Eventbrite is a well-known tool in the event management space. The ticketing platform helps event organizers sell tickets online, from sporting to Zoom events.
However, the number of organizations that reach out to Zeffy looking for an alternative site like Eventbrite got us wondering if Eventbrite is the best option for successful fundraising event management.
Sure, Eventbrite is a no-brainer: it’s big, people know what it is, and it’s an obvious first choice if you don’t know that Eventbrite alternatives exist. That’s where this blog comes in.
Once you can explore free, easier-to-use, and donor-friendly options, you might find that one of the many Eventbrite alternatives better suits your needs (and saves you money).
Since we started Zeffy, we’ve learned about a few ticketing platforms and alternatives to Eventbrite. The organizations that use our platform share their favorites with us, and we’ve done our research (competitor analysis) to compile a list of Eventbrite alternatives.
In this article, we’ll explore eight websites like Eventbrite and explore the pricing and features of each one.
The 8 best Eventbrite alternatives and competitors
- 1. Zeffy: the only 100% free Eventbrite alternative for nonprofit event organizers.
- 2. Ticketspice: a ticketing platform known for transparent pricing, which can be helpful for nonprofits.
- 3. Whova: a technology-forward online event registration and event management software designed for larger organizations.
- 4. Splash: great for an event planning process with simple, design-forward templates and customizable reporting to manage events today and in the future.
- 5. Wild Apricot: a solid option for nonprofit event planners who need to manage memberships alongside event registration and event ticketing.
- 6. GoTo Webinar: a simple solution for organizations that exclusively host webinars without worrying about event ticketing.
- 7. RegFox: an affordable, streamlined event management solution with a user interface built for small to medium-sized events.
- 8. Jotform: a simple event ticketing solution with a suite of forms to help you automate the event management process.
What kind of platform is Eventbrite?
Eventbrite is a self-service ticket sales platform for events and other experiences. The platform allows people to create and share events that others can find and choose to attend.
Nonprofits often turn to Eventbrite to host fundraising events, from auctions and raffles to endurance events and Galas. However, the cost of these activities and the management of the attendees are disparate from those of other fundraising activities.
That can leave charitable organizations seeking Eventbrite alternatives and competitors with more functionality catered to their needs and any possible savings on fees as they seek to raise money for their mission.
Key features of Eventbrite
Eventbrite offers functionality for event organizers like:
- Creation of engaging events and event registration forms
- Event marketing tools and promotional tools to boost reach
- Auto-generated event listings
- An event hub to reach more attendees
- Social media marketing tools
- Custom ticket sales
- Free events available
- Payment processing capabilities
- Event management in a recognizable user interface
- Hybrid events, group events, and zoom events
How much does it cost to use Eventbrite?
Publishing free events on Eventbrite (no cost of admission) comes at no cost and there are no upfront fees.
For other fundraising events that do charge a ticket or entry fee, Eventbrite’s pricing structure is broken out as the following:
- 3.7% + $1.79 service fee per ticket
- 2.9% payment processing fee per order
- Attendees pay fees unless your organization chooses to cover them.
Additionally, Eventbrite offers discounted ticket fees on donation tickets for nonprofits. Qualifying nonprofit organizations can access Eventbrite Pro plans for 50% off, which will benefit them by sending more event marketing emails and engaging guests.
While Eventbrite offers free or discounted options, Zeffy is the only 100% free event management software for nonprofits. With Zeffy, you can save on all fees and ensure that your supporters aren’t on the hook for them, either.
Why do you need an Eventbrite alternative?
Honestly, you might not need an alternative to Eventbrite. Some nonprofits find more flexibility, and ability to host a webinar, explore various forms, or expand brand presence at a lower cost as they scale with one of the Eventbrite competitors.
Reasons nonprofits choose to explore a similar event website:
- Avoid Eventbrite's payment processing Ticketing Fees if your event charges admission.
- Save your nonprofit money to allocate more of the money you raise to your projects and mission-driving activities.
- Explore more nonprofit-specific functionality that supports events as part of your greater fundraising strategy.
- Build consistency in the look and feel of your ticketing forms and the rest of your fundraising campaigns.
- Incorporate more engagement opportunities into your events to build relationships with attendees.
- Host in-person events and online events with the same great experience.
- Present creative event marketing and event promotion to expand past local events.
- Measure performance based on reliable event data.
What makes the best Eventbrite alternative?
The best Eventbrite alternative depends on your organization's needs. Before choosing Eventbrite as your default ticket sales platform, consider your budget, the size of your event, and the type of event you are hosting.
