WordPress Event Ticketing Fees Compared: Eventbrite, Ticket Tailor, and Self-Hosted WordPress

Choosing a ticketing platform is partly a product decision and partly a math decision. Eventbrite, Ticket Tailor, and self-hosted WordPress plugins each structure their costs differently: one charges a percentage of every ticket you sell, one charges a flat amount per ticket, and one charges a fixed annual license with no per-ticket platform cut at all.

That structural difference matters more as your event volume grows. A small one-off fundraiser might generate similar net revenue across all three platforms. A weekly recurring program or a venue running monthly shows will see those cost structures diverge significantly over the course of a year.

This comparison breaks down how each platform actually charges, runs the numbers at three common event scales, and shows where the break-even points fall between options. The full deep-dive on exactly what Eventbrite charges per ticket is in the separate Eventbrite fees post. This article focuses on the three-way comparison and the math that shows when each platform stops making financial sense.

All fee figures below are approximate and based on each platform's published pricing for the US market. Verify current rates before making decisions: Eventbrite pricing, Ticket Tailor pricing, Eventnetic pricing, and Stripe pricing.

How Each Platform Structures Its Fees

Before comparing totals, it helps to understand what each platform is actually charging for and why their structures look the way they do.

Eventbrite: Percentage Plus Fixed Fee Per Ticket

Eventbrite charges a service fee on every paid ticket sold plus a separate payment processing fee on every order. Both components apply regardless of whether you absorb them or pass them to buyers.

The service fee combines a percentage of the ticket price with a fixed per-ticket charge. Based on Eventbrite's organizer pricing page, the standard structure for most US accounts on the Flex plan is:

• Service fee: 3.7% of ticket price plus $1.79 per ticket
• Payment processing: 2.9% of order total per order

The exact figures vary by plan, event type, and Eventbrite's current pricing at the time of your event. Check Eventbrite's pricing page for the current rates that apply to your account.

The important structural point is that the service fee is partly percentage-based. This means it scales with your ticket price. A $50 ticket generates a higher Eventbrite service fee than a $20 ticket, even with identical attendance. As ticket prices rise, Eventbrite's total take grows proportionally.

Ticket Tailor: Flat Fee Per Ticket

Ticket Tailor takes a different approach. Instead of charging a percentage of ticket revenue, they charge a flat fee per ticket regardless of the ticket price. A $10 ticket and a $100 ticket cost the same in Ticket Tailor platform fees.

Based on Ticket Tailor's pricing page, the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) rate for US accounts is approximately $0.85 per paid ticket. Ticket Tailor also offers a prepaid credits model, where buying credits in advance reduces the per-ticket cost to approximately $0.30 per ticket depending on the volume of credits purchased. Stripe or PayPal processing fees (approximately 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction via Stripe) apply on top of the Ticket Tailor fee.

Ticket Tailor's flat-fee model benefits organizers selling higher-priced tickets most. The higher your ticket price, the larger the advantage Ticket Tailor has over Eventbrite's percentage-based service fee. Ticket Tailor takes the same $0.85 whether your ticket is $20 or $200. Eventbrite's service fee grows with every dollar of ticket price.

Self-Hosted WordPress (Eventnetic): Fixed License, No Per-Ticket Platform Fee

A self-hosted WordPress ticketing plugin changes the cost model entirely. Instead of paying the platform on every ticket sold, you pay a fixed annual license and then pay only payment gateway fees on each transaction.

Eventnetic is a purpose-built WordPress event ticketing plugin. Based on Eventnetic's pricing page, the Starter plan is $99 per year for one site. There is no platform commission at any tier. Every ticket sale routes directly from your buyer to your Stripe or PayPal account. The only variable cost per ticket is the payment gateway fee: approximately 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction with Stripe.

This structure inverts the relationship between volume and cost. With Eventbrite and Ticket Tailor, your platform cost grows with every ticket sold. With Eventnetic, the annual license cost is fixed. Sell 100 tickets or 10,000 tickets in a year: the license cost does not change.

