Comparing ticketing providers for your events
If you're comparing Eventbrite and Wix Events for your event management needs, you're probably wrestling with a fundamental question: should you choose the industry giant with a large audience, or the integrated solution that exists in your website builder?
But here's what most comparisons miss. Both platforms take a significant cut of your revenue through service fees, and neither was built with the modern event creator's profitability in mind. That's where understanding all your options becomes crucial.
The real questions you should be asking are:
- Are you willing to pay high service fees that eat into your profit margins, or would you prefer keeping more of your revenue?
- Do you need a platform that just sells tickets, or one that actively helps you market and grow your events?
- Is having your event on a massive marketplace worth the competition from other events on the same platform?
- Are you already using a website builder, or do you want the flexibility to use any platform?
- Do you prioritize brand recognition over actual features that drive ticket sales?
In short, here's what we recommend:
👉 Eventbrite is the established marketplace leader with a reported 90 million active ticket-buyers, offering powerful event creation tools, extensive integrations, and strong brand recognition. With features like reserved seating, comprehensive analytics, RFID capabilities, and a robust mobile app ecosystem, it's a full-featured platform with enterprise support options. However, its service fees (3.7% + $1.79 per ticket plus 2.9% payment processing) can significantly impact your profitability, and your event competes for attention with millions of others on the same marketplace.
👉 Wix Events provides a solution for Wix website users, integrating event management directly into your site with features like guest list management, referral programs, and the Check-in by Wix app. While it offers ticketing for existing Wix users with marketing automation capabilities, you'll pay a 2.5% ticket service fee on top of your Wix subscription, and switching platforms means rebuilding your event management system (though APIs are available for data export).
Both platforms are powerful in their own right. But what if there was a platform built by event creators, for event creators, that prioritizes your profitability above all else?
👉 PromoTix redefines event ticketing with pricing that's 20-30% less than Eventbrite while offering significantly more marketing capabilities. Founded by Will Royall, who produced festivals for 16 years and owned one of the largest event venues in Florida, the platform started as marketing software first (originally as an Eventbrite Spectrum partner) before adding ticketing.
With patented marketing features including ambassador program management and viral contest tools, secure streaming with unique URL protection, and the ability to create custom branded mobile apps, PromoTix delivers what other platforms only promise: actual tools that drive ticket sales, not just process them.
Table of contents:
- Eventbrite vs Wix Events vs PromoTix at a glance
- The hidden cost of service fees on your bottom line
- Eventbrite's marketplace advantage comes with competition
- Wix Events integrates deeply but limits flexibility
- PromoTix's marketing-first approach changes everything
- Marketing tools that actually drive ticket sales
- Virtual and hybrid event capabilities
- Mobile apps and on-site management
- Which platform delivers the fastest ROI?
- Eventbrite vs Wix Events vs PromoTix: Which should you choose?
Eventbrite vs Wix Events vs PromoTix at a glance
Here's the fundamental difference between these platforms: Eventbrite operates as a massive event marketplace with enterprise capabilities, Wix Events functions as an integrated website feature for existing Wix users, and PromoTix serves as a comprehensive marketing and ticketing platform built specifically by event creators for maximizing profitability.
|
Eventbrite |
Wix Events |
PromoTix |
---|---|---|---|
Primary Function | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Global event marketplace & ticketing | ⭐⭐⭐ Website-integrated event management | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Marketing-first ticketing platform |
Service Fees | ⭐⭐ 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket (plus 2.9% processing) | ⭐⭐⭐ 2.5% ticket service fee | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3% + $1.49 or custom enterprise pricing |
Marketing Tools | ⭐⭐⭐ Basic email & social | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Integrated automation & referrals | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Patented ambassador & viral tools |
Platform Flexibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Standalone platform | ⭐⭐⭐ Primarily Wix-based (APIs available) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Works with any website |
Virtual Events | ⭐⭐⭐ Third-party integrations | ⭐⭐⭐ Basic streaming support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Secure streaming gateway |
Mobile Apps | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Organizer & attendee apps | ⭐⭐⭐ Check-in app only | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Custom event branded attendee apps available |
Support Model | ⭐⭐⭐ Varies by plan level | ⭐⭐⭐ Multiple support channels | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dedicated client success managers |
Best For | Small events needing reach | Wix users with integrated needs | Professional businesses, festivals, sports, and venues |
The hidden cost of service fees on your bottom line
Let's talk about what nobody wants to discuss: how much money you're actually losing to platform fees.
Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket in service fees, plus the standard 2.9% payment processing fees.
For a $50 ticket, that's approximately $3.64 in service fees alone, or over $5 total with processing. Sell 1,000 tickets and you've lost around $3,640 to service fees, plus another $1,450 in processing fees. Eventbrite has a marketplace of 93 million active ticket-buyers, which can provide some more visibility, and they offer enterprise support options for larger accounts, but that reach and support come at a steep price.
Wix Events requires a Business & eCommerce plan to sell tickets, which starts at $29 per month.
On top of that subscription, you'll pay a 2.5% ticket service fee plus payment processing. While the integration with your Wix website is seamless, you're paying both monthly fees and per-ticket charges.
PromoTix takes a different approach with pricing that's 20-30% less than Eventbrite.
The standard plan charges 3% + $1.49 per ticket (which can be passed to attendees), plus the standard Stripe/PayPal processing fees that apply across all platforms, with additional savings available on professional plans for volume or multi-year agreements.
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The platform was founded by someone who produced festivals for 16 years and understands that every dollar matters to event profitability. This pricing advantage is particularly compelling for PromoTix's target markets including music and food festivals, venues and nightclubs, youth sports, religious events, pageants, and other competitions.
Eventbrite's marketplace advantage comes with competition
Eventbrite's greatest strength is also a potential weakness for event creators.
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Yes, the platform's marketplace provides massive reach with millions of users actively searching for events, and they've built robust infrastructure.
But here's what they don't advertise: your event page might suggest other events to your potential attendees. Someone lands on your comedy show page, and Eventbrite shows them five other comedy shows happening the same weekend. It's great for attendees who want options, but sets back your conversion rates.
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The platform's discovery algorithm uses personalization to curate event suggestions, which sounds helpful until you realize it means your event is constantly competing for attention within Eventbrite's own ecosystem. While location remains a primary factor, you're still competing with numerous events that Eventbrite's algorithm determines might interest your potential attendees.
Wix Events integrates deeply but limits flexibility
Wix Events offers integrations with the Wix website builder, and for existing Wix users, this provides notable advantages.
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The event pages match your site's branding, the Check-in by Wix app enhances entry, and everything appears in one dashboard.
However, this integration comes with its pros and cons.
While Wix now offers Headless capabilities and APIs that allow some flexibility, migrating your entire event management workflow to another platform remains challenging. Your established processes, customizations, and historical data are optimized for the Wix ecosystem. You can export guest lists and order data, but rebuilding your entire system elsewhere requires significant effort.
Source: Wix Events
The platform includes more features than many realize, including referral programs (a small part of PromoTix’s complete ambassador programs), marketing automations, and analytics. Wix Events handles ticketing well and provides good marketing tools through the Wix platform, though it may lack some of the features that dedicated event platforms offer and can be clunky for organizing larger events.
PromoTix's marketing-first approach changes everything
PromoTix was built on a completely different philosophy.
Founded by Will Royall, who produced a national music festival that grew to 25,000 attendees, every feature reflects real-world event creation experience. The platform actually started as marketing software - born out of an advertising agency that Will Royall also owned - originally serving as an Eventbrite Spectrum partner offering marketing tools to Eventbrite customers before developing its own ticketing capabilities.
This unique origin story means when PromoTix says it has marketing tools that drive sales, they truly deliver because the platform was built by someone who used other platforms and knew what was missing.
The ambassador program management lets you recruit and manage promoters who earn commissions on ticket sales. The viral contest registration pages build your marketing database before tickets even go on sale. These aren't add-ons or third-party integrations. they're patent-pending core features built into the platform.
