How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Eventbrite is free for free events and charges 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket plus 2.9% processing; it remains the default for public ticketed events.
- RegFox has the friendliest fee structure for budget-conscious organizers: $0.99 + 1% per paid registrant, capped at $4.99.
- Whova (3.0% + $0.99 per paid ticket) is the strongest pick for conferences that need an attendee app alongside registration.
- Cvent and Bizzabo serve enterprise events with subscription pricing and zero per-ticket fees, but expect five-figure annual contracts.
- The pricing model matters more than the feature list: per-ticket fees punish expensive tickets, subscriptions punish small events.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Eventbrite | Public ticketed events | Free for free events; 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket (+ 2.9% processing) | Yes |
 Whova | Conferences with attendee app | 3.0% + $0.99 per paid ticket (platform priced by quote) | No |
 Cvent | Enterprise events at scale | See website (enterprise) | No |
 Bizzabo | B2B marketing events | See website (subscription) | No |
 Swoogo | Custom registration workflows | See website (subscription) | No |
 RegFox | Budget-friendly paid registration | $0.99 + 1% per paid registrant (capped at $4.99) | No |
 Splash | Branded corporate events | See website (subscription) | Yes (limited) |
 Ticket Tailor | Low-fee ticketing | See website | No |
 Luma | Community and free gatherings | Free for free events | Yes |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Registration is the front door of your event, and a bad one costs you attendees before they arrive. Long forms, confusing ticket types, surprise fees at checkout, and a check-in process that collapses under a morning rush: every friction point leaks registrations. Meanwhile the organizer is juggling refunds, discount codes, speaker comp tickets, and a finance team asking where the money is.
The platforms all promise to solve this, but they charge in completely different ways. Some take a cut of every ticket, which is painless for free events and punishing for $500 conference passes. Others charge annual subscriptions that make sense for event programs and no sense for a single workshop. Choosing the best event registration platforms starts with modeling your actual ticket prices and volumes against each pricing model.
This guide compares nine platforms with current fee structures, covering public ticketing, conferences, corporate events, and budget options.
Starting priceFree for free events; 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket (+ 2.9% processing)
Free planYes
Eventbrite is the default for a reason: listing a free event costs nothing, setup takes minutes, and the Eventbrite marketplace puts your event in front of people already browsing for things to do. For paid events, the fee structure is 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket in service fees plus 2.9% payment processing, which attendees usually pay on top of the ticket price unless you absorb it.
The fees are the honest trade-off. On a $500 ticket, you are looking at over $20 in fees per sale, and Eventbrite typically does not return service fees on refunds or cancellations. Payout timing can also lag a few days post-event on basic plans. For public events, workshops, and community gatherings where discovery matters, Eventbrite remains the pragmatic choice. For expensive tickets or private corporate events, the subscription platforms below cost less.
What we like- Free for free events with no catch
- Massive built-in discovery marketplace
- Simplest setup in the category
Watch out for- Per-ticket fees add up fast on expensive tickets
- Payouts can take days after the event
- Fees are not refunded on cancelled tickets
Starting price3.0% + $0.99 per paid ticket (platform priced by quote)
Free planNo
Whova real strength is what happens after registration: its attendee app handles agendas, networking, live polls, and exhibitor interactions better than any ticketing-first platform. Registration itself charges 3.0% + $0.99 per paid ticket (plus card processing), undercutting Eventbrite meaningfully at scale, with no fees on free tickets.
The platform side is quote-based, typically running from a few thousand dollars depending on event size and duration, which makes budgeting less transparent than the per-ticket math suggests. Exhibitor lead retrieval is usually an add-on. Whova fits conferences, association meetings, and academic events where the attendee experience matters as much as the ticket sale. If you only need to sell tickets, simpler tools cost less.
What we like- Registration plus a genuinely good attendee networking app
- 3.0% + $0.99 is cheaper than Eventbrite per ticket
- Strong for academic and association events
Watch out for- Platform pricing is quote-based and opaque
- Lead retrieval for exhibitors costs extra
- Free events still need a paid platform quote
Starting priceSee website (enterprise)
Free planNo
Cvent is the enterprise standard for a reason: no other platform handles the complexity of a 5,000-person global conference with the same depth, from call-for-papers to housing blocks to appointment scheduling. Venue sourcing is integrated, which alone justifies the platform for companies running many events. Third-party estimates put annual costs from $15,000 upward plus per-registrant fees and significant onboarding costs.
That scale comes with enterprise friction: long sales cycles, implementation projects, and pricing that punishes small programs. A 200-person workshop should not be on Cvent. But for corporations, associations, and government agencies running large or many events a year, Cvent depth and reliability remain unmatched. Get the full quote including onboarding before budgeting; the license is only part of it.
