If you run a school fair, a club night or a church fundraiser, you have probably narrowed it to three names: TryBooking, Humanitix and Eventbrite. They all sell tickets online. They differ in who they are built for, how fees are shown, and what you get when something goes wrong. Here is a plain comparison, and a way to choose.
The short version
| TryBooking | Humanitix | Eventbrite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | Australian | Australian | American, with an Australian site |
| Often chosen by | Schools, clubs, community groups | Charities, community events, festivals | A wide mix of organisers, local and international |
| Free events | Says it is free for free events | Says free events are free | Free events free at last check |
| Paid tickets | Fees apply on paid transactions | A booking fee applies on paid tickets | A fee applies on paid tickets |
| Who pays the fee | You choose to absorb the fees or pass them to the buyer | Not stated on the pricing page; check the setting when you create an event | By default the buyer; you can choose |
| Known for | Familiar to schools and sports clubs | Says all its profits go to charity | A very large audience and many integrations |
This is a starting point, not a quote. Fees, plans and features change, so check each platform’s current pricing page before you decide.
What each charges (published fees, October 2026)
| TryBooking | Humanitix | Eventbrite | One Ticket | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee on a paid ticket | $0.50 per ticket ($0.15 under $5) plus 2.5% processing, GST included | 4% plus $0.99 standard, excluding GST. 2.5% plus $0.50 for charities and schools | 5.35% plus A$1.19 per ticket | Our cut ($0.35 to $1.45 a ticket) plus card processing at cost |
| On a $25 ticket | $1.13 | $1.99 standard (excluding GST), $1.13 charities and schools | $2.53 | $1.45 |
| Free events | No fees | Free | No fees | No booking fee |
These are worked out from each platform’s published Australian pricing. GST treatment and who pays by default differ, so compare like with like. Our full comparison of the cheapest platforms shows $10, $25, $50 and $100 tickets.
What makes a real difference to a community group
1. The fee, in dollars, on your typical ticket. Do not compare headline percentages. Take a $20 ticket and work out what the buyer pays and what you receive on each platform. Then do the same for a $10 ticket and a $50 one. A fixed fee per ticket matters most on cheap tickets.
2. Who pays. If the buyer pays, your ticket looks more expensive. If you pay, your income is lower. Some platforms let you choose, which is useful for a fundraiser where you want the most to reach the cause.
3. The buyer’s checkout. Buy a ticket yourself on each platform. Count the steps and the screens. Guests with a phone and a short attention span will give up on a long checkout.
4. Payouts. When does the money arrive, and into which account? If your club or school needs it in a club account, check that before you start.
5. Support. Find out how to reach a person and how fast they reply. This matters most the week of your event.
6. What happens at the door. Check how guests are checked in, and whether a volunteer can do it from a phone.
Which one for which group
- A school or sports club that wants a familiar Australian name: TryBooking is commonly used for this.
- A charity or a fundraiser where you care about where the booking fees go and who pays: Humanitix is worth a close look.
- An organiser who sells widely or wants lots of integrations: Eventbrite has a very large audience.
- A club, class or regular night that wants a simple page and a low-friction checkout: a lighter tool such as One Ticket may fit.
None of these is the right answer for everyone. The right one is the one that is simple for you and your guests, and where the numbers work for your ticket price.
A 30-minute test
Before you commit, do this on each platform you are considering:
- Create a draft event with one free ticket and one $20 ticket.
- Buy a ticket yourself on your phone and note how long it takes.
- Open the ticket you received. Is it easy to show at the door?
- Look at what the organiser sees: orders, guest list, export.
- Check the refund steps.
- Write down the total the buyer pays and the amount you receive for the $20 ticket.
If one platform is clearly easier, you have your answer.
Where One Ticket fits
One Ticket is a smaller, simpler tool. Free tickets carry no booking fee. On paid tickets the buyer pays a small booking fee, so the price you set is what you receive. Tickets are emailed with a QR code, you check people in with a phone, and a repeating event creates the sessions for you. See the pricing page for the fee table, or try the 30-minute test yourself on a draft event.
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.