The Best Ticket Brokers

Saturday, March 22nd

2025 Ticket Broker Reviews

Tickets For Less

• Prices start at $109 for case study
• Zero service fees
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• Satisfaction guarantee with refund
• Different delivery methods for any preference
• 4.5-star average
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Tickets for Less is a company that has made a significant impact on the live event-going experience by partnering with various entities such as sports facilities, college athletic departments, professional teams, venues, and fans. Founded by Dan Rouen in 2004, the company's humble beginnings date back to when Rouen had to sell his tickets to a Kansas Jayhawks game he couldn't attend. When he made a profit on the sale, he realized the potential to create a platform where buyers and sellers could benefit each other for exciting events worldwide.

Easy browsing as soon as you arrive

Getting started on Tickets for Less is a breeze. As soon as you land, you'll be shown helpful images and listings for events near your local area. The platform provides all the necessary information customers need to make an informed decision, including a list of tickets from least to most expensive, a seat map of the venue with the number of available seats in each section, important delivery, and venue notes. Events are split up into sports, theater, and concerts, making it simple to dive right into whatever you'd like to see next. You can also find a range of events in the USA and Canada, depending on the artist or event you're hoping to see.

Lots of theater and concert events

Tickets for Less offers tons of ticket categories, including MLB, NFL, NBA, NCAA, concerts, and theater. You can search for tickets by artist, team, or venue if you already know what they're looking for. There are events for major artists across the country including Taylor Swift, Twenty One Pilots, and even Paul McCartney. For our local suggestions, we saw artists like Pink, Janet Jackson, and Creed along with events like MJ the Musical, The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, and unique sporting events like the Gold Over America Tour with Simone Biles and the PNC Championship. In our area, there were 82 concerts, 26 sporting events, and 107 different theater and arts events in the next month. There are also a range of international events to choose from.

Case study: prices start at $109 per ticket

When comparing prices for Tickets for Less, we stacked this company against other brokers for the same events, dates, and venues. We did this by examining the prices for a concert, a musical theater event, and a sporting event all before fees were added. We also tried to find an international performance, but there wasn't anything at Tickets for Less. The prices are based on a 2-ticket purchase, and some of these prices included perks like backstage access or VIP seating, which wasn't noted by many other companies in our review. By comparing prices in this way, you can get a clear picture of how Ticket Expert's prices compare to others in the market:

• Billie Eilish Concert: $295 to $8,134 per ticket (Detroit, MI)
• The Lion King Musical: $109 to $733 per ticket (Orlando, FL)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $247 to $42,539 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: Not listed at this broker

We noticed the prices here are a tiny bit higher than competitors, but because you don't have any service fees, the price uptick is negligible. The cost you see is what you pay.

Zero service fees

One of the unique features that sets Tickets for Less apart from other ticket brokers is its commitment to never charging service fees. While some companies may charge up to 40% in service fees, Tickets for Less eliminates this added expense for its customers. The only exception is a minor delivery fee of a few dollars, which is still significantly lower than what other companies charge. This approach makes Tickets for Less one of the most affordable places to buy tickets.

Tons of delivery options

Tickets for Less offers an impressive range of delivery methods so you receive your tickets promptly. The delivery styles include e-tickets, instant downloads, mobile e-tickets, flash seats, electronic transfer, special delivery, FedEx shipping, or local office pickup. To make it easier for you to navigate these options, Tickets for Less provides a detailed page explaining how each method works.

Fansurance Guarantee and top customer service

Tickets for Less has implemented a Fansurance Guarantee that covers five key aspects of a purchase: guaranteed no-risk purchases, refunds if an event is permanently canceled, purchasing with confidence, authenticity and legitimacy of tickets, and timely delivery. This guarantee provides customers with added peace of mind when making a purchase. Plus, the customer service at Tickets for Less is accessible and readily available to help customers with any issues they may have. Unlike some companies that hide their contact information to make it difficult for customers to reach out, Tickets for Less displays its customer service number prominently on its webpage.

A showstopping reputation

The customer reviews for Tickets for Less are overwhelmingly positive, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Thousands of customers have left reviews praising the company's commitment to transparency and its excellent customer service. The lack of additional fees is also a major selling point for many customers. With an "A+" Better Business Bureau rating and thousands of satisfied customers, it's clear that Tickets for Less has earned its reputation as one of the best ticket brokers in the industry.

Practically perfect in every way

If you're looking for a better deal, especially considering the zero service fee policy at Tickets for Less, you'll be hard-pressed. The prices are competitive with other brokers in the industry along with delivery fees, but the total lack of service fees puts Tickets for Less on another level. If that weren't enough, you get access to the full suite of event tickets both in the US and internationally. When you add in Tickets for Less' stellar reputation, it's really a no-brainer. Tickets for Less comes in easily as the top contender for ticket brokers in our review.

Vivid Seats

• Prices start at $159 in case study
• Service fees between 20%-40%
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• Satisfaction guarantee with refund
• Most tickets are digital delivery
• International tickets offered
• 4.1-star average rating
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Vivid Seats is a ticketing company that prides itself on helping fans attend the events that shape their most memorable moments. With over 1 million events and 100 million tickets sold, they've partnered with prominent organizations like ESPN, the NBA, and Rolling Stone to bring you the best ticket-buying experience. Their blog features insightful articles about upcoming shows, how to watch, and schedules, making it a go-to resource for fans.

Search through major or local events

One of the most notable aspects of Vivid Seats is their ease of finding major events. They have an extensive selection of large-scale performances from renowned artists like Def Leppard, Limp Bizkit, and Post Malone as well as local games and shows. Once you've found an event that interests you, you can sort through the list by date, category, type, time, and venue to find the perfect seats for your needs. The date-searching options make it particularly easy to browse. You can look at all dates, dates for this weekend, dates for this week, and dates for this month to see unique events in the short- or long-term. When purchasing tickets through Vivid Seats, you'll have a clear understanding of the costs involved. The company is transparent about ticket prices, seating, and delivery methods. After selecting your payment type and billing address, you'll be shown the service fee on the ticket.

