If your event is free, you should not pay to count how many people are coming. But “free” means different things on different platforms. This guide compares ten event booking websites for free and low-cost events in Australia, using each platform’s published information in October 2026. We run One Ticket, so we have included ourselves and tried to be fair.
Terms and limits change, so check each platform’s current page before you commit.
What “free” can mean
- Free to set up. You can create an account and an event without paying.
- Free for free events. You can give out free tickets with no fee.
- Free for you, but the buyer pays. On paid tickets a booking fee is added for the buyer, so you receive your ticket price.
- Free up to a limit. Free until you pass a number of tickets or events.
- Free on one plan. A free plan with fewer features, and a paid plan for more.
The ten at a glance
| Platform | Free events | Any limit or catch | Paid tickets later |
|---|---|---|---|
| TryBooking | No fees on free tickets | None stated on its pricing page | $0.50 per ticket ($0.15 under $5) plus 2.5% processing, GST included |
| Humanitix | Free events are free | None stated on its pricing page | 4% plus $0.99 (standard, excluding GST); 2.5% plus $0.50 for charities and schools |
| Eventbrite | No fees for you or your buyers | Check the current terms | 5.35% plus A$1.19 per ticket |
| Sticky Tickets | “Free events are for free” | None stated | $1.00 to $4.50 per ticket by price band, GST included |
| Ticket Tailor | No fees for a large number of free tickets a year | Its pages state two different limits, so check | £0.60 per ticket plus VAT, shown in pounds |
| Eventbookings | Free on the basic plan | Its pages mention a 300-ticket threshold in one place and a 50-attendee limit for free events on the free plan in another, so check | 30c plus 2.40% to 3.40% per ticket, excluding Stripe fees |
| Luma | Unlimited events and guests on its free plan | A 5% fee applies on paid events on the free plan | 5% on the free plan, or 0% on a US$59 a month plan, plus Stripe fees |
| Ticketebo | Not published | Check its terms | 4% of the order (GST included), minimum $1.20 per order |
| Oztix | Not published | Aimed at music and venue events | Not published |
| One Ticket | Free tickets carry no booking fee | No subscription on the Free plan; up to 500 tickets and 500 emails a day | The buyer pays a booking fee, so the price you set is what you receive |
Free is not the whole story
For a free event, check these as well:
- Capacity. Can you set a limit, so you never book more people than seats?
- A guest list. Can you see who is coming, and export it?
- Questions. Can you ask for dietary needs or group size on the ticket?
- Reminders and tickets. Do guests get a ticket they can show on their phone?
- Check-in. Can a volunteer check people in with a phone?
- What happens if you add a paid option later? Can you add a paid ticket to the same event, and who pays the fee?
A simple way to choose
For a one-off free talk or meeting: any of the free options is fine. Book a ticket on two or three and pick the one whose page you like best.
For a weekly class or group: check how each platform handles repeating events. Creating a new page every week is a chore.
For a free event that might add paid tickets: look at the paid fee now, so there are no surprises.
For a community meetup group: Luma’s free plan is popular, with a 5% fee if you sell paid tickets.
For a charity or school: see our guide to the best event booking websites for charities and fundraisers.
Using One Ticket for a free event
- Each person or family gets a free ticket, emailed with a QR code.
- You set a capacity, so you never take more bookings than seats, and a waitlist offers any place that frees up to the next in line.
- You can ask questions on the ticket, and the answers come out with the orders.
- You check people in with a phone, or search the guest list for anyone without a ticket.
- A repeating event creates the sessions for you, which suits a weekly group.
- Free tickets carry no booking fee, and the Free plan has no subscription.
You can add a paid ticket type to the same event later. Paid tickets are paid through Stripe, and the buyer pays a small booking fee on top, so the price you set is what you receive. We are not the cheapest on every ticket price, so see our comparison of the cheapest platforms for the numbers.
Answers to your questions
Is One Ticket free to use?
Yes. The Free plan has everything you need to sell tickets, with no monthly cost, no setup fee, no payout fee and no card needed. Pro and Team are open now: upgrade any time in Settings › Plan. Limited-time offer: A$1 for your first year (first 100 organisers), then A$29/month for Pro or A$79/month for Team. Cancel anytime.
Who pays the booking fee?
The buyer, on a paid ticket, on top of the price you set, so you receive 100% of your ticket price. Free tickets carry no fee.
When do I get paid?
Ticket money goes to your own Stripe account, with no payout fee from One Ticket. Until your first paid event has gone cleanly, it is paid out two days after each event; after that, it is paid out as it sells.
Can I run a free event?
Yes. A free ticket costs nobody anything, and you don’t need Stripe connected to run a free event.
Do people need an account to book?
No. They book on their phone or computer without an account, and their tickets arrive by email with a QR code to show at the door.