When it comes to buying tickets for concerts, sports games, and other live events, StubHub and Ticketmaster are two of the biggest and most well-known options. But which site should you use? Here’s a detailed comparison of StubHub vs Ticketmaster to help you decide where to buy tickets.
Ticket Availability
One of the most important factors when choosing a ticket site is availability – how likely are you to find tickets to the event you want? Here’s how StubHub and Ticketmaster compare:
- StubHub is a ticket resale marketplace, so all tickets are sold by other fans rather than directly from event organizers or venues. This means availability depends on fans posting tickets for sale. For very high demand events, tickets may be scarce.
- Ticketmaster sells primary market tickets directly from event organizers in addition to resale tickets from fans. This usually means more overall ticket availability, including official platinum tickets and VIP packages not available on StubHub.
In general Ticketmaster has wider ticket availability due to their primary ticket sales. But for less popular events or last minute purchases, you may find a better selection on StubHub.
Ticket Prices
Price is often the deciding factor when choosing where to buy tickets. Here’s how StubHub and Ticketmaster pricing compares:
- StubHub is a free marketplace, so ticket prices are set by individual sellers. Prices are driven by supply and demand – for high demand events, prices are usually higher on StubHub.
- Ticketmaster’s primary market ticket prices are set by event organizers/venues. For very high demand events, Ticketmaster uses “Official Platinum” pricing which adjusts prices higher based on demand.
- Both sites offer fan-to-fan resale tickets. Resale prices can be below or above face value depending on demand. Usually resale tickets are cheaper on Ticketmaster.
In general, Ticketmaster has more consistent pricing while StubHub’s marketplace pricing means you’re more likely to find very expensive in-demand tickets. But you can also sometimes find deals on StubHub, especially for less popular events.
Fees
The fees charged by StubHub and Ticketmaster can really add to your total ticket cost. Here’s how their fee structures compare:
| Site | Fees |
|---|---|
| StubHub |
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| Ticketmaster |
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While StubHub’s fees may seem more transparent, Ticketmaster’s convenience fees often end up being higher – frequently over 25% of the base ticket price. But fees vary so much between events that it’s impossible to call a definitive winner here.
Buyer Guarantees
Another major point of comparison is the guarantees and protections offered for ticket buyers:
- StubHub offers a “FanProtect Guarantee” on all tickets. If your ticket is invalid for any reason you’ll get a full refund or replacement ticket.
- Ticketmaster also provides guarantees against invalid or fraudulent tickets. Refunds are issued if entry is refused due to an invalid ticket.
In general both StubHub and Ticketmaster offer decent buyer protection in case you receive an invalid or fraudulent ticket. It’s unlikely this factor will strongly sway your purchasing decision.
Ease of Searching
To find the tickets you want it’s important that a ticket site has strong search and filtering options. Here’s how the sites compare:
- StubHub’s search is focused primarily around specific events. It can be difficult to browse upcoming events by location or venue.
- Ticketmaster allows event browsing by city or venue. You can easily see all upcoming events in your location. But searches by specific event name tend to work better on StubHub.
Overall Ticketmaster usually allows for broader event discovery and browsing while StubHub offers a better search experience for finding a specific event you already have in mind.
Mobile Experience
A good mobile app or mobile-optimized website is key for on-the-go ticket purchases. Here’s how StubHub and Ticketmaster’s mobile experiences compare:
- StubHub’s mobile website and apps are well-designed and easy to use. Sorting, filtering, and ticket views make it easy to quickly scan options.
- Ticketmaster’s apps can be a bit clunky with small text and confusing flows. But they offer all necessary features and mobile checkout is quick.
Overall StubHub generally offers the superior mobile experience with a more modern, user-friendly interface. But Ticketmaster’s mobile capabilities get the job done for basic ticket searches and purchases.
Seller Protections
Protections matter not only for buyers but also for sellers. Here are the key protections each site offers sellers:
- StubHub holds sellers’ funds in escrow until after the event when the buyer confirms delivery. This protects against fraud.
- Ticketmaster directly transfers funds to the seller as soon as the buyer completes checkout. No escrow system.
StubHub’s escrow system provides far superior fraud protection for sellers. Ticketmaster leaves sellers much more vulnerable to fraudulent purchases that get reversed or marked “unauthorized.”
Conclusion
When choosing between StubHub vs Ticketmaster, here are some key takeaways:
- Use Ticketmaster if your top priority is primary market access or you want to browse upcoming events in your area.
- Use StubHub if your top priority is price – you want to find the cheapest available tickets.
- Both sites are pretty equal when it comes to buyer guarantees and protections.