KPOP, soccer, and more

As soon as you land on the main page of Vivid Seats, you'll notice some different events compared to other broker sites. If you're a fan of KPOP, there are events for those artists available as well as other major concerts like Taylor Swift, Twenty One Pilots, Pink, Aerosmith, and Justin Timberlake. You'll find the soccer championships, NFL, and NBA sports as well as tons of local theater opportunities. In our area, there were 100 concerts, 34 sports events, and 104 theater and arts performances available in the next month. There are even a few options for international tickets to pick from.

Case study: prices starting at $59 per ticket

To compare Vivid Seats' prices, we checked out the same events at each broker. To make the prices as comparable as possible, we looked at the same dates and venues where possible and priced the tickets for 2 people. We examined prices for a concert, a musical theater event, a sporting event, and an international event, all before fees were added. Here's what we found:

• Billie Eilish Concert: $260 to $7,407 per ticket (Detroit, MI)
• The Lion King Musical:\ $96 to $500 per ticket (Orlando, FL)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $229 to $39,130 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: $59 to $220 per ticket (London, England)

Fees between 20%-40%

According to Vivid Seats' website, the service fee typically ranges from 20% to 40% of the ticket's price. This means that if you buy a $100 concert ticket, you can expect to pay an additional $20 to $40 in service fees at checkout. For a more expensive ticket, such as a $500 event, the service fee could be as high as $100 to $200. While we usually like to show you how the exact fees look with our test tickets, the fees for Vivid Seats' tickets are not available until after you put in your payment information during checkout.

Three delivery methods

Many of the tickets at Vivid Seats are delivered digitally, but there are two other methods to choose from. Delivery fees vary depending on the method you choose during checkout, ranging from $7 to $25. If you opt for electronic delivery, you'll get the cheapest fee, which includes e-tickets and mobile entry. If you prefer a more traditional approach, you can select standard shipping via USPS or UPS Ground. For those who need their tickets in a hurry, expedited shipping is available for rush delivery within 1-2 days, but this will have the highest cost.

Buyer guarantee

At Vivid Seats, customer satisfaction is their goal. Their 100% buyer guarantee promises that customers receive accurate orders and receive their tickets promptly. If an event is canceled or postponed, Vivid Seats will refund your ticket cost or provide a full credit towards a future purchase. The company also offers email and live chat customer service options. While there is no phone number available on their website, you can select from a dropdown menu to address specific issues or concerns.

An impressive uptick in its reputation

Despite our initial concern at the lack of fee transparency, Vivid Seats has an impressive reputation. Currently, Vivid Seats holds a top "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Impressively, this shows that Vivid Seats has been improving over the past few years, as it formerly held a "B” rating. In general, customers are also satisfied with Vivid Seats. Trustpilot shows the average rating among reviewers as 4.1 out of 5 stars. Customers love that Vivid Seats has tickets that are often sold out elsewhere, and they praise the easy search and checkout process. While some customers complain about the surprise fees at the end or difficulties with Apple Pay, most reviews for Vivid Seats are extremely positive.

Best prices before fees

Vivid Seats has done the work to improve customer satisfaction, and they are making progress with an impressive ticket list as well as a wide array of events and venues. Their prices are also lower than competitors' before fees. With thousands of reviews from satisfied customers, it's clear that they're working hard to maintain excellent service. For these reasons, Vivid Seats earns a very high rating in our review.

Event Tickets Center

• Prices start at $103 before fees in case study
• Service fees around 30%-32%
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• Satisfaction guarantee with refund
• Most tickets are e-tickets
• 4.5-star average rating
• "A” rating from the BBB

Event Tickets Center was founded in 2005 by a dedicated fan named Adam Young. Since then, the company has grown into one of the leading secondary marketplace platforms in the country. Young's leadership has contributed to the company's success, earning recognition in Forbes Magazine and allowing him to establish ETC Cares, a program that supports communities in need. The company's commitment to simplicity is evident in its checkout process, making it easy for fans to find and purchase tickets to their favorite events.

Search specifically to find what you want fast

The browsing and search for Event Tickets Center is similar to many of its competitors with featured events, concerts, and sports games listed first, and the more specific categories listed below. While it may seem like you aren't able to browse by location, Event Ticket Center has your location already in its system. So, when you start browsing, it will show you events in your chosen category for your area. You can choose to browse by your location or browse "all”, which shows you every event in that category in the next few months. However, this can turn into a lot of scrolling, so the fastest way to find what you want is to search for a specific artist, sport, or theater experience. Once you get into ticket selection, you can shop by number of tickets or ticket packages. There is a range of filters for price, or how you want your tickets delivered. The ticket selection also has a clear map of the venue with color-coded seating charts. You won't see your seat numbers until you purchase, but you and your group will be seated together.

Tons of local and popular events

There are plenty of tickets to choose from at Event Tickets Center. The general suggestions for popular artists and sporting events might include choices like Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, Post Malone, Taylor Swift, Deep Purple, and Formula 1. For our local area, there were plenty of tickets to choose from too. There were 203 concerts, 55 sports events, and 82 theater events scheduled in the next month near us. We saw options for Cirque du Soleil, Taylor Swift, Ragtime, Little Shop of Horrors, Foreigner, Styx, and John Waite, and even more in nearby cities. We also saw events in Canada, though events in Europe were nearly impossible to find.

Case study: prices start at $103 before fees

When you purchase tickets on Event Ticket Center, you'll find tons of events, but how do the prices stack up against the competition? To give you a better understanding of the prices, we compared across different platforms by looking at the same events for each broker. We analyzed prices for a concert, a musical theater event, a sporting event, and an international event (though we couldn't find our international event at Event Tickets Center). All of these prices are listed before fees and based on a 2-ticket purchase. Here's what we found on Event Tickets Center:

• Billie Eilish Concert: $273 to $7,621 per ticket (Detroit, MI)
• The Lion King Musical: $103 to $514 per ticket (Orlando, FL)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $264 to $7,395 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: Not listed at this broker

Service fees between 30%-32%

The service fees at Event Tickets Center change depending on what tickets you're buying. To give you a ballpark idea of what to expect, we added the fees to one of our test tickets above. The Lion King tickets start at $103 per person. With added fees, the price goes up to $135.96 per ticket. This is a 32% increase on the base price. This may fluctuate if you buy at different times or purchase from different venues, but you can expect the fees to range around 30%-32% at Event Tickets Center.

