--- title: "Tessitura vs Ticket Fairy: fees and features (2026)" description: "See Tessitura and Ticket Fairy side by side: fees, features and what switching takes. Checked October 2026." canonical: "https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ticket-fairy-vs-tessitura" --- 1. [Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/) 2. [Compare](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare) 3. [Ticketing platforms](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing) 4. Tessitura vs Ticket Fairy # Tessitura vs Ticket Fairy With Ticket Fairy, every plan has one standard ticketing fee with card processing included, and on a paid plan you can add your own ticketing fee on top and keep your own fee. Fans can resell at face value to the next person on your waiting list, and Fai can answer questions and make changes once you approve. Tessitura is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative for arts and cultural organizations, with fundraising and memberships in the same database as ticketing, and it charges no transaction fees on a license whose price it does not publish. [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome?utm_source=compare&utm_campaign=compare-ticketing-ticket-fairy-vs-tessitura) [Book a demo](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing/book-a-demo) Ticket Fairy publishes this comparison and also sells event ticketing and event management software. [How we compare platforms](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/methodology) - **11 of 11** of the things you need, included on Ticket Fairy - **8 of 11** of the things you need, confirmed on the published pages of Tessitura - **3** things you need that Ticket Fairy includes and Tessitura does not ## The short answer Which should you choose? ### Where Ticket Fairy is stronger - Every plan has one standard ticketing fee, and you choose whether buyers pay it on top of your price or you absorb it. On a paid plan you can add your own ticketing fee on top of Ticket Fairy's, a percentage and a fixed amount in each currency, and you keep your own fee. Ticket Fairy's ticketing fee stays Ticket Fairy's and, after payment processing, counts towards your plan bill. Where fees show on top of the price, the whole ticketing fee is capped at twice the standard fee. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland and Mexico, where the law asks for one all-in price, the fees are included in your ticket price.[1](#source-1) - Your buyers' ticketing fee includes card processing and customer service for your buyers.[2](#source-2) - Ticket Fairy publishes its standard ticketing fee for each country it serves on its pricing page, with card processing included.[2](#source-2) - Your fans can resell and transfer tickets at face value, and each returned ticket is offered to the next fan on your waiting list.[3](#source-3) - You can promote your events with email and text campaigns, promo codes and referral rewards.[4](#source-4) - Fai can answer questions and make changes once you approve.[5](#source-5) ### Where Tessitura is stronger - Tessitura manages every step of giving, from quick online gifts and event contributions to long-term planned pledges and their acknowledgment.[6](#source-6) - Tessitura never charges transaction fees to the organization or its buyers, and the organization keeps 100% of any fees it chooses to charge.[7](#source-7) - Tessitura's scanners keep scanning without an internet connection and upload attendance data later.[8](#source-8) Choose Ticket Fairy when you want a published ticketing fee instead of a license quote, face-value resale with a waiting list, email and text campaigns from the same system, and Fai to answer questions and make changes once you approve. Choose Tessitura if you run a non-profit arts organization that wants donor pledges and gift acknowledgments in the same database as ticketing, no transaction fees and door scanning that works offline. ## What each platform costs for your event What would 500 tickets at US$40 cost on Tessitura and on Ticket Fairy? Tessitura does not publish a fee for each ticket, so you see Ticket Fairy's fees worked out and how Tessitura prices. You can enter your ticket price and the number of tickets you expect to sell. ### What does one order of 500 tickets at $40 cost on Ticket Fairy? Every platform's order, in words - **Ticket Fairy** Fee on each ticket $4; buyers pay $22,000; you receive $20,000. Card processing included - **Tessitura** License price not published; Tessitura charges no transaction fees to the organization or its buyers, and the API and yearly new releases are included. On this order, your buyers pay $22,000 on Ticket Fairy, card processing included, and you receive $20,000. Sources[2](#source-2) Your own ticket price and number of tickets | For 500 tickets at $40 | Ticket Fairy | Tessitura | | --- | --- | --- | | Who pays the fee | The buyer, unless you choose to absorb it | Not published | | Fees per ticket | $4 | Not published; quote required | | Buyers pay in total | $22,000 | Not published | | You receive for the tickets | $20,000 | Not published | | Your Pro plan ($20 a month), once the Ticket Fairy fees on these sales come off it | $0 to pay that month | License price not published; Tessitura charges no transaction fees to the organization or its buyers, and the API and yearly new releases are included. | Ticket Fairy's standard ticketing fee is the same on every plan. Each month, Ticket Fairy's fees on your paid tickets, after payment processing, come off your next plan bill, up to the plan price. Tessitura's pricing is from [its own pricing page](https://www.tessitura.com/features/online-and-mobile-solutions), read on 19 October 2026. [See Ticket Fairy pricing](https://www.ticketfairy.com/pricing). ### When does each platform pay you your ticket money? When each platform pays, in words - **Ticket Fairy** On your own payment account: daily as tickets sell.