The free plan covers free WordPress event ticketing for offline and cash-payment events with zero platform fee. The Starter license unlocks Stripe and PayPal checkout, PDF tickets with QR codes, recurring events, and discount codes. Seat maps and waiting lists.

Fee Comparison at a Glance

The table below shows the approximate fee components for each platform at representative ticket prices. Figures reflect published pricing for the US market. Verify current rates on each platform's pricing page before making decisions.

What the table shows clearly: Eventbrite's percentage component means its platform fee grows as ticket prices rise. Ticket Tailor's flat fee stays constant regardless of price. Eventnetic charges zero per ticket at any price point, with an annual license as the only fixed cost.

Break-Even Examples at Three Event Scales

The structural comparison above tells you the shape of each cost model. The following examples show the actual dollar difference at three common event scales.

Assumptions for all scenarios:

• Stripe standard rates apply to Ticket Tailor and Eventnetic: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Source: stripe.com/pricing
• Eventbrite payment processing: 2.9% per order (percentage only, per published organizer pricing)
• Eventbrite service fee: 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket
• Ticket Tailor PAYG rate: $0.85 per ticket. Source: tickettailor.com/pricing
• Eventnetic Starter license: $99/year. Source: eventnetic.com/pricing
• One ticket per order is assumed for simplicity (multiple tickets per order slightly reduce per-ticket processing costs)
• All figures are approximate and for the US market

Scenario A: One-off event, 100 tickets at $25 each

Total gross revenue: $2,500

Eventbrite:

• Service fee per ticket: (3.7% x $25) + $1.79 = $0.93 + $1.79 = $2.72
• Processing per ticket: 2.9% x $25 = $0.73
• Total per ticket: $3.44
• Total fees for 100 tickets: $344
• Net to organizer: $2,156 (86.2% of gross)

Ticket Tailor:

• Platform flat fee: 100 x $0.85 = $85
• Stripe processing: 100 x [(2.9% x $25) + $0.30] = 100 x $1.025 = $102.50
• Total fees: $187.50
• Net to organizer: $2,312.50 (92.5% of gross)

Eventnetic (first event of the year, full license cost attributed here):

• License cost: $99
• Stripe processing: 100 x [(2.9% x $25) + $0.30] = 100 x $1.025 = $102.50
• Total fees: $201.50
• Net to organizer: $2,298.50 (91.9% of gross)

For a single one-off event, Ticket Tailor produces the highest net revenue ($2,312.50). Eventnetic ($2,298.50) and Ticket Tailor are close, separated by $14, because the full $99 license cost is attributed to this one event. Eventbrite is the most expensive option by a significant margin: $156.50 more than Ticket Tailor and $142.50 more than Eventnetic.

The turning point: The Eventnetic Starter license covers unlimited events for a full year. Every additional event reduces the effective license cost per event. From the second event in the same year, Eventnetic becomes cheaper than Ticket Tailor's ongoing per-ticket fee.

The break-even calculation: the Eventnetic license ($99) is recovered after just over one event of this scale, because each event at this volume saves $85 in Ticket Tailor platform fees ($85 flat x 100 tickets). In practice, from event 2 onwards, Eventnetic's annual cost is lower.

Scenario B: Monthly events, 12 per year, 100 tickets at $35 each

Annual gross revenue: $42,000 (12 events x 100 tickets x $35)

Eventbrite (per event):

• Service fee: 100 x [(3.7% x $35) + $1.79] = 100 x $3.09 = $308.50
• Processing: 100 x (2.9% x $35) = 100 x $1.015 = $101.50
• Total per event: $410
• Annual total: $410 x 12 = $4,920

Ticket Tailor (per event):

• Platform fee: 100 x $0.85 = $85
• Stripe processing: 100 x [(2.9% x $35) + $0.30] = 100 x $1.315 = $131.50
• Total per event: $216.50
• Annual total: $216.50 x 12 = $2,598

Eventnetic (annual):

• License: $99
• Stripe processing: 100 x $1.315 x 12 = $1,578
• Annual total: $1,677

Eventnetic saves $921 per year versus Ticket Tailor and $3,243 per year versus Eventbrite.