Most events are sold as e-tickets

Most tickets at Event Tickets Center are delivered to you digitally. This makes the delivery process faster and more secure. When you don't buy eTickets, ticket delivery can be unpredictable and varies depending on the event, the ticket, and the seller. Despite this uncertainty, sellers typically send out tickets as soon as they receive them in their office. Keep in mind that tickets may not arrive immediately, but rest assured they will reach you before the event date. If you have any questions or concerns about ticket delivery, you can always contact your ticket supplier directly to get the answers you need.

100% satisfaction guarantee

At Event Tickets Center, the company promises to prioritize your security, using industry-standard technology to protect your personal information and create a secure environment for your transactions. For your satisfaction, Event Tickets Center also offers a 100% Buyer Guarantee. This policy states that your refund will cover the original purchase price and any service fees, minus shipping costs. This policy applies to specific situations, including when your order is accepted but not delivered, when it's accepted but not delivered on time, or when the tickets are not valid.

Top-rated for ease of use

Along with its impressive guarantee, Event Tickets Center offers peace of mind through its impressive reputation. The company currently holds an "A” rating from the Better Business Bureau as well as accreditation. From third-party review sites, Event Tickets Center is popular. On Trustpilot, the company has a 4.5-star rating average out of 5. Reviewers note that some concert tickets are cheaper than buying them directly from the box office. There was also recurring praise for the ease of purchase, the smooth process for browsing, and the helpful seating chart after purchase. While there were a few complaints about the fees (which can be higher or lower depending on what you buy), customers generally love their experience at Event Tickets Center.

A favorite for great customer service

This is a top contender on our list of ticket brokers. With its competitive guarantee and high ratings from the BBB and third-party reviews, you can feel confident that you can trust Event Tickets Center for your concert, sports, or theater adventures. Unfortunately, prices start a little higher at Event Tickets Center before you add on fees. But if you find an event offered here at a great deal, you definitely want to check it out for its top-tier customer service.

Ticket City

• Prices start at $81 before fees in case study
• Service fees around 24%
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• Satisfaction guarantee with refund or better tickets
• Tickets delivered by mail for most deliveries
• "A+” rating from the BBB

TicketCity has made a significant impact in the ticketing industry by serving over 1 million customers. With tickets for your favorite sports, concerts, and theater events, TicketCity's extensive network offers a wide range of options, including parking passes, hospitality access, hotel rooms near the venue, all-inclusive event packages, and more. With over 30 years of experience and an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, TicketCity has established itself as a trusted and reliable ticket broker.

Browsing is simple once you find your city

Finding tickets with TicketCity is easy and convenient, though finding your city might be a little hard at first. The "cities” tab on the top navigation bar looks like it only has tickets for six cities in the US. However, if you click "All cities” you'll see an expanded list that covers at least one city in most US states. You can browse through the list of events in your area and view valuable information about the city, including weather forecasts and an overview of major venues in the area. This information can be especially useful for planning a weekend getaway or vacation around the event. When purchasing tickets through TicketCity, you'll have access to a helpful seat map that allows you to hover over different sections of the venue to see a price range for those seats. You can then select the number of tickets you want and browse the cost of individual seats that are available.

Tons of local tickets

There are plenty of event tickets to choose from at TicketCity. You'll see major upcoming events listed in a small window on the page for your chosen city. In one month, we saw big names like Missy Elliott, Donny Osmond, Cirque du Soleil, and Lindsey Sterling, along with popular events like RENT the Musical or the Soccer Champions tour for Barcelona and Montreal teams. There were 143 different concerts, 35 sporting events, and 103 theater events in our area in the next month. However, TicketCity doesn't offer international events, so you may need to look elsewhere for those options.

Prices are competitive despite UI problems

To compare prices across different platforms, we looked at the same events at each location to see how the prices stack up. To give you a full picture, we looked at the prices for a concert, a musical theater event, a sporting event, and an international event. To keep all of the prices the same at the baseline, we looked at prices for 2 tickets together before service fees:

• Billie Eilish Concert: $225 to $26,300 per ticket (Detroit, MI)
• The Lion King Musical: $81 to $731 per ticket (Orlando, FL)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $198 to $593.33 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: Not offered on TicketCity

Technical problems when purchasing

However, during our research, we ran into a major problem: actually purchasing the tickets. While shopping for all four events on our list, we were unable to click past the ticket selection page. Whether we clicked on the ticket buttons (in blue) or the seating chart in the middle of the screen, there was no way to move past selection and into purchase. We were able to solve this problem by changing the browser we were using (Firefox) to a different browser, but this may be frustrating to some customers using popular browsers who can't purchase their tickets right away.

Service fees around 24%

One of the most significant advantages of using TicketCity is its competitive service fees. While some companies charge exorbitant fees for their services, TicketCity's fees are industry-competitive and transparent. For example, if you're purchasing an $81 ticket to a theater performance, you can expect to pay an additional $23.49 per ticket in fees at checkout. This fee covers the costs associated with providing a wide selection of tickets to nationwide events. In general, the fee upcharge is around 24% of the per-ticket price.

Most tickets are shipped to you

TicketCity's checkout page has a lot of details to help you with your final purchase. These include an estimated ship date for the tickets, so you'll know exactly when to expect them. Some tickets may come with instant download or electronic transfer options that allow you to access your tickets immediately, so you can choose your delivery method at checkout. Otherwise, there will be a shipping charge for your tickets of around $7.