What we like- Deepest feature set for complex enterprise events
- Venue sourcing built in
- Global scale and compliance
Watch out for- Five-figure annual contracts plus per-registrant fees
- Long implementation
- Overkill for simple events
Starting priceSee website (subscription)
Free planNo
Bizzabo targets B2B marketing organizations running event programs: field marketing events, user conferences, executive dinners. The subscription model (estimated around $18,000 per year and up) charges zero per-ticket fees, which makes the math attractive once ticket revenue passes a threshold. Integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Marketo tie event data directly into the marketing funnel.
The positioning is specific: this is a marketing platform that does events, not an association management tool. Smaller teams and one-off events will find the annual commitment hard to justify. But for B2B companies where events are a pipeline channel, Bizzabo per-ticket-fee-free model and marketing integrations make it one of the strongest options.
What we like- $0 per-ticket fees on subscription plans
- Strong marketing and CRM integrations
- Polished attendee experience
Watch out for- Subscription pricing starts in the five figures annually
- Aimed at marketing teams, less suited to associations
Starting priceSee website (subscription)
Free planNo
Swoogo differentiator is registration flexibility: conditional logic, custom workflows, and multi-track setups that would require workarounds elsewhere are native here. Like Bizzabo, it charges a subscription with zero per-ticket fees, so high-value tickets do not get punished. Event planners consistently praise how quickly complex registration paths can be built.
Pricing is quote-based, which makes comparison shopping slower, and the broader ecosystem (integrations, attendee app) is thinner than the giants. Swoogo fits organizations running complex events (multi-track conferences, training programs with prerequisites, tiered access) where the registration logic itself is the hard part. If your registration is simple, you are paying for flexibility you will not use.
What we like- Extremely flexible registration form builder
- $0 per-ticket fees
- Good for complex multi-track events
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing
- Smaller ecosystem than Cvent
- Attendee app is less celebrated than Whova
Starting price$0.99 + 1% per paid registrant (capped at $4.99)
Free planNo
RegFox wins the fee comparison outright: $0.99 plus 1% per paid registrant, capped at $4.99, with no platform or licensing fees. On a $500 ticket, that is $4.99 versus $20-plus on Eventbrite. For nonprofits, schools, camps, and small businesses selling paid registrations, the savings are immediate and substantial. Optional add-ons cover SMS and email automation.
The platform is less polished than the big names: fewer native integrations, a more utilitarian attendee experience, and no built-in discovery marketplace. But when the job is "collect registrations and payments without giving away margin," RegFox is the best conference registration software alternative for the budget-conscious. It is the tool Eventbrite hopes you never discover.
What we like- Lowest effective fees in the category
- The $4.99 cap saves real money on expensive tickets
- No licensing or upfront fees
Watch out for- Smaller brand with fewer integrations
- Attendee-facing design is functional rather than polished
- Add-ons cost extra
Starting priceSee website (subscription)
Free planYes (limited)
Splash is the design-forward choice: event pages that actually look like your brand, not a ticketing template. Marketing teams use it for product launches, executive events, and brand experiences where the invitation itself is marketing. A limited free tier covers simple events, with Pro and Enterprise subscriptions for programs.
Note the fee structure carefully: on top of the subscription, paid tickets incur service fees around 1.6% + $0.49 plus Stripe processing. That hybrid model can surprise buyers expecting pure subscription pricing. Splash fits brand-conscious corporate events where design matters; for straightforward ticket sales, cheaper specialists win.
What we like- Beautiful branded event pages
- Strong for corporate marketing events
- Free tier for simple events
Watch out for- Ticketing fees (1.6% + $0.49) apply on top of subscription
- Enterprise features need higher tiers
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Ticket Tailor takes the anti-Eventbrite position: a flat fee per ticket sold, no percentage of your revenue, and your branding throughout instead of theirs. For organizers who resent giving up 3.7% of every sale, the flat-fee model is philosophically and financially appealing, especially on higher-priced tickets.
The platform is ticketing-focused rather than a full event management suite: do not expect Whova-level attendee apps or Cvent-level complexity handling. There is also no discovery marketplace, so you bring your own audience. For independent organizers selling directly to their own lists, Ticket Tailor is one of the fairest deals in ticketing.
What we like- Flat per-ticket pricing with no percentage cut
- Keeps your branding (no marketplace)
- Straightforward and honest pricing
Watch out for- Fewer advanced event management features
- No built-in discovery audience
- Smaller company
#9
Luma
Best for: Community and free gatherings
Visit lu.ma
Starting priceFree for free events
Free planYes
Luma became the default for tech meetups, creator events, and community gatherings by being free and delightful: create an event page in minutes, collect RSVPs, and manage attendees with none of the ticketing-platform weight. The calendar-centric design and clean pages made it the favorite of communities that live on word of mouth.
