Two pricing plans
Start small (2%) for independents, Get growing (5.5%) for larger brands with extra features.
Universe
Independent ticketing platform owned by Ticketmaster, offering optional Ticketmaster distribution on its Pro plan. North America focused.
3.3 / 5based on 130reviews across Trustpilot, Capterra & Google
About Universe
Universe is a Toronto-based ticketing platform owned by Ticketmaster / Live Nation. It positions itself as an independent ticketing tool for organisers, with an optional Pro tier that unlocks Ticketmaster distribution, a unique value proposition among smaller platforms.
It's used across North America and increasingly the UK for events ranging from small workshops to mid-scale festivals. The Ticketmaster ownership is divisive: some organisers love the optional distribution upside; others avoid it on principle.
What you get
Key features
Per-ticket fee cap
Fees capped at £9.95 per ticket, protecting high-value events from runaway fees.
Ticketmaster distribution
Optional. List events on Ticketmaster's network on the Get growing tier.
Reserved seating
Built-in seating chart designer with section management.
Payment plans
Offer instalment payments to buyers on Standard+ tiers.
Team permissions
Multi-user access with granular role permissions (Standard+).
Universe Payments
Bundled card processing; no separate Stripe bill.
Stripe Connect option
Alternative to Universe Payments if you prefer your own merchant account.
Side by side
How Universe compares with Eventbrite
Universe is structurally similar to Eventbrite in many ways: both are ticketing platforms with seating, embeds, and check-in apps. The pricing is meaningfully cheaper: 2% + £0.99 capped at £9.95 versus Eventbrite's 3.7% + £0.59 plus 2.9% processing. On a £50 ticket, Universe lands at roughly £1.99; Eventbrite around £3.95.
The unique angle is the Ticketmaster distribution on the higher tier: your event can be listed on the Ticketmaster network if you opt in. The trade-off is the Ticketmaster ownership: some organisers view this as a perk; others see it as the opposite of why they're leaving Eventbrite.
Pros & cons
The honest balance: what reviewers consistently praise and consistently flag.
Pros
- Significantly cheaper than Eventbrite, especially on premium tickets
- Per-ticket fee cap of £9.95 protects high-value events
- Optional Ticketmaster distribution on the higher tier
- Bundled card processing (no separate Stripe bill)
- Reserved seating, payment plans, and team tools included
Cons
- Owned by Ticketmaster, which is divisive for organisers leaving Eventbrite
- Pro features (custom plan) require sales contact
- USD-only pricing page (UK/GBP figures supplied separately)
- Mixed customer support reviews
- Less white-label customisation than dedicated platforms
Real reviews
What Universe users actually say
Choose a category to see verified Trustpilot reviews grouped by topic.
Universe users appreciate the optional Ticketmaster distribution on the Pro plan and the £9.95 per-ticket fee cap.
Fantastic service from Taylor
Fantastic service from Taylor. I had booked the wrong venue and contacted Universe to see if they could help. Taylor responded very quick and advised me to rebook the correct venue and let her know once I had done this…
Fun experience with friends!
Went with some friends to see the Egypt show and it was amazing! Very interesting and easy to do. Then I bought tickets to take my nieces and immediately realized I chose the wrong day. Booked for the right day, but…
Excellent customer service
I am so sorry many of you had a poor experience but I have to speak as I find. Today I messaged Universe and had a reply within a couple of hours. It was helpful, timely and provided all the information I needed to…
Really Awesome Ticketing
Uniiverse helped me sell more tickets for my class. It was super easy to get started and sell on my own website and on Facebook. I'll keep using them for all my classes in the future if it keeps working so good.
Pricing
What Universe costs
Universe's Start small plan is 2% + £0.99 (UK) or 2% + $0.59 (US) per paid ticket, capped at £9.95 / $9.95 per ticket. The Get growing plan for larger brands is 5.5% + £0.99 / $0.59 with the same cap, plus unlocks additional features (requires sales contact). Universe Payments includes card processing. Free events are free.
US ($)
5.5% + $0.59 / ticket
UK (£)
5.5% + £0.99 / ticket
Is Universe right for you?
Honest guidance on who fits, and who doesn't.
Perfect for you if
- You sell premium tickets and want the per-ticket fee cap
- You want optional Ticketmaster distribution on the higher tier
- You want bundled card processing
- You need payment plans for high-priced tickets
- You're North America or UK based
Consider alternatives if
- You're leaving Eventbrite specifically to avoid Ticketmaster
- You want a transparent single-tier pricing page
- You need full white-label customisation
- You value highly-rated customer support