Impressive customer service and authenticity guarantee

TicketCity's authenticity guarantee is another major advantage of using their services. Once you've confirmed an order through their website, their guarantee goes into effect. If the tickets you receive don't provide valid entry (as promised), TicketCity will provide comparable or better tickets than what you ordered or offer a refund. In addition to its authenticity guarantee, TicketCity offers accessible customer service through multiple channels. Their agents are available 7 days a week from 8 am to midnight through email support, live chat, or by phone. TicketCity's refund policy is also clear and straightforward. The only general reason a customer would qualify for a refund is if the event is canceled. In this case, TicketCity will provide a refund of the purchase price as long as the tickets are returned within 10 days after a refund is offered. Postponed or rescheduled events are not eligible for refunds since the tickets are valid for a later date and cannot be canceled or exchanged after orders are submitted.

High ratings from the BBB

On average, TicketCity is highly popular with customers. The company's "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and glowing reviews from customers are impressive in this industry. However, on some third-party review sites, there are more mixed opinions. At Trustpilot, TicketCity has an average rating of 3.3 stars out of 5. Some of the reviews are 5 stars while many range from just 1-4 stars. Customers highly praise the customer service at TicketCity, but those who left complaints said that there were issues with some of the extras they bought, like parking passes, or wrong seats for last-minute purchases.

Competitive prices for US tickets

TicketCity is a reliable and easy-to-use platform as long as you're on the right browser. If you want to find tickets to all types of entertainment at competitive prices, this is a great place to start. However, the site could use some UI updates to make browsing a bit easier, and it could add a section for international tickets. With its extensive network, competitive service fees, helpful seat maps, and accessible customer service, it is rated very well by the BBB, making it competitive in our review.

Ticket Club

• Prices start at $95 before fees in case study
• Service fees around 12%
• Zero fees if you join their membership
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• Offers international tickets
• Refunds for canceled events
• Mailed in tickets for most deliveries

Ticket Club is a unique secondary ticket exchange program that allows members to save money on tickets without paying service fees. With prices often 10-20% lower than their competitors, you can find tickets to sports, concerts, and theater events without breaking the bank. The company prides itself on providing an exclusive experience for its members, offering competitive prices and a hassle-free ticket-buying process. If you're willing to provide your email address to join Ticket Club's flash sale list, you could save up to 20% more on tickets. This is a great way to stay informed about upcoming events and potential discounts.

Simple ticket searching and purchase

To start your ticket search on Ticket Club, you can either search for specific events at the top of the website or enter your zip code to see what's happening in your area. Once you've found an event that interests you, you'll need to specify how many tickets you want and then view a map of available sections to compare pricing across different areas of the venue. One area that Ticket Club could improve is its filter system. Currently, the location filter shows all events in that area with no way to narrow the field to specific types of events. It makes for a lot of scrolling if you don't know exactly what event you want to attend.

No seat numbers

After selecting a price point that works for you, you'll see an estimated subtotal, delivery method, and any important notes about the event. One thing that might be confusing for some is that individual seat numbers aren't displayed when buying tickets through Ticket Club. However, this is a common practice among most ticket brokers, as it helps prevent people from trying to purchase the same seats at the same time. Instead, you'll see section and row numbers. To alleviate any concerns, Ticket Club guarantees that multiple ticket orders will be side-by-side, so you can rest assured that you and your group will be seated together.

Competitive options for US and international events

During our review, there were 114 different events to look at in the coming month in our area. This included a range of concerts, theater events, and even some symphony experiences. Some popular concerns included Linsey Sterling, Donny Osmond, Missy Elliott, Deep Purple, The Jonas Brothers, Idina Menzel, and Taylor Swift. For popular theater productions, we saw RENT and Little Shop of Horrors, and for symphonies, we saw performances of Lord of the Rings in concert. We also found a competitive list of international events.

Case study: prices start at $95 per ticket

To compare prices at all the brokers in our review, we looked at the same events at each provider (including the same dates and venues). We checked out the prices for a concert, a musical theater event, a sporting event, and an international event. All prices are before fees and are based on a purchase for 2 guests.

• Billie Eilish Concert: $255 to $4,635 per ticket (Detroit, MI)
• The Lion King Musical: $95 to $845 per ticket (Orlando, FL)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $226 to $38,754 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: $68 to $257 per ticket (London, England)

Service fees around 12% without membership

Becoming a member of Ticket Club is the only way to avoid service fees when checking out. The annual membership fee is $49.99 for the first year and $9.99 thereafter. While it may seem like a significant upfront cost, Ticket Club claims that the membership fee pays for itself with the first purchase. If you attend multiple events throughout the year, you could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by scoring low ticket prices and avoiding extra fees. As an added bonus, military personnel, students, and first responders receive free memberships. If you don't add the membership, the service fee is still competitive. For example, Billie Eilish tickets that are $255 per ticket before fees will be charged $30.60 per ticket in fees. This constitutes a 12% increase, which is lower than many competitors.

Physical or digital delivery

Many of the tickets are delivered via mail. You'll receive a delivery date so you know when to expect your tickets to arrive. Some tickets can be sent digitally, and if this is your preference, you can search for only those tickets with Ticket Club's filter system. However, no matter what delivery method you choose, Ticket Club notes that you will be charged a delivery fee. In our experience, some of the tickets (like Swan Lake in London) had zero fees and the delivery was listed as free.

Refunds only for fully canceled events

Ticket Club's refund policy is similar to what you'd find with other companies in the industry. All sales are final unless an event is canceled or the seller fails to provide the buyer with tickets in time for the event. Postponed or rescheduled events don't qualify for refunds if the original tickets are still valid for entry.

Poor customer service assistance

Ticket Club has a reputation with the Better Business Bureau, but the news isn't great. Currently, the company holds a "D-” rating from the BBB. While the page seems somewhat new (and it only has 11 complaints on it), the "D-” rating doesn't make us feel very confident about Ticket Club's services. In general, third-party review sites rate Ticket Club around 3 stars on average. Some customers praise the savings at Ticket Club, loving the membership and finding that low-cost tickets plus the zero service fees saved them hundreds of dollars on events. On the flip side, customers who didn't enjoy their experience noted that getting a hold of Ticket Club's customer service is incredibly difficult. Many customers experienced issues with ticket delivery and felt scammed by the process and lack of resolution from Ticket Club.

