---
title: "Ticketmaster vs Ticket Fairy: fees and features (2026)"
description: "See Ticketmaster 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-ticketmaster"
---

1. [Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/)
2. [Compare](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare)
3. [Ticketing platforms](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing)
4. Ticketmaster vs Ticket Fairy

# Ticketmaster vs Ticket Fairy

If you want the reach of a very large marketplace, Ticketmaster says it sells 1.3 million tickets a day; if you want to be paid daily as tickets sell and let fans resell at face value, you can do both on Ticket Fairy for one standard booking fee.

  [Get started free](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome?utm_source=compare&utm_campaign=compare-ticketing-ticket-fairy-vs-ticketmaster) [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)

- **10 of 10** of the things you need, included on Ticket Fairy
- **9 of 10** of the things you need, confirmed on the published pages of Ticketmaster
- **$4** Ticket Fairy fee on a $40 ticket

## Which should you choose?

### Where Ticket Fairy is stronger

- You choose whether buyers pay the booking fee on top of your price or you absorb it.[1](#source-1)
- Payouts arrive daily as tickets sell, or after the show, with nothing to set up.[1](#source-1)
- Your fans can resell and transfer tickets at face value, and each returned ticket is offered to the next fan on your waiting list.[2](#source-2)

### Where Ticketmaster is stronger

- Ticketmaster states it sells 1.3 million tickets daily.[3](#source-3)
- SafeTix mobile tickets use an encrypted barcode that rotates every few minutes and is tied to a verified fan account.[4](#source-4)
- TM1 lets promoters, agents and box office teams review setups together with permissions, version control and audit visibility.[5](#source-5)

Choose Ticket Fairy if you want to be paid daily as tickets sell, let buyers pick their own seats, let fans resell at face value and promote your events with email, text campaigns and referral rewards, all for one standard booking fee. If you want the reach of a very large marketplace, Ticketmaster may suit you better: its pages say it sells 1.3 million tickets a day.

## What does each cost when you sell 500 tickets at $40?

Ticketmaster does not publish a fee for each ticket, so you see Ticket Fairy's fees worked out and how Ticketmaster prices. You can enter your ticket price and the number of tickets you expect to sell.

| For 500 tickets at $40 | Ticket Fairy | Ticketmaster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | No published price list; buyers pay per-ticket service fees negotiated with each event's organizers, and terms are agreed with the sales team |

Ticket Fairy's standard booking fee is the same on every plan. Each month, Ticket Fairy's fees on your paid tickets come off your next plan bill, up to the plan price. Ticketmaster's pricing is from [its own pricing page](https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined), read on 17 October 2026. [See Ticket Fairy pricing](https://www.ticketfairy.com/pricing).

### When does each platform pay you your ticket money?

- While tickets sell, or after the event **Ticket Fairy** Payouts arrive daily as tickets sell, or after the show [1](#source-1)
- Not published **Ticketmaster** No organizer payout schedule published [6](#source-6)

On Ticket Fairy: Payouts arrive daily as tickets sell, or after the show.

Sources[1](#source-1) [6](#source-6)

## What can you do with Ticketmaster and with Ticket Fairy, from the on-sale to the door?

### Where does each platform win on what you need?

- Included When you are paid  Not found

**9 things you need are the same on both:** Fees, Reserved seating, Payment plans, Resale and transfers, Event website or checkout on your site, Door scanning, Marketing tools, Your buyer data, AI assistant

Ticket Fairy includes 1 of these that we did not find in Ticketmaster's public documentation.