Source: PromoTix
PromoTix has gained significant traction among event creators looking for more value, offering compelling features and capabilities for 20-30% less cost than traditional platforms. The platform successfully handles events of all scales within its target markets, from small community gatherings to large multi-venue competitions.
Marketing tools that actually drive ticket sales
Eventbrite offers marketing features including email campaigns, social media sharing, and promotional codes. The platform's Eventbrite Boost feature drives sales through enhanced marketing capabilities, providing basic but functional tools for event promotion.
Source: Eventbrite
Wix Events integrates with Wix's broader marketing suite, allowing for email campaigns through Wix Email Marketing, referral programs that reward customers for bringing friends, and marketing automations. The ability to create membership-based discounts is useful for building loyalty. These are comprehensive marketing features that serve most event creators well.
Source: Wix Events
PromoTix originated as a marketing software company before adding ticketing, and it shows.
The viral contest registration pages can generate thousands of leads before your tickets go on sale. Participants earn points for social shares and referrals, creating organic buzz. The ambassador program isn't just an affiliate system; it's a complete management platform with mobile apps, task tracking, and automatic commission payouts.
For music events, PromoTix offers Spotify artist insights, showing you exactly which artists your ticket buyers listen to on Spotify. This data helps event organizers make better artist booking decisions to increase ticket sales. While some other platforms may offer music-related features, PromoTix's implementation provides detailed listener analytics for booking decisions.
The events landscape has permanently shifted to include virtual and hybrid formats, and the platforms have adapted differently.
Virtual and hybrid event support makes or breaks your event
The events landscape has permanently shifted to virtual and hybrid formats and the platforms have adapted differently.
Eventbrite supports virtual events through integrations with third-party streaming platforms like Zoom and YouTube.
Source: Eventbrite
They can restrict access for attendee-only Online Event Pages requiring login, though full time-restriction capabilities vary. You're managing multiple systems for a single event, but the integrations work effectively.
Wix Events offers virtual event support through integrations with Zoom and Wix Live streaming.
Source: Wix Events
While it includes its own video capabilities through Wix Video, the platform handles ticketing primarily while relying on integrated solutions for the actual streaming. It works for basic virtual needs but may require additional tools depending upon your streaming requirements, and may not secure the stream per individual user.
PromoTix includes a built-in streaming ticketing system with a digital front gate that creates unique URLs for each ticket purchased.
PromoTix includes a built-in streaming ticketing system with a digital front gate that creates unique URLs for each ticket purchased.
If someone tries to share their streaming link, the system prevents unauthorized access, with only one device able to use a ticket at a time. The platform supports streaming in SD, HD, and 4K quality with ultra-low latency of around one second.
PromoTix enables true hybrid events with combo tickets for both in-person and streaming access on the same checkout flow, all within a single platform. Your attendees do not need to download Zoom or have any other software installed but their typical browser to join your virtual stream.
Mobile apps and on-site management that transform the attendee experience
All three platforms offer mobile solutions, but the depth varies significantly.
Eventbrite provides separate apps for organizers and attendees.
The Organizer app handles check-in, sales tracking, and basic event management, supporting both iOS and Android. The attendee app helps with event discovery and ticket management. For larger events, Eventbrite also supports RFID/NFC technology through its acquisition of Scintilla Technologies.
Wix Events offers the Check-in by Wix app for iOS and Android, focusing primarily on attendee check-in and on-site management.
It includes offline functionality and can handle up to 100 staff members per event. The Wix Owner App provides broader site management capabilities, including event-related functions.
PromoTix goes further with custom branded mobile apps for your events with their enterprise professional plan.
These aren't generic apps with your logo; they're fully branded applications in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The apps include push notifications, in-app ticket sales, and information hubs for schedules and maps. The PromoTix Organizer app handles check-in and POS functionality, while the Ambassador app enables your promoters to sell tickets and complete tasks on the go.
PromoTix also provides RFID technology for cashless payments, access control, and sponsor activation capabilities. You can own the attendee relationship with your very own event branded mobile app from PromoTix, and that’s a huge differentiator.
Support models reflect platform priorities
The level of support you receive often determines your success with any platform.