A mid-tier option with the membership

While the membership sounds like a great way to save, especially if you're a student or service member, there are some drawbacks to Ticket Club. The customer service isn't ideal, and the browsing could use a bit of an update to make it more competitive. However, with a wider range of tickets compared to other sites as well as international offerings, Ticket Club does have some high points. Overall, it seems that Ticket Club is an average option when it comes to buying event tickets online, with the pros evenly balancing the cons.

Tickets Expert

• Prices start at $69 before fees in case study
• Service fees around 25%-32%
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• Refunds for canceled events
• Worry-free guarantee
• Most tickets are digital

Tickets Expert has established itself as a go-to destination for fans seeking tickets to sports, concerts, and theater events. This fan exchange marketplace offers a unique platform that enables you to purchase tickets both far in advance and last-minute for local and large-scale events. With its transparent and user-friendly interface, Tickets Expert has become a favorite option for many people looking to quickly and easily purchase tickets online.

Find your ideal event in minutes

One of the key advantages of using Tickets Expert is its intuitive platform. When searching for tickets, you can simply type in the artist, venue, or team name into the search bar and receive a list of available options instantly. The platform also takes into account your location, providing a list of upcoming events nearby without you having to lift a finger. Whether it's a touring theater company or a big college game, Tickets Expert's platform makes it easy to find the perfect event. When browsing through available tickets, Tickets Expert displays a list of available tickets by row and section, along with the number of tickets available at each price point. Tickets Expert also provides a detailed seat map, enabling you to visualize your seating arrangement and get a sense of how close you'll be to the stage.

Impressive selection of events

Tickets Expert stands out by offering just the options in your area at the get-go. You can change your location easily to see a broader selection of events, but all of the immediate suggestions will be directly related to your location. For our area, there were nearly 200 concerts, 58 sporting events, and 79 theater productions available in the next month. Across the US you'll find top artists like Lindsey Sterling, Donny Osmond, Hozier, and Taylor Swift as well as musicals like Moulin Rouge, and Fiddler on the Roof. If you're looking for sports across the US, you'll find events like WWE: Smackdown, NBA games, and Big 12 Wrestling among others. If you're looking internationally, there's plenty of fun too. In one upcoming month, we saw international events for Megan Thee Stallion, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, and Paramore.

Case study: prices from $69 per ticket

To compare prices at Ticket Expert, we looked at the same events as we did at other brokers (including the same dates and venues). We looked at a concert, a musical theater event, a sporting event, and an international event all before fees. The prices are per ticket on a 2-ticket order. Some of the prices include backstage access or VIP seating, which wasn't noted at other brokers. Here's what we found:

• Billie Eilish Concert: $260 to $7,407 per ticket (Detroit, MI)
• The Lion King Musical: $96 to $500 per ticket (Orlando, FL)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $229 to $39,130 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: $69 to $259 per ticket (London, England)

Service fees from 25%-32%

Another significant advantage of using Tickets Expert is its competitive service fees. While service fees are unavoidable, Tickets Expert's fees are comparable to those of other brokers. In fact, their fees are slightly lower, coming in at around 25% of the ticket price, though you may need to catch a promo to get this low cost. Generally, the prices are a little higher, but they do fluctuate. For example, Billie Eilish tickets started at $260 per ticket. After estimated fees, the tickets cost $343.20 per ticket, which is a 32% fee.

Favors digital tickets

Many of the tickets purchased through Tickets Expert are digital. However, the specific method for each ticket will be listed on the ticket page when you go to purchase. If you are getting digital tickets, you'll be offered additional advice on what you need to have on hand when you try to enter the venue for your event.

Worry-free guarantee

Tickets Expert's worry-free guarantee provides an added layer of security for its customers. This guarantee states that if an order is accepted but not delivered, or if an order is accepted but not delivered in time for the event, customers will receive a full refund. If tickets are not valid for entry or if an event is canceled and not rescheduled, customers will also be eligible for a refund. This guarantee gives you extra peace of mind when making your ticket purchases.

Declining reviews raise questions

Overall, Tickets Expert has not earned high marks from its customers. While we were unable to find a Better Business Bureau accreditation or rating for the company, customer reviews speak volumes about the somewhat negative experiences many have had with Tickets Expert. While the company used to be more popular, it averages 2 stars at every third-party review site. Customers complain about scams, paying without receipt of tickets, and difficulties getting a hold of customer service. While a few five-star reviews are praising the ease of use, there are also only a handful of reviews since 2017, making it hard to gauge how accurate the reviews are for Tickets Expert today. At best, we are left with unanswered questions.

Not quite up to par

Sadly, with declining customer satisfaction, Tickets Expert no longer ranks among our top options. While its impressive array of tickets and lower-than-average fees still make it a site worth looking into, you may want to be cautious and do a little extra research with its customer service team before buying.

StubHub

• Prices start at $70 before fees for case study
• Service fees around 44% for some events
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• FanProtect Guarantee with 120% credit refund
• Physical or digital ticket delivery

StubHub has been a well-established player in the ticketing industry for over two decades, providing a platform for people to buy and sell tickets to concerts, theater productions, sporting events, and other live entertainment. With a global presence spanning over 90 countries, StubHub is the largest ticket marketplace in the world. Currently headquartered in Draper, Utah, StubHub is US-based but offers international events as well as local ones. However, StubHub has recently struggled with customer satisfaction, which has led to some frustrations.

Quick browsing with "trending” events

Like many of its competitors, StubHub's landing page is tailored to your local area. The suggested sports events, concerts, and theater excursions are specific to local theaters and arenas. For example, in our state, "trending” events included a show for Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life. When browsing through available tickets, you can easily view a full schedule of dates, times, and locations for each event. The filters allow you to limit to specific dates or search all dates in your area. If you prefer to travel to another venue, you can reset your location on the site to a city or state outside of your current area. When you select an event, you can choose the number of tickets you need and view possible seating locations as well as all the pricing options for those seating areas. StubHub also offers additional items like parking passes, which can be added to your ticket purchase.