| What you need | Ticket Fairy | Ticketmaster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Money |  |  |
| Fees | Included[1](#source-1) Every plan has one standard booking fee, and you choose whether buyers pay it or you absorb it | Included[7](#source-7) Buyers pay a per-ticket service fee negotiated per event; no standard rate published |
| When you are paid | Included[1](#source-1) Payouts arrive daily as tickets sell, or after the show | Not found in Ticketmaster's public documentation[6](#source-6) No organizer payout schedule published |
| Selling |  |  |
| Reserved seating | Included[8](#source-8) Your buyers can pick their own seat on your venue's map | Included[9](#source-9) Custom floor plans and interactive seat maps |
| Payment plans | Included[10](#source-10) Your buyers can pay for bigger tickets with a deposit now and installments later | Included[11](#source-11) Payment plans listed for festivals; Klarna Pay in 4 for US buyers |
| Resale and transfers | Included[2](#source-2) Your fans can resell and transfer tickets at face value, with a waiting list | Included[12](#source-12) Fan-to-fan resale, Face Value Exchange and free Ticket Transfer |
| Event website or checkout on your site | Included[13](#source-13) You get a website for your events, and checkout on your own site | Included[14](#source-14) Embedded checkout on the organizer's own website |
| Running the event |  |  |
| Door scanning | Included[15](#source-15) Your door team can scan tickets on their own phones | Included[16](#source-16) SafeTix rotating-barcode tickets; scanning and mobile box office on standard mobile devices |
| Marketing tools | Included[17](#source-17) Email and text campaigns, promo codes and referral rewards promote your events | Included[18](#source-18) TM1 Marketing: audience segments, email, campaigns, pixels; Managed SMS and Promoted Ads also offered |
| Your buyer data | Included[19](#source-19) You keep your own customer list and see your repeat and lapsed buyers | Included[20](#source-20) VIP purchaser report with scheduled exports; campaign reports as CSV |
| AI assistant | Included[21](#source-21) Fai can answer questions and make changes once you approve | Included[22](#source-22) AI chatbot and AI-powered search in the client Support Community |

## What else should you know about Ticketmaster and Ticket Fairy?

What does Ticketmaster charge?:  Ticketmaster's pages say buyers pay a per-ticket service fee agreed for each event, and it publishes no standard rate. On Ticket Fairy, you get the same standard booking fee on every plan and choose whether buyers pay it on top of your ticket price or you absorb it. [23](#source-23) [1](#source-1)

Can my buyers pick their own seats on Ticketmaster?:  Yes. Ticketmaster's pages say you can set up custom floor plans, and buyers choose their seats on interactive seat maps. On Ticket Fairy, buyers pick their own seat on your venue's map. [24](#source-24) [8](#source-8)

Can my buyers pay for tickets in installments on Ticketmaster?:  Yes. Ticketmaster's pages list payment plans for festivals, and buyers in the US can pay with Klarna Pay in 4. On Ticket Fairy, buyers can secure bigger tickets with a deposit now and pay the rest in installments. [25](#source-25) [10](#source-10)

Can fans resell or transfer tickets on Ticketmaster?:  Yes. Ticketmaster's pages say fans can resell to other fans, sell at face value through Face Value Exchange and transfer tickets for free. On Ticket Fairy, fans resell and transfer tickets at face value, and fans who miss out can join your waiting list. [26](#source-26) [2](#source-2)

Can I sell Ticketmaster tickets on my own website?:  Yes. Ticketmaster's pages say fans can buy on your own website through embedded checkout. On Ticket Fairy, fans buy from a website for your events or from checkout on your own site. [27](#source-27) [13](#source-13)

How does my door team scan tickets with Ticketmaster?:  Ticketmaster's pages say your door team scans SafeTix tickets, which have rotating barcodes, and runs a mobile box office on standard phones and tablets. On Ticket Fairy, your door team scans tickets on their own phones. [28](#source-28) [15](#source-15)

How can I promote my events and sell more tickets with Ticketmaster?:  Ticketmaster's pages say you can target groups of fans with email, campaigns and pixels in TM1 Marketing, and use Managed SMS and Promoted Ads. On Ticket Fairy, you bring in more buyers with email and text campaigns, promo codes and referral rewards for fans whose friends buy. [29](#source-29) [17](#source-17)

Can I download my buyers' details from Ticketmaster?:  Yes. Ticketmaster's pages say TM1 Reports gives you a VIP Order Details report with scheduled exports, and you can download campaign reports as CSV for offline use or your own reporting tools. On Ticket Fairy, you keep your own customer list and can see which buyers keep coming back and which have stopped buying. [30](#source-30) [19](#source-19) [31](#source-31)

Does Ticketmaster have an AI assistant to help me run my events?:  Yes. Ticketmaster's pages say clients can use an AI chatbot and AI search in its Support Community. On Ticket Fairy, you can ask Fai about your event, and she makes the changes once you approve them. [32](#source-32) [21](#source-21)

How much does Ticketmaster cost?:  Ticketmaster publishes no price list. Its pages say buyers pay per-ticket service fees agreed with each event's organizers, and you agree your terms with its sales team. [33](#source-33)

## What else are you comparing?

- [Ticketsauce vs Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ticket-fairy-vs-ticketsauce)
- [TicketWeb vs Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ticket-fairy-vs-ticketweb)
- [AXS vs Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ticket-fairy-vs-axs)
- [Etix vs Ticket Fairy](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ticket-fairy-vs-etix)
- [TicketWeb alternatives](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/ticketweb-alternatives)
- [Ticketing platforms in the United States](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/united-states)
- [Eventbrite vs Ticketmaster](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/eventbrite-vs-ticketmaster)
- [AXS vs Ticketmaster](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/axs-vs-ticketmaster)
- [Etix vs Ticketmaster](https://www.ticketfairy.com/compare/ticketing/etix-vs-ticketmaster)
- [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)