[1](#source-1) - **Ticket Fairy** On money Ticket Fairy processes: usually 10 to 15 business days after the event, and can be held for the chargeback window where there are chargebacks or cancellations.[1](#source-1) - **Tessitura** On your own payment account's schedule: Card payments settle to the organization through Tessitura Merchant Services or another payment partner[9](#source-9) On Ticket Fairy you are paid daily as tickets sell on your own payment account, or usually 10 to 15 business days after the event on money Ticket Fairy processes, which can be held for the chargeback window where there are chargebacks or cancellations. Sources[1](#source-1) [9](#source-9) ## What each platform does for your event What do you get from Tessitura and Ticket Fairy when you sell tickets? ### Where does each platform win on what you need? Every difference, in words - **Resale and transfers** Ticket Fairy: Included. Tessitura: Not found. - **Sells through AI assistants** Ticket Fairy: Included. Tessitura: Not found. - **AI assistant** Ticket Fairy: Included. Tessitura: Not found. - **8 things you need are the same on both:** Fees, When you are paid, Reserved seating, Payment plans, Event website or checkout on your site, Door scanning, Marketing tools, Your buyer data Ticket Fairy includes 3 of these that we did not find in Tessitura's public documentation. | What you need | Ticket Fairy | Tessitura | | --- | --- | --- | | Money | | | | Fees | Every plan has one standard ticketing fee that buyers pay or you absorb, and on a paid plan you can add your own ticketing fee on top and keep your own fee [1](#source-1) | Tessitura charges no transaction fees to the organization or its buyers, and the organization keeps 100% of any fees it chooses to charge [10](#source-10) | | When you are paid | Payouts arrive daily on your own Stripe or Xendit account, or after the event when Ticket Fairy processes your sales [1](#source-1) | Card payments settle to the organization through Tessitura Merchant Services or another payment partner [9](#source-9) | | Selling | | | | Reserved seating | Included[11](#source-11) Your buyers can pick their own seat on your venue's map | Included[12](#source-12) Seated and capacity-controlled venues of any layout, with no limit on the number of seat maps and best-seat selection at the buyer's price point | | Payment plans | Included[13](#source-13) Your buyers can pay for bigger tickets with a deposit now and installments later | Included[14](#source-14) Payment plans for subscriptions and group orders, and group orders saved with only a deposit | | Resale and transfers | Included[3](#source-3) Your fans can resell and transfer tickets at face value, with a waiting list | Not found in Tessitura's public documentation[15](#source-15) We did not find fan-to-fan resale in Tessitura's public documentation | | Event website or checkout on your site | Included[16](#source-16) You get a website for each event at its own link or on your own web address, and checkout on your own site | Included[17](#source-17) TN Express Web (TNEW), a white-label e-commerce site for tickets, memberships, donations and more, or a custom site built on the Tessitura API | | Sells through AI assistants | Included[18](#source-18) Your buyers can find and buy your tickets inside the AI assistants you choose | Not found in Tessitura's public documentation[19](#source-19) Buying inside an AI assistant was not found in Tessitura's public documentation | | Running the event | | | | Door scanning | Included[20](#source-20) Your door team can scan tickets on their own phones, and your buyers can keep their tickets in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, updated whenever anything changes | Included[21](#source-21) Handheld and contactless scanning of tickets and membership cards, with an offline mode that uploads attendance later | | Marketing tools | Included[4](#source-4) Email and text campaigns, promo codes and referral rewards promote your events | Included[22](#source-22) Segmented lists, promotions and member pre-sales, with email campaigns sent through integrated email marketing partners | | Your buyer data | Included[23](#source-23) You keep your own customer list and see your repeat and lapsed buyers | Included[24](#source-24) One CRM database for every ticket, gift and membership, with unlimited custom reports through standard SQL tools | | AI assistant | Included[5](#source-5) Fai can answer questions and make changes once you approve | Not found in Tessitura's public documentation[25](#source-25) We did not find an AI assistant for organizations in Tessitura's public documentation | ## What else should you know about Tessitura and Ticket Fairy? How much does Tessitura cost? Tessitura does not publish its license price, so you contact Tessitura to discuss it. Its own pages say it never charges transaction fees to you or your buyers, and the Tessitura API and each year's new releases are included; card payments run through Tessitura Merchant Services or another payment partner at rates it does not publish. On Ticket Fairy, every plan has one standard ticketing fee with card processing included, and on a paid plan