timed entry ticketing by simply putting a new cover on a bunch of underlying events. This makes their system slow and confusing to use and update. TicketSignup’s Calendar Based Ticketing has a modern, patent pending design that makes multi day and multi timed ticketing a breeze. Everything from setup to reporting is based on a real calendar. This means actions like updating timeslots or dates, pricing, ticket caps, and ticket transfer rules are all calendar based and can be done on single timeslots, single days, or multiple days (with simple point and click). Additionally, attendee actions like sending emails or cancelling a day (with automated communications and self serve rescheduling) is simple.

TicketSignup’s Calendar-Based Purchase Path

TicketSignup’s Calendar-Based Reporting

7. No Real AI Help with Eventbrite

Eventbrite pages are static and do not help with customer service. In comparison, TicketSignup has robust self-serve ticket management capabilities such as resending a confirmation email, switching dates or transferring tickets to a friend. TicketSignup also includes a free AI Chatbot for events that is specifically trained on event details to answer customer questions and decrease email support.

The Free TicketSignup AI Chatbot

Limitations on Eventbrite’s Functionality

8. Email Limits on Eventbrite

Email can cost a lot on Eventbrite if an event has more than 250 contacts. With TicketSignup you can upload unlimited contacts and send unlimited emails, for free. That means events of all sizes can use email marketing as much as they need to succeed. And, our Email Builder is super easy to use, with drag and drop components and pre-built emails to speed up your marketing.

9. No Real Donations on Eventbrite

On Eventbrite, donations are set up as tickets. This is awkward and requires purchasers to pick multiple tickets to make a donation. It certainly does not help nonprofits raise more money. TicketSignup has robust donation capabilities with customizable donation levels, donation thermometers, options for recurring donations, and an easy donation checkbox on the checkout page.

10. Limited Store Capabilities on Eventbrite Stifles Revenue

Adding store items (add-ons) on Eventbrite is limited and awkward for purchasers. If an event has items (like shirts) with different sizes and colors, it will need to add a lot of individual add-on items to sift through. TicketSignup makes it easy to boost revenue via merchandise. Each item can have multiple variants (eg. size and color), buyers can purchase items as ticket add-ons and stand alone store purchases, and there is built-in inventory tracking with the ability to share inventory across events. Events can make even more money by empowering attendees to add additional store items after their initial purchase.

TicketSignup’s Intuitive Store Items Boost Revenue

11. Bland, Self Serving Event Page on Eventbrite

Eventbrite gives customers a single event page, with the Eventbrite logo and brand is front and center, not the event’s branding. And then, they advertise other events on that page. TicketSignup gives you a full content website with a professional default template that can be fully customized using an intuitive Website Builder. Events have access to unlimited pages and menus with dynamic components like countdown clocks and donation goal thermometers. Best of all, it’s all focused on YOUR brand. We even make it easy to bring your own URL / Domain instead of using TicketSignup.

Customizable Event Websites on TicketSignup

Event Operations Aren’t Eventbrite’s Priority

12. Eventbrite’s App Has a Single Level of Access

Eventbrite’s check-in app provides all users with equal access, meaning staff and volunteers all have the same permissions on the app. TicketSignup let’s event directors set up custom presets and configurations for each check-in station. In addition to checking in tickets at the door/gate, the TicketSignup Tickets app enables your team to fulfill merch and store items from using each ticket purchasers QR code.

TicketSignup Tickets App for CheckIn with Custom Configurations

13. Eventbrite Just Got Acquired

It’s too early to know what Bending Spoons will do now that they have acquired Eventbrite. But their history of acquisitions show they increase prices, and decrease their investment in the product and support. TicketSignup is Employee Owned and here for the Long Run.

TicketSignup is Here to Help

Friends don’t let friends use Eventbrite. Let those friends know that we are here to help! Curious event directors can talk with real people who work for our 100% US-Based TicketSignup Support team. While TicketSignup puts all of the power of our platform in customer’s hands, we are also happy to answer your questions and help you with migration from Eventbrite. We even have a program for Migrating from Eventbrite. Schedule a call to speak with us, or get started creating your event today!