## Where does each fact come from?

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)

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 [Spare tickets reach fans at face value](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/orders-refunds-and-resale/resale-transfers-and-waiting-lists)
3. Ticketmaster Ticketmaster states it sells 1.3 million tickets daily. "Tickets Sold Daily"  [business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/ticket-sales/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/ticket-sales/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261012004224/https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/ticket-sales/)
4. Ticketmaster SafeTix mobile tickets use an encrypted barcode that rotates every few minutes and is tied to a verified fan account. "Each ticket features an encrypted, rotating barcode that refreshes every few minutes and is tied directly to a verified fan account"  [business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-day/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-day/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261007063857/https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-day/)
5. Ticketmaster TM1 lets promoters, agents and box office teams review setups together with permissions, version control and audit visibility. "Review event setups, suggest updates, and collaborate in real time with built-in permissions, version control, and audit visibility"  [business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-creation-management/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-creation-management/), read on 17 October 2026.
6. Ticketmaster When you are paid "We'll deposit your payout typically within 7 business days after the event." Where we looked: business.ticketmaster.com home FAQ, /support/, /solutions/ (all six solution pages), /clubs/, /work-with-us/; business.ticketmaster.com WordPress search for 'payout' and 'settlement'; help.ticketmaster.com article search for 'payout' (results cover fan resale sellers only). The client help center requires a TM1 login..  [help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9781464415249-How-does-Ticketmaster-s-Face-Value-Exchange-work](https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9781464415249-How-does-Ticketmaster-s-Face-Value-Exchange-work), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261011115353/https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9781464415249-How-does-Ticketmaster-s-Face-Value-Exchange-work)