May be more limited than competitors

StubHub is known for its impressive inventory of tickets to millions of live events. For our area, we were shown 37 different concerts happening in our local city in the next month. However, some of the sections were a little limited. There were only 3 theater experiences and 4 sporting games in the next month. While this could be due to many sports being off-season at the time of this review, it was a lower number than most. In the following month, we saw only a few highly popular names and teams including Missy Elliott, the Montreal Leagues Cup, and Cirque du Soleil. Keep in mind that international tickets may be particularly limited. For example, we looked at performances for Swan Lake in Europe and found zero tickets available for the Royal Ballet in London (despite multiple performances listed) and only 4 tickets available in Barcelona, Spain.

Case study: prices as low as $48 per ticket

Ticket prices on StubHub vary depending on what sellers feel their seats are worth and the area of the venue where they're seated. This is normal when buying from a ticket marketplace, where prices are determined by individual sellers. To compare prices across different platforms, we looked at the same events at each location to see how the prices stack up. To give you a full picture, we looked at the prices for a concert, a musical theater event, a sporting event, and an international event. However, while we looked at the London productions of Swan Lake on other reviews, StubHub didn't offer any tickets for that program. We had to choose a production in Barcelona, Spain instead. To keep all of the prices the same at the baseline, we looked at prices for 2 tickets together (note: these prices are before fees). Here's what we found on StubHub:

• Billie Eilish Concert: $213 to $1,310 per ticket (Detroit, MI)
• The Lion King Musical: $70 to $988 per ticket (Orlando, FL)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $203 to $7,373 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: $48 to $178 per ticket (Barcelona, Spain)

All fees are different per ticket

When you buy and sell tickets on StubHub, you'll encounter fees, which are necessary for a secure transaction. You should know that these fees don't have a fixed percentage but instead vary based on the ticket price, event date, any updates to the event details, and the supply and demand of the tickets. To get an accurate total cost, use the filter on the site and select "Include estimated fees". This will give you a clear picture of the total price. For instance, we checked the fees for "The Lion King" concert and found that the ticket price increased from $70 to $101 after adding fees. This added an almost 44% fee to the total price of each ticket.

Choose physical or digital tickets

There are several ways to get tickets from StubHub once you've purchased them. You can either choose to get physical tickets in the mail or pick up your reserved tickets at will-call. If you prefer to do things yourself, you can opt for print-at-home tickets or download a code for mobile tickets. So, no matter how you like to handle your tickets, you'll be able to get them from StubHub.

FanProtect guarantee with 120% credit

StubHub's FanProtect guarantee provides an added layer of security for customers. The company guarantees every order 100%. This way you can count on valid tickets or a refund if an event is canceled or rescheduled. If tickets are not delivered on time or are invalid for entry, StubHub promises to give customers 120% credit or a full refund.

Reputation keeps falling

Despite its guarantee, StubHub has faced some criticisms in recent years. In 2020, the Canadian Competition Bureau (CCB) ordered StubHub to pay a $1.3 million penalty for misleading price claims. The company was found to be advertising low prices that couldn't be attained due to mandatory fees added on top of the advertised prices. StubHub was forced to change its practices so that all mandatory fees are included in advertised prices (though they still hide them unless you change them in the filtering system). On top of this setback, StubHub's reputation has fallen with customers as well. Thousands of reviews online reflect poor customer opinions, with 1-star average ratings from multiple third-party review sites. Further, StubHub's previous "A-” rating has fallen to an "NR” on the Better Business Bureau. Some customers have reported buying tickets only to be turned away at the door because they're invalid, or never receiving their tickets hours before an event. Yikes!

Doesn't offer a standout performance

While StubHub may be a popular name in the industry, it might be safer to avoid it for now. If you do decide to use StubHub, exercise caution and carefully review all terms and conditions before making a purchase. With other sites offering a better range of tickets locally and internationally, there aren't a lot of upsides to StubHub besides its popularity.

Ticketmaster

• Prices start at $69 before fees for case study
• Service fees around 23%-38%
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• Refunds for canceled events
• Tickets by mail or digital
• "A-” rating from the BBB

Ticketmaster is one of the most well-known and widely used ticketing companies in the world. Founded in 1976 in Phoenix, Arizona, they have been providing tickets to concerts, theater performances, art shows, and sporting events for over four decades. Their partnership with big companies like American Express, Allianz, and ParkWhiz has allowed them to expand their reach globally. For example, if you're an American Express card member, you'll get exclusive early access to big events through your account. However, you won't be able to find international events here.

Shop for tickets by venue, artist, or location

To start using Ticketmaster, you can browse events by providing your city or zip code, searching for specific dates, or looking up schedules for your favorite artist, venue, or event. You can also create an account with Ticketmaster to discover recommended events based on tickets you've purchased in the past. Having an account is necessary not only to purchase tickets but also to receive and view them. When you click on tickets for an event on Ticketmaster's website, you're not always shown a map of the venue. Even for big venues and popular events, Ticketmaster often displays a photo of the sport or concert rather than a seating map. For events that do list a map, it would be helpful if you could hover over different sections to see price ranges and compare. Instead, you have to scroll through a list of available tickets and their individual prices. Specific seat numbers are provided after purchase, and you're guaranteed seats together if you're purchasing more than one ticket. However, you may find trouble with concerts and events being sold out but still listed on the main search page, which is particularly frustrating when browsing.

Tens of thousands of events

One of the downsides of using Ticketmaster is that they mostly deal with major venues. While they do list local events near your location, and they've added more small venues to their list, you'll be seeing big-ticket performances suggested first on many pages. So, if you're looking for big-name stars, this is going to be a great place to shop. Some of the events and artists recommended in our area included Pink, Twenty One Pilots, Aerosmith, Justin Timberlake, Alan Jackson, Disney on Ice, and more. In our area, we found jaw-dropping numbers of concerts (over 15,000), 13,000+ for sports, and over 120,000 events for theater and arts. These are all listed as being local to our zip code, though some of them were in other states that were "near” ours.

