Penguest vs Eventbrite
Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 on every paid ticket and pays you after the event. Penguest charges $39 for an event of up to 250 attendees, and ticket money goes straight to your own payment account.
Platform fees on three typical events
Platform fees only. Card processing is extra on both. Assumes one attendee per ticket.
| Event | Eventbrite | Penguest |
|---|---|---|
| Half-day workshop40 tickets at $120 | $249 | $39Starter tier |
| Training course200 tickets at $50 | $728 | $39Starter tier |
| Society conference600 tickets at $250 | $6,624 | $79Growth tier |
3.7% + $1.79 service fee per paid ticket, plus 2.9% payment processing per order (not included here). Buyers pay the service fee by default, which raises your ticket price.
How they compare
| Topic | Eventbrite | Penguest |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds ticket money | Eventbrite Payment Processing is the default. Eventbrite collects payments and sends your payout three business days after the event ends. Earlier payouts are an option after your first event. | Your own Stripe or PayPal account. Money arrives as tickets sell, on your gateway's normal payout schedule. |
| Platform fees | 3.7% + $1.79 service fee per paid ticket, plus 2.9% payment processing per order. Buyers pay the fees by default, or you can absorb them. | One flat fee per event: $39 up to 250 attendees, $79 up to 750, $149 up to 2,000. No commission on tickets. |
| Registration questions | Custom questions at checkout, which can differ by ticket type. | Text, email, dropdown and checkbox questions. Mark any as required. |
| Discount codes | Percentage or fixed discounts, and codes that reveal hidden tickets. | Coupon codes on every paid tier. |
| Check-in | QR code scanning with the Eventbrite Organizer app. | QR tickets by email. Scan from any smartphone, with a live arrival count for your team. |
| Attendee export | CSV or Excel. | CSV or Excel. |
| Event discovery | Public events are listed on Eventbrite's website and app, with paid promotion through Eventbrite Ads. | None. Penguest does not list your event to a public audience. You share your own link. |
Choose Eventbrite if
- You need new attendees to find your event through a public marketplace.
- You run many free events and want to publish them at no cost.
- You prefer Eventbrite to handle payment processing for you.
Choose Penguest if
- Your attendees come from your own members, clients or mailing list.
- You want ticket money in your own account before the event, not after it.
- You want one known cost per event instead of a fee on every ticket.
Questions about switching from Eventbrite
Eventbrite's fees are paid by buyers by default. Why does that matter?+
Your attendees see a higher total at checkout. For a $50 ticket that is $3.64 in service fees on top of the price, before processing. If you absorb the fees instead, they come out of your payout.
When do I get my money with Penguest?+
Ticket payments go to the Stripe or PayPal account you connect, on that provider's normal payout schedule. Penguest never holds ticket money.
Can I move an upcoming event from Eventbrite?+
Yes. Create the event on Penguest, add your ticket types and questions, then share the new registration link. Attendees who already registered on Eventbrite keep their Eventbrite tickets.
Eventbrite details are taken from Eventbrite's own pages, checked October 2026: Eventbrite pricing, Get started with event payouts, Custom forms, Promo codes, Organizer check-in app, Event discovery. Eventbrite is a trademark of its owner. Penguest is not affiliated with Eventbrite. Something out of date? Email support@penguest.app.
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