you can add your own ticketing fee on top and keep your own fee. [26](#source-26) [7](#source-7) [27](#source-27) [28](#source-28) [29](#source-29) [1](#source-1) [2](#source-2) When do I get my ticket money with Tessitura? Card payments on Tessitura settle to you through Tessitura Merchant Services or another payment partner, and the public pages do not give a payout time. On Ticket Fairy, you can be paid daily as tickets sell on your own Stripe or Xendit account where your country supports it, or Ticket Fairy collects the payments and usually pays you 10 to 15 business days after the event, and funds can be held for the chargeback window where there are chargebacks or cancellations. [29](#source-29) [1](#source-1) Can my buyers choose their own seats on Tessitura? Yes. Tessitura's own pages describe seated and capacity-controlled venues of any layout, with no limit on seat maps and best-seat selection at the buyer's price point. On Ticket Fairy, your buyers pick their own seat on your venue's map. [30](#source-30) [11](#source-11) Can I sell season subscriptions and payment plans on Tessitura? Yes. Tessitura's own pages describe renewable seated subscriptions where patrons keep their seats, and payment plans for subscriptions and group orders. On Ticket Fairy, your buyers can pay a deposit at checkout and the rest in weekly or monthly installments that finish before the event. [31](#source-31) [32](#source-32) [33](#source-33) Can fans resell their tickets on Tessitura? We did not find fan-to-fan resale in Tessitura's public documentation; its pages describe applying gift certificates or on-account funds from canceled events to a new purchase. On Ticket Fairy, your fans can resell and transfer tickets at face value, and each returned ticket is offered to the next fan on your waiting list. [34](#source-34) [3](#source-3) How does my front-of-house team scan Tessitura tickets? Tessitura's own pages describe handheld and contactless scanning of tickets and membership cards, with an offline mode that uploads attendance later. On Ticket Fairy, your door team scans tickets on their own phones, and your buyers can keep their tickets in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. [35](#source-35) [20](#source-20) What does Tessitura give me to sell more tickets? Tessitura's own pages describe segmented lists, promotions and member pre-sales, with email campaigns designed and sent through integrated email marketing partners. On Ticket Fairy, you can promote your events with email and text campaigns, promo codes and referral rewards from the same system that sells the tickets. [36](#source-36) [4](#source-4) Do I keep my audience data on Tessitura? Yes. Tessitura's own pages describe one CRM database for every ticket, gift and membership, with unlimited custom reports through standard SQL tools. On Ticket Fairy, you keep your own customer list, see your repeat and lapsed buyers, and can download a CSV of every ticket with your buyers' details. [37](#source-37) [23](#source-23) [38](#source-38) ## More comparisons for your team What else are you comparing? - [Tessitura alternatives](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/tessitura-alternatives) - [Tessitura vs Ticketsolve](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/tessitura-vs-ticketsolve) - [Ticketsolve vs Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ticket-fairy-vs-ticketsolve) - [Etix vs Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ticket-fairy-vs-etix) - [AudienceView vs Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ticket-fairy-vs-audienceview) - [Ticketing platforms in the United States](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/united-states) - [Ticketing platforms in the United Kingdom](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/united-kingdom) - [Ticketing platforms in Ireland](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ireland) - [Ticketing platforms in Australia](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/australia) - [Ticketing platforms in Canada](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/canada) - [Best ticketing platforms for festivals](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/best-ticketing-platforms-for-festivals) - [Best ticketing platforms for nightclubs and club nights](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/best-ticketing-platforms-for-nightclubs-and-club-nights) - [Questions about ticketing platforms](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/questions) - [Ticketing platforms compared](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing) Every fact about another company comes from its own published pages, quoted word for word. Where we did not find something in those pages, we say exactly that. [How we compare platforms](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/methodology) Show all 38 sources 1. Ticket Fairy [Your ticket money arrives daily, or after the show](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/payments-and-payouts/payment-accounts-fees-and-payouts) 2. Ticket Fairy [Ticket Fairy pricing](https://www.ticketfairy.com/pricing) 3. Ticket Fairy [Spare tickets reach fans at face value](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/orders-refunds-and-resale/resale-transfers-and-waiting-lists) 4. Ticket Fairy [Your buyers sell tickets to their friends](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/referral-marketing) 5. Ticket Fairy [Fai gets your ticketing jobs done when you ask](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/fai) 6. Tessitura Tessitura manages every step of giving, from quick online gifts and event contributions to long-term planned pledges and their acknowledgment. "From quick online gifts to special event contributions to long-term planned pledges, Tessitura has the tools to manage every step of the contribution life cycle from entry to acknowledgement." [www.tessitura.com/features](https://www.tessitura.com/features), read on 19 October 2026. 