Many tickets are already sold out

For our price comparison at Ticketmaster, we looked at four events (one of each main type available) with the same dates and venues at each broker. We searched for tickets sold for two people together at every event. There were a few snags, however. For example, the Oct 7 Billie Eilish concert we checked at each broker (and was available everywhere else) was listed as sold out on Ticketmaster. We also couldn't find two seats together in three subsequent Billie Eilish concerts. The tour we were using for comparison for The Lion King was also not offered on Ticketmaster. These prices do not yet include the fees, but here's what we found at Ticketmaster:

• Billie Eilish Concert: Listed as sold out
• The Lion King Musical: $69 to $382 per ticket (Atlanta, GA)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $220 to $5,450 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: No international tickets

Service fees from 23%-38%

Like many other ticket brokers, Ticketmaster charges service fees on top of the ticket prices. These fees can be painful, especially when they're as high as nearly 38% of the ticket price in most cases. Not all fees at Ticketmaster are exorbitant, however. For tickets to the Dallas Cowboys game, the base price is $220 per ticket. With fees, it's $270.60 per ticket. This is only a 23% increase from the base price. So, you may find better deals depending on which event you're purchasing.

9 different ways to get your tickets

There are 9 different delivery methods offered by Ticketmaster. You can get your tickets through traditional means like mail-in delivery or picking them up at will-call. If you prefer something more modern, you can choose an electronic ticket or a mobile ticket instead. For those who want a ticket in hand without the hassle, you can also print your tickets at home.

Guarantee for verified tickets

Ticketmaster's refund policy is somewhat unclear when it comes to certain situations. While all sales are final, there are certain circumstances where refunds are allowed. For example, if an event is canceled, you'll get your money back. Ticketmaster also has a zero-tolerance policy towards fraud. They promise to thoroughly review every claim of fraudulent activity reported to them. Ticketmaster Verified Tickets, including Fan-to-Fan Resale Tickets, come with a 100% guarantee of authenticity and will get you into the event without any issues.

Even good reviews note quality control issues

Despite their popularity and reputation, Ticketmaster has low customer satisfaction ratings. Many customers have reported Ticketmaster having "non-existent" customer service and struggling to get refunds from events that are canceled. The most common complaints also come from sellers who say it takes months to receive the money they're owed from selling their tickets. Ticketmaster has had some run-ins with the law in recent years, but despite this, the Better Business Bureau gives them an "A-" rating. However, the average rating for Ticketmaster is just 1.1 stars out of 5 on ConsumerAffairs and 3.3 on Trustpilot. The customers who liked Ticketmaster noted that the process of purchase was easy. On the other hand, they also complained that the purchased seats often had issues like blocked views or poor visibility.

Needs to step up the customer service

Needless to say, Ticketmaster has some major flaws and needs to do some serious cleaning up before we can recommend them. While their legal action seems to have been totally cleared up in recent years, there are still issues with tickets being sold out, tickets being in unfavorable seats, or issues with customer service on the whole. For now, it's best to stick with a higher-rated ticket broker.

TicketNetwork

• Prices start at $97 before fees for case study
• Service fees around 33%-35%
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• Refunds for canceled events
• Tickets via mail or digital

TicketNetwork is a ticketing company that provides access to over 100,000 live entertainment events worldwide, including sports, concerts, and theater performances. Founded in 2002 in South Windsor, Connecticut, TicketNetwork has established itself as a leading online exchange with an impressive inventory of over $5.5 billion in tickets at any given time.

Impressive level of detail during purchase

One of the standout features of TicketNetwork is its user-friendly interface that allows you to quickly find top-selling performances. The website is organized into categories such as pop, rock, country, festivals, hip-hop, Broadway, Las Vegas, NFL, NBA, MLB, and more, making it easy to browse and find tickets to your favorite events. You'll also see an updated list of new events that have recently gone on sale, giving you a heads-up on popular shows before they sell out. TicketNetwork's venue maps are another valuable resource for customers. By hovering over seat sections on the map, you can see how many tickets are available in a certain price range. This feature is especially helpful when trying to plan a group outing or looking for specific seats. The map view also displays ticket details, including delivery method, venue information, estimated subtotal, and more.

Not much outside the US

There are tons of artists, events, and theater productions to browse on TicketNetwork. Some of the top-listed events included concerts for Taylor Swift, Duran Duran, The Eagles, Twenty One Pilots, and Cirque du Soleil. In our area, there were plenty of different events to choose from. There were 200+ different concerts, 57 sports events, and 73 theater and arts productions offered in the upcoming month at locations in our area. However, there are limited events in international locations. So, you may want to be prepared to look strictly for US-based events at TicketNetwork.

Prices start at $97 per ticket

For those who prefer to budget their ticket purchases, TicketNetwork offers a convenient payment plan option through Affirm. This service allows you to break up the cost of your ticket into monthly payments over time. In terms of the price comparison, we checked the same four events at TicketNetwork that we priced at other brokers (minus the production of Swan Lake as there are no international events on TicketNetwork. The other events cover the three main categories of events and are priced before fees. We looked at prices for 2 tickets together at all venues. Here's what we found:

• Billie Eilish Concert: $263 to $7,478 per ticket (Detroit, MI)
• The Lion King Musical: $97 to $504 per ticket (Orlando, FL)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $231 to $39,507 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: No international tickets

Service fees between 33%-35%

TicketNetwork charges service fees of almost 33% as well as potential delivery costs, which can add up quickly. These prices can fluctuate depending on what you are purchasing. For example, the Dallas Cowboys tickets start at $231 per ticket before fees. After fees, the price goes up to $312.56 per ticket, and these are only "estimated” fees. This puts the fee percentage over 35%.