Less expensive, easier to use, and more brand-friendly Eventbrite alternatives exist, and we’re here to share them with you in detail.
Top Eventbrite alternatives you should consider:
1. Zeffy: the only 100% free Eventbrite alternative for nonprofits to crush online, hybrid, and in person events
We know what you’re thinking: A free Eventbrite alternative? Like, actually free even if we charge for tickets? With no cost to set up an event page and marketing built to impress the modern donor? No way. There’s gotta be a catch.
We understand your skepticism. Most alternatives to Eventbrite claim to be free but end up charging hidden fees (like credit card transaction fees or fees for your donors) to access all of their products and tools. Zeffy is actually free.
How? Zeffy is funded through voluntary contributions. When donors give using the Zeffy platform, they can choose to make an additional contribution. Not every donor gives every time, and that's okay. Collectively, we make it work.
We’re not saying there aren’t other great Eventbrite alternatives for nonprofits out there, but Zeffy is the only ticketing and event management platform that is 100% free for nonprofits to host in person and virtual events.
What Zeffy does well:
- There are no limits to the number of campaigns and events you can host, the number of transactions you can process, or the number of members you can sign up.
- Every Zeffy ticket, form, and event page is entirely customizable. You can even add questions to help specialize your event.
- Zeffy’s Customer Success team is ready and willing to answer any questions and help you learn the ins and outs of everything Zeffy’s 100% free platform can do for you.
- Zeffy’s free Tap-to-pay app lets nonprofits accept payments for in-person events.
- In-person attendee check-in is easier with a quick scan of e-tickets.
- Zeffy gives you post-event analytics to strengthen your strategy.
- Automated emails make event marketing easier with limited time and resources.
What Zeffy is working to improve:
- Zeffy doesn’t allow you to upload interactive seating plans—yet. However, their Customer Success team has developed a few clever workarounds for seating charts.
- If you have more questions, sign up for one of our demos! (We know… this isn’t something we need to improve on. We just love answering your questions.)
2. Ticketspice: A transparent event management alternative to Eventbrite
When it comes to Eventbrite alternatives for nonprofits, few can claim to be built on transparency. Ticketspice is different.
What Ticketspice does well:
- Their transparent pricing makes it easy for nonprofits to stay on budget.
- Their ticket sales and event management tool is one of the simplest platforms to set up your event pages.
What Ticketspice doesn’t do super well:
- Ticketspice is not free and doesn’t offer reduced pricing for nonprofits. Additional monthly fees apply for functionality like:some text
- Automated email marketing
- Text messages
- Cashless on-site payments
- 3rd party payment processing
- White label domain name
- Ticketspice is an event management platform, not a complete fundraising event platform.
3. Whova: An Eventbrite alternative that specializes in attendee participation.
Whova has an impressive roster of organizations that trust it to help them deliver an unforgettable on various event pages.
What Whova does well:
- Whova specializes in interactive large-scale events.
- Their all-in-one event management software is great for experienced event organizers looking for a more robust option.
What Whova doesn’t do super well:
- Their pricing model is not visible to everyone and may differ based on a custom event strategy per organization (you need to request a demo to see their prices).
- Whova’s platform isn’t designed for beginners.
4. Splash: An Eventbrite competitor that makes you look good.
Splash is an event registration and marketing platform that can help manage your event pages—offline or online.
What Splash does well:
- Their virtual and hybrid event planning solutions are designed to help make your events look as good as they are with powerful customization tools and a library of modern templates.
- Splash can help you promote your event and track its results with design-forward emails.
What Splash doesn’t do super well:
- Their pricing model is not visible to everyone (you need to request a demo to see their prices).
- Their free option is super limited—making it a less-than-ideal choice for smaller organizations.
5. Wild Apricot: An event platform like Eventbrite that focuses on membership.
Wild Apricot is, first and foremost, donor membership software. So, even though it has event management features, it isn’t quite as complete or user-friendly as some of the other Eventbrite alternatives we’ve mentioned.
What Wild Apricot does well:
- Wild Apricot’s member database tools help make inviting and managing your donors easy using real-time event data.
- They have a completely transparent pricing model.
What Wild Apricot doesn’t do super well:
- Wild Apricot isn’t as simple as other ticket sales and event management platforms.
- The pricing of their plans is based on the number of members your nonprofit has.
6. GoTo Webinar: An Eventbrite competitor that specializes in virtual events.
GoTo Webinar is a huge online event and communication company specializing in webinar planning and hosting software.
What GoTo Webinar does well:
- GoTo Webinar helps organizations make the most of their online events with key features for interaction and customizable modes.
- They’re a secure option with enterprise-grade security that goes beyond Zoom events.