  Show all 33 sources

7. Ticketmaster Fees "Service fees are generally negotiated and shared between various parties involved in organizing the event and may include a profit to them."  [help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined](https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261008100019/https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined)
8. Ticket Fairy [Buyers pick their own seat on your venue's map](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/seating-and-timed-entry/reserved-seating)
9. Ticketmaster Reserved seating "Design and adjust venue layouts quickly with intuitive drag-and-drop tools and inline editors built for all event types."  [business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-creation-management/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-creation-management/), read on 17 October 2026.
10. Ticket Fairy [Fans can buy your biggest tickets with a deposit](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/payments-and-payouts/payment-plans)
11. Ticketmaster Payment plans "Payment plans"  [business.ticketmaster.com/why-festivals-choose-ticketmaster/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/why-festivals-choose-ticketmaster/), read on 17 October 2026.
12. Ticketmaster Resale and transfers "When plans change, fan-to-fan resale keeps tickets circulating within your ecosystem."  [business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/ticket-sales/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/ticket-sales/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261012004224/https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/ticket-sales/)
13. Ticket Fairy [You can sell tickets right on your event website](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/website-builder)
14. Ticketmaster Event website or checkout on your site "With embedded checkout, organizers can drive ticket sales directly through their websites, keeping fans immersed in their brand throughout the purchasing journey."  [business.ticketmaster.com/self-serve-event-ticketing-solutions-for-live-events/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/self-serve-event-ticketing-solutions-for-live-events/), read on 17 October 2026.
15. Ticket Fairy [Your crowd gets in fast on your team's own phones](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/check-in-and-box-office/door-scanning-and-entry)
16. Ticketmaster Door scanning "Because the tools work on standard mobile devices, event teams can stay flexible while managing entry more efficiently across different event formats."  [business.ticketmaster.com/general-admission-ticketing-solutions/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/general-admission-ticketing-solutions/), read on 17 October 2026.
17. Ticket Fairy [Your buyers sell tickets to their friends](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/referral-marketing)
18. Ticketmaster Marketing tools "every client has access to a marketing application that let’s you place pixels across your event pages, find the right audiences within your database, launch marketing campaigns"  [business.ticketmaster.com/support/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/support/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261007071900/https://business.ticketmaster.com/support/)
19. Ticket Fairy [You find your regulars and win back lapsed buyers](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/audience-insights/customer-list-and-repeat-buyers)
20. Ticketmaster Your buyer data "The VIP Order Details Report is a new addition to TM1 Reports, offering secure, self-serve access to VIP purchaser insights—no data feed setup required."  [business.ticketmaster.com/vip-reporting-tools/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/vip-reporting-tools/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260514042407/https://business.ticketmaster.com/vip-reporting-tools/)
21. Ticket Fairy [Fai gets your ticketing jobs done when you ask](https://www.ticketfairy.com/features/fai)
22. Ticketmaster AI assistant "access to around-the-clock support through our Support Community, which even has its very own AI-powered Chat-bot!"  [business.ticketmaster.com/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261004085011/https://business.ticketmaster.com/)
23. Ticketmaster Buyers pay a per-ticket service fee negotiated per event; no standard rate published "Service fees are generally negotiated and shared between various parties involved in organizing the event and may include a profit to them."  [help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined](https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261008100019/https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined)
24. Ticketmaster Custom floor plans and interactive seat maps "Design and adjust venue layouts quickly with intuitive drag-and-drop tools and inline editors built for all event types."  [business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-creation-management/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/event-creation-management/), read on 17 October 2026.
25. Ticketmaster Payment plans listed for festivals; Klarna Pay in 4 for US buyers "Payment plans"  [business.ticketmaster.com/why-festivals-choose-ticketmaster/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/why-festivals-choose-ticketmaster/), read on 17 October 2026.
26. Ticketmaster Fan-to-fan resale, Face Value Exchange and free Ticket Transfer "When plans change, fan-to-fan resale keeps tickets circulating within your ecosystem."  [business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/ticket-sales/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/ticket-sales/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261012004224/https://business.ticketmaster.com/solutions/ticket-sales/)
27. Ticketmaster Embedded checkout on the organizer's own website "With embedded checkout, organizers can drive ticket sales directly through their websites, keeping fans immersed in their brand throughout the purchasing journey."  [business.ticketmaster.com/self-serve-event-ticketing-solutions-for-live-events/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/self-serve-event-ticketing-solutions-for-live-events/), read on 17 October 2026.
28. Ticketmaster SafeTix rotating-barcode tickets; scanning and mobile box office on standard mobile devices "Because the tools work on standard mobile devices, event teams can stay flexible while managing entry more efficiently across different event formats."  [business.ticketmaster.com/general-admission-ticketing-solutions/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/general-admission-ticketing-solutions/), read on 17 October 2026.
29. Ticketmaster TM1 Marketing: audience segments, email, campaigns, pixels; Managed SMS and Promoted Ads also offered "every client has access to a marketing application that let’s you place pixels across your event pages, find the right audiences within your database, launch marketing campaigns"  [business.ticketmaster.com/support/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/support/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261007071900/https://business.ticketmaster.com/support/)
30. Ticketmaster VIP purchaser report with scheduled exports; campaign reports as CSV "The VIP Order Details Report is a new addition to TM1 Reports, offering secure, self-serve access to VIP purchaser insights—no data feed setup required."  [business.ticketmaster.com/vip-reporting-tools/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/vip-reporting-tools/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20260514042407/https://business.ticketmaster.com/vip-reporting-tools/)
31. Ticketmaster TM1 Reports offers a VIP Order Details Report with scheduled report exports; custom campaign reports download as CSV for offline use or BI tools. "Create and save custom reports with deeper insights into conversions and campaign performance, available as downloadable CSV files for offline use or integration with business intelligence tools."  [business.ticketmaster.com/promoted/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/promoted/), read on 17 October 2026.
32. Ticketmaster AI chatbot and AI-powered search in the client Support Community "access to around-the-clock support through our Support Community, which even has its very own AI-powered Chat-bot!"  [business.ticketmaster.com/](https://business.ticketmaster.com/), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261004085011/https://business.ticketmaster.com/)
33. Ticketmaster No published price list; buyers pay per-ticket service fees negotiated with each event's organizers, and terms are agreed with the sales team "Service fees are generally negotiated and shared between various parties involved in organizing the event and may include a profit to them."  [help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined](https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined), read on 17 October 2026. [Archived copy](https://web.archive.org/web/20261008100019/https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined)

Updated 17 October 2026: First published.

Ticketmaster 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, your account manager helps with setup, customer-data imports and training.

## Start Selling Tickets Online

Sign up without a credit card and build a test event before you commit. Go on sale in minutes when you are ready.

    No monthly subscription required for ticketing    Start selling tickets immediately    Ticketing tools included in the service fee   [Get Started](https://manage.ticketfairy.com/welcome?utm_source=compare&utm_campaign=compare-ticketing-ticket-fairy-vs-ticketmaster)

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---

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)