Physical or digital ticket delivery

In terms of delivery, buyers and sellers can exchange tickets through various methods on TicketNetwork. Some of the most popular methods include FedEx, instant download, and email, making it a convenient and secure platform for all parties involved. You can also pick up tickets at will-call if you prefer to have physical copies of your tickets on hand.

Refunds only for canceled events

When issues arise with tickets or customer service, TicketNetwork's dedicated support team is available to assist. Customers can contact the company via email or phone and receive a response within two business days. The service center is open seven days a week from 9 am to 10 pm ET, making it easy to get help when you need it. If an event is postponed, your tickets will be able to be used on the postponed date. You will not get a refund in this case. If an event is canceled, you'll get a refund for the ticket price, but not for any shipping charges incurred.

Reports of scams and dishonest sales

Despite its convenient features and payment options, TicketNetwork has received numerous negative reviews from customers. The company's lack of accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and its "C+" rating are a cause for concern. Hundreds of customer complaints have been filed over the past few years, with common issues including overpriced tickets that are different from what was ordered, tickets that don't arrive on time or at all, and invalid tickets. On other third-party review sites, the news is even worse. According to Trustpilot, the average rating for TicketNetwork is 1.1 stars out of 5. Unfortunately, many customers have reported feeling misled or scammed by TicketNetwork's practices.

Doesn't have much to recommend it

Due to the wide-ranging concerns from reviewers, we cannot recommend using this company for ticket purchases. Thankfully, you're not missing out on much. TicketNetwork had a much higher fee percentage than many competitors and about the same selection of events. Without anything to help it stand out, the bad news from reviewers makes it even less appealing.

Ticket Liquidator

• Prices start at $70 before fees for case study
• Service fees around 31%
• Sports, Theater, Dance, Music, and more
• Offers international tickets
• Refunds for canceled events
• Tickets via mail or digital

Ticket Liquidator is a ticket broker that has been in the business since 2003. Based in South Windsor, Connecticut, the company is also known as Ticket Software, LLC and Ticket Network Direct. The website offers plenty of tickets to top shows, games, and live entertainment events across the United States and at international venues. However, reports of scams and fake tickets are the primary feedback for this company. Read on to see more about it.

Clean browsing experience

When browsing Ticket Liquidator's website, you'll find a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to search for tickets. You can browse popular artists or search for specific events as soon as you hit the landing page. As a bonus, the site automatically adds your location and immediately starts showing you local events in its scrolling list. The website is clean and professional, with clear headings and concise information about each event. One of the standout features of Ticket Liquidator's website is its map view of the venue. For each event, you can see a detailed map of the seating chart, including the number of available seats and their location. You can easily see the section and row information. If you're purchasing multiple tickets, you're guaranteed to get seats together.

Tons of tickets local and international

There are tons of ticket opportunities at Ticket Liquidator. Some of the suggested artists we saw for our area included Taylor Swift, Duran Duran, Sabrina Carpenter, The Eagles, and Twenty One Pilots. For events in the following month, we found options for Janet Jackson, Cirque du Soleil, Taylor Swift, Little Shop of Horrors, RENT, and WWE Smackdown among many others. There were 297 different ticketing opportunities for concerts, 56 events for sports, and 83 theater events in our area during the next month. You can also find a ton of events internationally if you want to buy your ticket for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Case study: prices start at $70 per ticket

For our price comparison at Ticket Liquidator, we checked out the same four events as we did at our other brokers. With each event we found the same dates and venues to get the most accurate side-by-side pricing. To show the full range, we found prices for a concert, a musical theater event, a sporting event, and an international event. All prices are for the purchase of two guests together and do not include fees. One difference at Ticket Liquidator is that the company did not offer tickets for Swan Lake in Barcelona, Spain, so we priced out a different production in London:

• Billie Eilish Concert: $264 to $7,549 per ticket (Detroit, MI)
• The Lion King Musical: $98 to $509 per ticket (Orlando, FL)
• Dallas Cowboys Football Game: $257 to $7,325 per ticket (Cleveland, OH)
• Swan Lake International Ballet: $70 to $264 per ticket (London, England)

Service fees around 31%

Ticket Liquidator charges service fees on each purchase. These fees can be significant, with prices ranging from $24 to $70 for a single ticket. The fees are non-negotiable. For example, the Dallas Cowboys tickets are $257 before fees. However, there is a $79.67 fee per ticket added during checkout. This particular ticket showed a 31% fee, which is higher than many competitors.

Delivery has fees no matter what you pick

For the delivery of your tickets, you'll be able to choose from instant download, e-tickets, FedEx delivery, or will-call pickup. However, if you're picking up your tickets locally or using a will-call pickup, you'll be charged an additional $15 fee. On the other hand, the regular delivery fee is only $9.95.

100% guarantee isn't always honored

Ticket Liquidator promises a 100% guarantee to their customers. The guarantee includes four main promises: that all tickets are legitimate and valid for entry; that all delivered tickets will be the same as or better than what was originally requested; that customers will receive their tickets before the event; and that refunds will be issued if an event is permanently canceled. While these promises may provide some reassurance, many customers have reported instances where Ticket Liquidator failed to honor these guarantees.

Reports of fake tickets

Unfortunately, Ticket Liquidator has received numerous poor reviews from customers. The company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has a "C-" rating. In addition to the negative reviews on the BBB, there are hundreds of other poor reviews from buyers who have experienced issues with customer service, broken links to claim tickets, difficulty transferring tickets, and high fees. The average rating for Ticket Liquidator is 1.3 stars on Trustpilot. Customers report that some tickets that were sold were already used, and were unable to be redeemed at the event. Many reviews describe incidents of fake tickets and customers' frustration when Ticket Liquidator "takes no responsibility.”

Too many bad reviews to recommend

Scenarios like fake tickets and no refunds can be particularly distressing when dealing with expensive tickets. As a result, we do not recommend using Ticket Liquidator for your ticketing needs. You want to choose a company you can trust. Ticket Liquidator earns one of the lowest ratings in our review, with a cautionary note to do your research before trying this broker.