What GoTo Webinar doesn’t do super well:
- GoTo Webinar’s pricing model depends on how many attendees your virtual event will attract.
- Some users claim the platform and event page look and feel are outdated.
7. RegFox: The alternative to Eventbrite with upfront, transparent pricing.
RegFox has become known for its affordable, powerful event registration software. Like Zeffy, the organizations that use it consistently rate it highly.
What RegFox does well:
- RegFox’s pricing is affordable and transparent.
- Their platform is loved by the organizations that use it for its simplicity and effectiveness.
- Their tech support is ready and willing to help.
What RegFox doesn’t do super well:
- Some users find RegFox’s tools are a bit buggy.
- Their platform and event page don’t allow for a ton of flexibility.
8. Jotform: The ticket sales Eventbrite alternative that uses their profits for good.
Jotform is a great “out-of-the-box solution” and prides itself on having an incredibly easy user interface that integrates into your existing business platforms and apps.
What Jotform does well:
- Jotform has over 10,000 event form templates to ensure you find one that fits your organization and event.
- Their pricing is transparent and easy to understand.
What Jotform doesn’t do super well:
- Jotform may have many event form templates, but its customization features aren’t quite as robust as some users would like.
- They only allow a single login or user per account (unless you sign up for their Enterprise package).
A few other Eventbrite alternatives
If the above list doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are always other Eventbrite alternatives for virtual, in-person, and hybrid events:
A few more things to look out for in your nonprofit event software
Attendee engagement
When it comes to successful nonprofit fundraising events, attendee engagement is a can’t-miss factor. Your event is a single touchpoint that’s a part of a longer-term donor journey so the way you build relationships and deepen connections can encourage them to show more generosity over the years.
When your supporters feel involved and appreciated through interactive activities, live polls, or social sharing, they experience a stronger sense of community and purpose. That can pay off when you see participation in auctions, raffles, or other fundraising campaigns rise.
Event software that prioritizes engagement helps nonprofits keep supporters active without having to put too much thought into it. It’s always helpful to ask about engagement features to see if there’s something you haven’t yet considered.
Flexibility to host an in-person, hybrid, and virtual event
The best way to expand your reach as a nonprofit is to make events accessible to anyone, anywhere. That may be a combination of hosting in-person events within your local community and some virtual events to get the world involved. And sometimes, it can look like combining the two into a hybrid solid event.
The ability to pivot between formats can be a game changer, especially when working with limited time and resources. Look at how your event software sets you up for success both virtually and live to ensure an excellent donor experience and easy execution for your team.
Simplicity & affordability for large-scale events
Getting used to an event software takes time and you want to land with something that grows with you. As you grow, having the ability to host large-scale events means finding an event software that can scale with your organization without incurring excessive fees.
The right platform allows nonprofits to increase event size and complexity without requiring an entire event team of experts, saving time and resources as you engage guests. By simplifying tasks like registration, donor engagement, and ticketing, the software empowers small teams to manage significant events efficiently, allowing them to focus on their mission.
Reliable customer support
Any software has inevitable bugs or learning curves. When choosing event software, consider the customer support model to ensure you have reliable help and guidance when you need it most.
Nonprofits often need tight deadlines, and delays caused by technical issues can seriously impact an event's success. Robust customer support and quick assistance help you resolve any problems quickly and keep your event on track.
Comprehensive onboarding and training can also make all the difference. Ask your event software provider about training materials, and feel confident that your team can master the tool and its features to maximize potential.
A full picture of event performance
A complete picture of event performance will help your nonprofit confidently and efficiently plan future events. Access to detailed attendee data and performance analytics allows you to understand what worked, where improvements are needed, and how to better engage attendees.
This level of insight ensures your next event can be even more successful and drive higher participation and donations. That’s where event software provides comprehensive reporting tools, which is vital, especially for organizations with limited resources.
Tracking metrics like attendance, fundraising totals, and engagement levels easily simplifies planning and helps refine strategies for the future.
Lean on Zeffy as the only 100% free Eventbrite alternative
At Zeffy, we’re all about helping nonprofits place as much money as possible back into their mission. Events can be costly, but we don’t think the software you use to sell tickets, manage attendees, communicate with guests, and track performance should be.
Enjoy our free platform that will never surprise you with a fee, regardless of the size of your event or the features you want to access. We provide every nonprofit-specific feature for events and fundraising at no cost because we know how important it is to make a strong impression.
More importantly, we know how important it is to have a platform you can trust for events and all campaigns you run. We’re here to help every step of the way with user-friendly tech and robust customer support.
Eventbrite: Frequently asked questions
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