Eventbrite offers different support tiers based on your plan, ranging from self-service resources to dedicated enterprise support with strategic advisors.
Free events get email support, while paid events receive 24/7 chat, and very large events on custom contracts can access phone support and dedicated account management.
Wix Events provides multiple support channels, including help documentation, email support, 24/7 live chat, and phone callbacks (availability varies by plan and language). As part of the larger Wix platform, you have access to its comprehensive support infrastructure.
PromoTix positions itself as delivering exceptional value through both competitive pricing and high-touch support.
Professional package users receive dedicated Client Success Managers who provide personalized assistance. Standard accounts can call in 24-7 for immediate assistance around the globe, access website chat, or send support an email where you’ll get a response in less than 4 hours. This support model reflects the platform's origin which was built by an event creator who experienced firsthand the importance of responsive, knowledgeable support.
Which platform delivers the fastest ROI?
Return on investment isn't just about features; it's about how quickly those features help increase revenue and reduce costs.
Eventbrite's marketplace can provide some immediate visibility, though most organizers still rely heavily on their own promotion to drive sales.
But the combined service and processing fees (totaling 6.6% + $1.79 per ticket) mean you need significant volume to see real profit. The platform's strength extends, though that reach comes with competition from other events on the same marketplace.
Wix Events provides value for existing Wix users, though you'll pay both monthly subscription fees and a 2.5% ticket service fee.
The platform includes solid marketing automation and referral tools that can help drive sales, making it a reasonable choice for those already invested in the Wix ecosystem.
PromoTix is built for ROI through both cost savings and revenue generation.
The 20-30% lower fees compared to Eventbrite mean immediate savings on every ticket sold. But beyond just saving money, the patent-pending marketing tools actively generate sales. Viral contests create waiting lists of eager buyers. Ambassador programs turn fans into commissioned salespeople. The Spotify insights module helps you book artists your audience actually wants to see.
Combined with dedicated support for professional accounts, PromoTix helps event creators achieve profitability faster than traditional platforms.
Eventbrite vs Wix Events vs PromoTix: Which should you choose?
The best platform depends on your priorities, but let's be realistic about what each offers.
Choose Eventbrite if:
- You need maximum marketplace exposure for smaller events
- Your events may gain some added visibility from a large marketplace audience
- You don’t require a high level of support
- You host events that can absorb the high fee structure
- You need extensive third-party integrations
Get started with Eventbrite's platform
Choose Wix Events if:
- You already have a Wix website and want integrated event management
- You value having everything in one dashboard with marketing automation
- You want built-in referral programs and membership features
- You're comfortable working primarily within the Wix ecosystem
- You need solid marketing tools integrated with your website
Explore Wix Events & Tickets features
Choose PromoTix if:
- You want to maximize profitability with 20-30% lower fees than Eventbrite
- You need patented marketing tools that actually drive ticket sales
- You value features built by actual event creators who understand your needs
- You want dedicated Client Success Manager support on professional plans
- You own a venue, host festivals, sporting events, pageants, or competitions
- You need secure streaming for virtual or hybrid events
- You want custom-branded mobile apps for your event attendees
- You're serious about growing your event business profitably
See how PromoTix can increase your event profitability
The truth is, if you're serious about running profitable events in 2025, the choice becomes clearer when you understand each platform's origins and priorities.
While Eventbrite offers marketplace reach with enterprise features and Wix Events provides broad integration for existing users, PromoTix delivers what actually matters: keeping 20-30% more revenue than traditional platforms while providing marketing tools that actually drive ticket sales.
Founded by an event creator who ran festivals for 16 years and originally partnered with Eventbrite as a Spectrum partner, PromoTix understands what event creators actually need because it was built by someone who experienced the limitations of other platforms firsthand.
The combination of lower fees, patent-pending marketing tools, secure streaming capabilities, and dedicated support for professional accounts represents a different approach to event management: a platform that prioritizes creator success through both cost savings and revenue generation.
PromoTix continues to gain momentum among event creators who evaluate the platform and recognize the value of more features for less cost, especially when those features include marketing capabilities designed to drive sales from day one.