Paid ticketing exists but is newer and less battle-tested than the specialists above, so verify fee structures before selling expensive tickets. Luma is not trying to run your 2,000-person conference. For free and community events, though, it is the easiest yes in this guide: free, fast, and genuinely pleasant to use.
What we like- Completely free for free events
- Beloved by tech and creator communities
- Effortless setup and beautiful event pages
Watch out for- Paid ticketing features are newer and less proven
- Limited advanced event management
- Community-focused rather than corporate
How this shortlist was assembled
We selected platforms with significant adoption in 2026 across public ticketing, conferences, corporate events, and budget options, based on buyer guides, review platforms, and practitioner discussion. Fee structures were checked against vendor pricing pages and dated third-party comparisons from 2026; because fees vary by country and ticket type, figures should be confirmed for your specific situation.
We weighted total cost of ownership (fees plus subscriptions at realistic volumes) over feature-list length, since pricing model fit decides value here more than anywhere else in this guide. No hands-on event testing was performed.
What to check before you buy
Model your total cost at your actual numbers before comparing features. Take your expected ticket price, ticket count, and free-versus-paid mix, then calculate the all-in cost (service fees, processing fees, platform subscription) for two or three platforms. A $50 ticket on Eventbrite costs about $3.64 in fees; a $500 ticket costs over $20. The same event on a subscription platform might cost a flat $5,000. The crossover point decides everything.
Next, verify payout timing and refund policies in writing: when you receive funds, what happens to fees on refunded tickets, and who pays chargebacks. Then check the attendee experience on mobile, since most registrations happen on phones, and confirm check-in tooling (QR scanning, badge printing) works offline at the venue. Finally, confirm data export and ownership terms; your attendee list is a business asset, and leaving it locked in a platform is a strategic mistake.
Per-ticket fees vs subscriptions: the math that matters
Per-ticket platforms (Eventbrite, Whova, RegFox) cost nothing upfront and scale with success, which suits occasional events and uncertain attendance. But the percentage cut grows with ticket price: selling 500 tickets at $400 on Eventbrite means roughly $8,000-plus in fees. Subscription platforms (Bizzabo, Swoogo, Cvent) charge five figures annually regardless of volume, which is expensive for one workshop and cheap for a 20-event program.
The decision rule: if your annual ticket revenue times the fee percentage is less than a subscription quote, stay per-ticket. If it is more, go subscription. RegFox fee cap and Ticket Tailor flat pricing exist precisely for the middle ground where percentages hurt but subscriptions are overkill. Run your numbers; the answer is usually obvious.
Frequently asked questions
How much does event registration software cost?
Free events can be listed free on Eventbrite and Luma. Paid ticketing fees range from RegFox $0.99 + 1% (capped $4.99) to Eventbrite 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket, plus ~2.9% card processing everywhere. Subscription platforms run from a few thousand (Whova, Splash) to $15,000-plus annually (Cvent, Bizzabo).
Should attendees or organizers pay the ticket fees?
Most platforms let you choose. Passing fees to attendees is standard for public events; absorbing them is common for corporate and high-touch events where the ticket price is part of the brand experience. Model both: absorbed fees on expensive tickets can erase margin fast.
Can I sell tickets without per-ticket fees?
Yes: subscription platforms (Bizzabo, Swoogo) charge no per-ticket fees, and Ticket Tailor uses flat per-ticket pricing instead of percentages. The trade-off is the upfront subscription commitment, which only pays off above a certain volume.
What is the best platform for free events?
Eventbrite and Luma both handle free events at no cost. Choose Eventbrite if you want marketplace discovery; choose Luma if you want the simplest setup and a community-friendly experience. Whova charges no ticket fees on free tickets but requires a platform quote.
How do refunds work with ticket fees?
Policies vary and matter: Eventbrite typically does not return service or processing fees on refunded tickets, which organizers should factor into refund policies. Confirm the exact terms with any platform before you need them, especially for events with volatile attendance.
Do I need an attendee app or just registration?
For simple ticketed events, registration plus email is enough. For multi-day conferences with agendas, networking, and sponsors, an attendee app (Whova strength) meaningfully improves the experience and sponsor value. Do not pay for an app your attendees will open once.
Sources we checked (6)
- https://inevent.com/blog/event-registration-software/the-best-event-registration-software-in-2026.html
- https://whova.com/blog/event-registration-software-price-comparison
- https://eventify.io/blog/eventbrite-pricing
- https://eventify.io/blog/event-registration-software
- https://eventify.io/blog/event-management-software
- https://eventify.io/blog/whova-pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.