The $99 license pays for itself relative to Ticket Tailor after approximately 1.2 events of this scale ($99 / $85 per-event saving = 1.16 events). In practical terms: run two monthly events in the year and Eventnetic has already undercut Ticket Tailor's cumulative cost.

Scenario C: Weekly recurring program, 52 events per year, 40 tickets at $20 each

This scenario represents a yoga studio, fitness class, or community event running weekly sessions.

Annual gross revenue: $41,600 (52 x 40 x $20)

Eventbrite (per event):

• Service fee: 40 x [(3.7% x $20) + $1.79] = 40 x $2.53 = $101.20
• Processing: 40 x (2.9% x $20) = 40 x $0.58 = $23.20
• Total per event: $124.40
• Annual total: $124.40 x 52 = $6,468.80

Ticket Tailor (per event):

• Platform fee: 40 x $0.85 = $34
• Stripe processing: 40 x [(2.9% x $20) + $0.30] = 40 x $0.88 = $35.20
• Total per event: $69.20
• Annual total: $69.20 x 52 = $3,598.40

Eventnetic (annual):

• License: $99
• Stripe processing: 40 x $0.88 x 52 = $1,830.40
• Annual total: $1,929.40

For a weekly recurring program, self-hosted WordPress with Eventnetic saves approximately $1,669 per year compared to Ticket Tailor and approximately $4,539 per year compared to Eventbrite.

The Eventnetic license break-even against Ticket Tailor here occurs after approximately 3 events ($99 / $34 per-event saving = 2.9 events). For a weekly program running year-round, that break-even arrives within the first month of the year.

The Costs These Numbers Do Not Capture

The fee comparison above covers platform and processing costs. Three additional factors change the picture for some organizers.

Setup and maintenance time. Eventbrite and Ticket Tailor are hosted platforms. You create an account and start selling. Self-hosted WordPress requires a domain, hosting, a working WordPress installation, and plugin configuration. For an organizer without a WordPress site, that setup represents real time investment. For an organizer who already has a WordPress site, adding Eventnetic follows the same process as any plugin installation.

Marketplace discovery. Eventbrite operates a public events discovery feed. Organizers running public events in active markets can receive genuine ticket sales from people who found the event by browsing Eventbrite rather than through the organizer's own channels. Ticket Tailor and self-hosted WordPress plugins do not provide discovery. If a meaningful share of your current ticket sales comes from Eventbrite discovery rather than your own audience, that channel has dollar value that the fee comparison above does not quantify. Organizers who fill events from their own email lists, social channels, and local promotions give up nothing on this dimension by switching.

Attendee data ownership. Eventbrite and Ticket Tailor store your attendee lists on their servers. Both allow CSV exports, but your access depends on the platform's continued availability and terms. Every booking made through a self-hosted WordPress plugin lives in your own WordPress database. You control that data directly with no dependency on a third-party export.

When Each Platform Makes Sense

Eventbrite fits when: You are running a one-time public event in a city with active Eventbrite discovery traffic, you have no existing WordPress site, or your events involve large-scale ticket sales where Eventbrite's infrastructure and payment compliance handling justify the cost. For organizers who genuinely need Eventbrite's discovery engine, the platform fees fund a marketing channel, not just a ticketing service.

Ticket Tailor fits when: You want lower per-ticket costs than Eventbrite but are not ready to manage a self-hosted WordPress setup. Ticket Tailor's flat fee is substantially cheaper than Eventbrite's percentage-based structure, particularly for higher-priced tickets. The PAYG model works well for occasional events where an annual license cost is harder to justify. The prepaid credits option lowers the per-ticket cost further if you have predictable volume.