- StubHub generally has the better mobile experience while Ticketmaster offers broader search.
- StubHub’s escrow system strongly protects sellers against fraud.
Overall there’s no definitive “best” – choose the site that offers the features and priorities most important for your specific ticket purchase. The best approach may be checking both StubHub and Ticketmaster when looking for tickets to any particular event.
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Ticket buying can be a stressful and confusing process. There are so many sites out there beyond just StubHub and Ticketmaster. Sites like Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, RazorGator, ScoreBig, and more are competing for your business.
How do you even begin to compare and evaluate all the options? Here are some tips:
- Research reviews and complaints. Don’t just rely on advertising claims from the sites. Look for objective reviews and feedback from real users.
- Compare fees carefully. Fees can really drive up your final costs. Make sure to factor them in.
- Look for guarantees and fraud protections. Buy from a site that will protect you against invalid tickets.
- Check selection and availability. More inventory gives you better odds of getting tickets.
- Evaluate the shopping experience. Look for an intuitive interface and smooth checkout process.
If you’re looking to sell tickets, you also need to consider things like:
- Seller fees – how much of a commission does the site charge?
- Payout timing – how quickly will you get paid once tickets sell?
- Fraud protections – does the site hold your funds safely in escrow?
- Sales reach – does the site have a large buyer audience to maximize sales?
- Seller controls – can you adjust pricing or cancel unpaid tickets?
It can take time to properly evaluate all these factors across different sites. But it’s worth doing the research to find the best ticketing platform for your needs – whether you’re a frequent buyer or season ticket holder looking to resell.
A few other ticketing tips:
- Set up accounts in advance – don’t wait until right before you want to buy tickets.
- Save payment info – this speeds up checkout when racing for hot tickets.
- Get notifications – sign up for alerts about presales and on-sales.
- Join fan clubs – this often gives you access to special pre-sales.
- Choose e-tickets – avoids delays of printed tickets being mailed.
Following these tips will set you up for ticketing success, whether you choose StubHub, Ticketmaster, or another vendor.
Here are a few more details on StubHub specifically:
StubHub Seller Fees
As mentioned previously, StubHub charges a commission fee to sellers on each ticket sale. Here are the details:
- 15% fee for standard ticket sales
- 20% fee for “Direct Listings” where the seller chooses the ticket price
- $5 fee for non-Direct “Price Suggestion” listings
These seller fees are deducted pre-sale from the list price so the amount you receive will be net of fees. There are no additional per-order or processing fees for sellers.
StubHub Seller Payouts
StubHub releases seller payouts after the event date. Here is the typical timeline:
- Event occurs and buyer redeems tickets
- 15 days after event, buyer has ability to report any issues
- Payouts initiated 3 business days after 15 day review period
- Electronic payouts arrive in 1-3 business days
- Check payouts arrive in 3-7 business days
So expect a typical payout time of around 3 weeks after the event before the profits reach your account. StubHub holds funds securely in escrow during this period.
StubHub Seller Protection
StubHub offers seller protection against fraudulent or disputed transactions through their FanProtect Guarantee.
Key elements include:
- Funds held in escrow until after event – protects against chargebacks
- Full refunds provided to buyer in case of invalid ticket – StubHub eats the loss, not the seller
- Covers issues like canceled events, changed venues, obstructed views, etc.
This protection is extremely valuable for sellers looking to avoid losses from fraud or other unforeseen circumstances.
StubHub Verified Tickets
To further prevent fraud, StubHub offers “Verified Tickets” for select events like NFL games. These tickets connect to the buyer’s account and cannot be resold.
For buyers, Verified Tickets offer 100% assurance of valid entry. For sellers, it eliminates the risk of chargebacks since the tickets cannot be resold after purchase.
The Verified Tickets program demonstrates StubHub’s commitment to improving security and trust in the secondary ticket market.
StubHub Fan-to-Fan Focus
Unlike Ticketmaster, StubHub does not sell primary market tickets direct from event organizers. Instead, they focus 100% on fan-to-fan resale.
Some key advantages of this model include:
- No competing inventory – all tickets come from fans
- Market-driven pricing – prices set based on supply and demand
- Better prices for last minute sales
- Wider selection of seats available
The fan-to-fan approach generally favors buyers rather than events or venues. Lower prices and more options give fans access to more live experiences.
StubHub’s website design also emphasizes this community-based approach. Features like seller ratings and reviews help buyers shop confidently from other fans.
So in summary, StubHub specializes in providing a trusted online ticket marketplace for fans. Ticketmaster offers greater official inventory, but StubHub connects fans more directly.
