UK ticketing fees compared: what each platform really charges

Who this comparison is for

Any UK organiser selling paid tickets: gig promoters, comedy and club nights, theatre companies, conference and workshop hosts, sports clubs, schools and PTAs, charities, party and meetup organisers, and community groups.

Published fees, platform by platform

Fees as published on each platform's own pages. Monthly plans, add-ons and discounts are not shown. Only platforms whose fee we could check on their own site are listed.

Worked examples: £10, £20 and £50 tickets

Total cost per paid ticket when the organiser absorbs the fee, including Stripe (1.5% + 20p on standard UK cards) where it is charged separately.

Skiddle is left out because its booking fee is normally added to the buyer's price (£1.27, £2.27 and £5.27 on these tickets). Eventbrite amounts are calculated from its formula and rounded to the nearest penny.

Sources: Tickts pricing, Ticket Monkey pricing, EntryTicket pricing, Ticket Tailor pricing, Eventbrite help: organiser fees, Skiddle help: booking fee rate, Stripe UK pricing

Flat fee vs percentage: which is better for you?

A percentage fee rises with your ticket price; a flat fee does not. On low-priced tickets the difference is small. The higher your ticket price, the more a flat fee tends to save.

Look at the whole picture too: whether processing is included, whether VAT is added, how free tickets are treated and how quickly you can reach your money.

Costs that are easy to miss

• VAT on fees. Some platforms quote fees plus VAT (Ticket Tailor), others include it (Ticket Monkey). Check which way round each price is shown.
• Card processing. Stripe charges 1.5% + 20p on standard UK cards. Some platforms include processing in their fee (Eventbrite); most add it.
• Payout timing. Ask each platform how and when ticket money reaches you.
• Free-ticket caps. Some platforms limit free tickets (Ticket Tailor: 5,000 a year; Ticket Monkey: 500 per event and 2,500 a year).

Passing fees on to buyers

Most platforms let you either absorb the fee or add it to the ticket price as a booking fee. On EntryTicket you set it for each ticket type. Showing the full price upfront helps buyers trust the checkout.

Where EntryTicket fits

EntryTicket doesn't have the lowest headline fee on this page: Tickts charges no commission and Ticket Monkey's flat fee is lower. What you get for 49p is WhatsApp and email ticket delivery, phone check-in, payouts to your own Stripe account, and a 25p rate (plus Stripe fees) for charities, places of worship, CICs and school PTAs.

Methodology and last checked date

Every figure comes from the platform's own pricing or help page, linked in the tables, and was last checked on 15 October 2026. Worked examples assume standard UK cards on Stripe at 1.5% + 20p and that the organiser absorbs the fee. Prices change, so check each platform before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

What does Eventbrite charge in the UK?

Eventbrite's UK organiser fee is 6.95% + 59p per paid ticket, including payment processing. Free tickets have no fee.

Do these fees apply to every type of event?

The published fees apply whatever you run, from gigs, comedy and club nights to conferences, workshops, sports, school and charity events, parties and meetups. Some platforms have separate charity or free-ticket terms.

Which UK ticketing platform has the lowest published fee?

Of the platforms checked here, Tickts charges no commission (Stripe fees still apply) and Ticket Monkey has the lowest flat fee at 25p including VAT. EntryTicket Starter is 49p per ticket, no VAT added and adds WhatsApp and email ticket delivery and phone check-in.

Do I pay VAT on ticketing fees?

It depends on the platform. Some quote fees plus VAT and some include it, so check how each price is shown. Your own VAT position is a question for your accountant.

Who pays the booking fee?

You choose. Most platforms, EntryTicket included, let you absorb the fee or pass it on to the buyer at checkout.

Are free events free?

On EntryTicket, yes: free events cost £0. Some other platforms cap how many free tickets you can issue.

What does Stripe charge?

Stripe charges 1.5% + 20p per transaction on standard UK cards. Other card types can cost more.

Is a flat fee or a percentage better?

A flat fee usually works out better as ticket prices rise, because a percentage grows with the price and a flat fee does not.

How often is this page updated?

We check every figure against each platform's own page. This version was last checked on 15 October 2026.