Self-hosted WordPress (Eventnetic) fits when: You already have a WordPress site, run events more than a handful of times per year, or sell tickets regularly at any price point. The fixed license cost means every additional event reduces the effective per-event platform cost toward zero. For any organizer running more than a few events per year at meaningful volume, the math consistently favors the fixed license model over per-ticket fees. For a curated list of other zero-commission options beyond Eventnetic, see ticketing platforms with no transaction fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which platform has the lowest fees for a single event?

For a single one-off event, Ticket Tailor's flat per-ticket fee typically produces the lowest total platform cost. Self-hosted WordPress with Eventnetic involves an upfront $99 annual license that makes the single-event total slightly higher than Ticket Tailor's PAYG fee, though still lower than Eventbrite. From event 2 onwards in the same year, the balance shifts in favor of Eventnetic.

Does Ticket Tailor charge a percentage of ticket sales?

No. Ticket Tailor's platform fee is a flat amount per ticket sold, not a percentage of the ticket price. This makes Ticket Tailor significantly cheaper than Eventbrite for higher-priced tickets, where Eventbrite's percentage component results in a proportionally larger service fee. Ticket Tailor's current PAYG rate is $0.85 per paid ticket in the US. Verify the current rate at tickettailor.com/pricing.

Do I still pay Stripe or PayPal fees when using a WordPress plugin?

Yes. Stripe, PayPal, and other payment gateways charge their own processing fees on every transaction regardless of which platform or plugin routes the payment. With Stripe, the standard US rate is approximately 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction. These fees go to the payment gateway, not the plugin. A zero-commission WordPress plugin eliminates the platform cut but not the gateway fee, which applies equally across all three platforms compared here.

How many events do I need to run for Eventnetic to pay for itself?

It depends on ticket volume per event. At the volume in Scenario B (100 tickets at $35), the $99 Eventnetic license recovers itself relative to Ticket Tailor's PAYG rate after approximately 1.2 events. That means running two monthly events of that size makes Eventnetic the cheaper option for the year. Against Eventbrite, Eventnetic is cheaper from the first event in every scenario above.

Can I run free events on any of these platforms without fees?

Yes, with conditions. Eventbrite charges no service fee on free-ticket events. Ticket Tailor does not charge its flat fee on free tickets. Eventnetic's free plan supports unlimited free and offline-payment events with no platform cost. For paid ticket events, the fee structures described above apply.

What other WordPress plugins are alternatives to Eventnetic for self-hosted ticketing?

Several other plugins handle self-hosted WordPress event ticketing. A full comparison of the strongest options, including Event Tickets by The Events Calendar, FooEvents, Tickera, Eventin, and Events Manager, is in the best Eventbrite alternatives for WordPress guide, which covers commission structures and feature sets for each.

The Clearest Path to Lower Ticketing Costs

Eventbrite is easy to start with and has genuine value for organizers who rely on its discovery platform. But its fee structure, combining a percentage service charge with a fixed per-ticket charge and a separate percentage-based processing fee, makes it the most expensive option at almost every ticket price point and volume level in the scenarios above.

Ticket Tailor eliminates the percentage component with its $0.85 flat per-ticket PAYG fee, which is a meaningful improvement over Eventbrite for any organizer selling tickets at moderate or higher price points. It remains a variable cost that scales with every ticket sold, and it is more economical than Eventbrite in all three scenarios above. For readers who have reviewed the fee math and want to compare WordPress ticketing plugins directly, the best WordPress event plugins guide covers the full field.

Eventnetic converts that variable cost into a fixed one. A $99 annual Starter license covers unlimited events and unlimited tickets for the year on one WordPress site. Stripe or PayPal processing fees are the only variable cost per transaction, and those apply equally to every platform. For any organizer running events consistently, that cost structure becomes progressively more efficient as event volume grows.

The break-even point where Eventnetic beats Ticket Tailor's PAYG rate is approximately 1 to 3 events depending on ticket volume per event. Against Eventbrite, Eventnetic is cheaper from the first event in every scenario modeled. For organizers with an existing WordPress site who run more than a handful of paid events per year, the math consistently points in the same direction.