7. Tessitura Tessitura never charges transaction fees to the organization or its buyers, and the organization keeps 100% of any fees it chooses to charge. "Keep 100% of any fees you choose to charge." [www.tessitura.com/features/online-and-mobile-solutions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/online-and-mobile-solutions), read on 19 October 2026. 8. Tessitura Tessitura's scanners keep scanning without an internet connection and upload attendance data later. "Offline mode lets you scan tickets even without an internet connection, and upload your attendance data to Tessitura later" [www.tessitura.com/features/access-control](https://www.tessitura.com/features/access-control), read on 19 October 2026. 9. Tessitura When you are paid "Streamline the transaction chain between Tessitura and your bank account." [www.tessitura.com/features/payment-processing](https://www.tessitura.com/features/payment-processing), read on 19 October 2026. 10. Tessitura Fees "Tessitura never charges any transaction fees to you or your customers." [www.tessitura.com/features/online-and-mobile-solutions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/online-and-mobile-solutions), read on 19 October 2026. 11. Ticket Fairy [Buyers pick their own seat on your venue's map](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/seating-and-timed-entry/reserved-seating) 12. Tessitura Reserved seating "Building blocks to manage capacity and seating in any space with no limitation on the number of maps you can create" [www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions), read on 19 October 2026. 13. Ticket Fairy [Fans can buy your biggest tickets with a deposit](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/payments-and-payouts/payment-plans) 14. Tessitura Payment plans "Payment plans make it easier for your customers to plan their investment in your programming" [www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions), read on 19 October 2026. 15. Tessitura Resale and transfers "Apply gift certificates or on-account funds from past cancelled events" Where we looked: tessitura.com public pages read in full on 2026-10-19: home, About, Features, Ticketing & Admissions, Payment Processing, Ticket Scanning & Access Control, Digital & E-commerce, Marketing, Unified CRM, Fundraising, Memberships, Business Insights, Theater market page, Getting Started and Contact; documentation and community pages need a member login and were not read.. [www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions), read on 19 October 2026. 16. Ticket Fairy [You can sell tickets right on your event website](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/website-builder) 17. Tessitura Event website or checkout on your site "TN Express Web (TNEW) is e-commerce designed for your customers." [www.tessitura.com/features/online-and-mobile-solutions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/online-and-mobile-solutions), read on 19 October 2026. 18. Ticket Fairy [Guide: Choose which AI assistants sell your tickets](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/choose-which-ai-assistants-sell-your-tickets) 19. Tessitura Sells through AI assistants "Everything you need in one system" Where we looked: tessitura.com public pages read in full on 2026-10-19: home, About, Features, Ticketing & Admissions, Payment Processing, Ticket Scanning & Access Control, Digital & E-commerce, Marketing, Unified CRM, Fundraising, Memberships, Business Insights, Theater market page, Getting Started and Contact; documentation and community pages need a member login and were not read.. [www.tessitura.com/features](https://www.tessitura.com/features), read on 19 October 2026. 20. Ticket Fairy [Tickets in your buyers' wallets, always up to date](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/check-in-and-box-office/apple-and-google-wallet-passes) 21. Tessitura Door scanning "Offline mode lets you scan tickets even without an internet connection, and upload your attendance data to Tessitura later" [www.tessitura.com/features/access-control](https://www.tessitura.com/features/access-control), read on 19 October 2026. 22. Tessitura Marketing tools "Generate your targeted email lists in Tessitura and use our partners to design and deploy your campaigns." [www.tessitura.com/features/marketing](https://www.tessitura.com/features/marketing), read on 19 October 2026. 23. Ticket Fairy [You find your regulars and win back lapsed buyers](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/audience-insights/customer-list-and-repeat-buyers) 24. Tessitura Your buyer data "unlimited number of custom reports to tailor Tessitura to your needs using standard SQL tools" [www.tessitura.com/features/business-insights](https://www.tessitura.com/features/business-insights), read on 19 October 2026. 25. Tessitura AI assistant "Everything you need in one system" Where we looked: tessitura.com public pages read in full on 2026-10-19: home, About, Features, Ticketing & Admissions, Payment Processing, Ticket Scanning & Access Control, Digital & E-commerce, Marketing, Unified CRM, Fundraising, Memberships, Business Insights, Theater market page, Getting Started and Contact; documentation and community pages need a member login and were not read.. [www.tessitura.com/features](https://www.tessitura.com/features), read on 19 October 2026. 26. Tessitura Tessitura does not publish its license price; organizations contact Tessitura to discuss it. "Interested in Tessitura for your organization? Please contact us using the form below on this page" [www.tessitura.com/about/contact](https://www.tessitura.com/about/contact), read on 19 October 2026. 27. Tessitura The Tessitura API is included with the license at no additional charge. "Access to the Tessitura API is included with your Tessitura license — no additional charge" [www.tessitura.com/features/online-and-mobile-solutions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/online-and-mobile-solutions), read on 19 October 2026. 28. Tessitura Tessitura issues new releases of its platform every year at no additional charge to members. "We issue new releases of our unified platform every year, at no additional charge to our members." [www.tessitura.com/about](https://www.tessitura.com/about), read on 19 October 2026. 29. Tessitura Card payments settle to the organization through Tessitura Merchant Services or another payment partner "Streamline the transaction chain between Tessitura and your bank account." [www.tessitura.com/features/payment-processing](https://www.tessitura.com/features/payment-processing), read on 19 October 2026. 30. Tessitura Seated and capacity-controlled venues of any layout, with no limit on the number of seat maps and best-seat selection at the buyer's price point "Building blocks to manage capacity and seating in any space with no limitation on the number of maps you can create" [www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions), read on 19 October 2026. 31. Tessitura Tessitura sells renewable seated subscriptions where patrons keep their seats for every performance, and releases unrenewed seats on the organization's timeline. "Patrons can keep "their seats" for every performance or combine assigned seats with general admission events" [www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions), read on 19 October 2026. 32. Tessitura Payment plans for subscriptions and group orders, and group orders saved with only a deposit "Payment plans make it easier for your customers to plan their investment in your programming" [www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions), read on 19 October 2026. 33. Ticket Fairy [Guide: Let buyers pay for tickets in installments](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/let-buyers-pay-for-tickets-in-instalments) 34. Tessitura We did not find fan-to-fan resale in Tessitura's public documentation "Apply gift certificates or on-account funds from past cancelled events" [www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions](https://www.tessitura.com/features/ticketing-admissions), read on 19 October 2026. 35. Tessitura Handheld and contactless scanning of tickets and membership cards, with an offline mode that uploads attendance later "Offline mode lets you scan tickets even without an internet connection, and upload your attendance data to Tessitura later" [www.tessitura.com/features/access-control](https://www.tessitura.com/features/access-control), read on 19 October 2026. 36. Tessitura Segmented lists, promotions and member pre-sales, with email campaigns sent through integrated email marketing partners "Generate your targeted email lists in Tessitura and use our partners to design and deploy your campaigns." [www.tessitura.com/features/marketing](https://www.tessitura.com/features/marketing), read on 19 October 2026. 37. Tessitura One CRM database for every ticket, gift and membership, with unlimited custom reports through standard SQL tools "unlimited number of custom reports to tailor Tessitura to your needs using standard SQL tools" [www.tessitura.com/features/business-insights](https://www.tessitura.com/features/business-insights), read on 19 October 2026. 38. Ticket Fairy [Guide: Download your ticket buyers](https://www.ticketfairy.com/guides/download-your-ticket-buyers) Updated 19 October 2026: First published. Tessitura is a trademark of its owner. Ticket Fairy is not affiliated with it. **You choose the tools to start with** You can start with event management or marketing alongside your current ticketing provider. If you decide to move ticketing, our team helps with setup, customer-data imports and training. ## Start free on Ticket Fairy Sign up without a credit card and build a test event before you commit. Go on sale in minutes when you are ready. Unlimited events with no monthly fee Start selling tickets immediately Tickets, door and website tools on every plan, Free included [Create a free account](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome?utm_source=compare&utm_campaign=compare-ticketing-ticket-fairy-vs-tessitura) No credit card required --- This page is on Ticket Fairy, a ticketing, marketing and operations platform for live events and the venues that host them: festivals, club nights, concerts, conferences and tours, and night clubs, beach clubs and concert venues. It grows revenue with fan rewards that turn an audience into a sales channel, and runs the money side with payments and payouts, Vault business banking, and working capital advanced against ticket sales. [How Ticket Fairy ticketing works](https://www.ticketfairy.com/event-ticketing) · [Ticket Fairy for AI assistants](https://www.ticketfairy.com/llms.txt)