StubHub vs. SeatGeek

Quick answer

StubHub and SeatGeek both show ticket prices with mandatory fees included, so neither is cheaper for every event. StubHub is a resale-only marketplace with broad US and international inventory. SeatGeek mixes resale with primary tickets for partner teams and venues, rates listings with Deal Score, and sells a paid Refundable Tickets option on select events. Compare final totals for the same seats, and add TixBit, which has no fees for buyers, as a third quote.

Comparison	StubHub	SeatGeek	TixBit
Buyer fees	Service and fulfillment fees; no set percentage	Service and marketplace fees, included in price	No fees for buyers
Price shown while shopping	Includes all mandatory fees	All-In Pricing on event pages	What you see is what you pay
Can be added at checkout	Applicable taxes, disclosed before you buy	Taxes, shipping, and optional add-ons	No buyer fees are added
Inventory model	Open marketplace; sellers set prices	Licensed sellers, fans, partners, and box offices	Verified ticket providers and inventory sources
Buyer guarantee	FanProtect Guarantee	Buyer Guarantee	TixBit Guarantee on every order
Canceled event	Refund or credit at its discretion, unless law requires a refund	Original-payment refund or, subject to state law, credit	Comparable replacement tickets or a refund of the order total
Plan changes	Sales final; FanProtect excludes buyer's remorse	Final unless you bought Refundable Tickets	Sales are final unless the event is canceled or another TixBit Guarantee or legal exception applies.
Published support	Help center and order support	Help center and order support	Replies within one business day
Best for	Broad US and international resale inventory	Deal Score shoppers and partner primary tickets	US buyers who want no buyer fees and verified inventory

StubHub vs. SeatGeek fees

StubHub says buyers pay a service fee and a fulfillment fee with no set percentage, adjusted by ticket price, time to the event, event updates, and supply and demand, and that its displayed price includes all mandatory fees. SeatGeek says purchases can include service and marketplace fees, set by SeatGeek or by teams, venues, leagues, and promoters, and its All-In Pricing puts every mandatory fee in the event-page price.

On SeatGeek, taxes, shipping when applicable, and optional add-ons can still be added at checkout. On StubHub, applicable taxes are disclosed before you buy. Because both sites build fees into the price you see, the fair test is the final total for the same date, section, row, quantity, and delivery method.

Inventory and shopping tools

StubHub is an open marketplace where sellers set prices, and it reaches many international events. SeatGeek sells tickets from licensed sellers, other fans, integrated partners, and sometimes a team's box office, so some events show primary and resale tickets together.

SeatGeek's Deal Score rates listings from 1 to 10 using seat location, expected view, availability, historical prices, and comparable listings. StubHub's event pages offer filters and sorting by price. A score is a shortcut, not a verdict, so still read seller notes and restrictions on either site.

Guarantees, cancellations, and refundable options

StubHub's FanProtect Guarantee and SeatGeek's Buyer Guarantee cover the same core promises: tickets arrive in time, work for entry, and match the order, with replacement tickets or a refund as remedies. StubHub can also issue credit, and claims for tickets a venue refuses must be filed within seven days after the event.

For events canceled and not rescheduled, StubHub gives a full refund or credit at its discretion unless law requires a refund, and SeatGeek refunds the original payment method or, subject to state law, issues credit. Neither refunds a change of plans, but SeatGeek's paid Refundable Tickets add-on, where offered, lets you cancel a whole order up to 48 hours before the event.

Delivery

StubHub sellers deliver by the method and date shown with the order. SeatGeek delivers into its own app for many events, through AXS, the MLB Ballpark app, or another venue platform for others, and often releases tickets 24 to 48 hours before the start. On both sites, keep the order email and use the account the transfer requires.

When to pick StubHub

You need an international or hard-to-find event
You want the deepest open resale catalog
Its final total is lower for the same seats

When to pick SeatGeek

You want Deal Score to rank many listings quickly
The team or venue uses SeatGeek for primary tickets
You want the paid Refundable Tickets option on an eligible event
Its final total is lower for the same seats

Where TixBit fits

If you are comparing StubHub and SeatGeek, add TixBit as a third quote. TixBit has no fees for buyers. What you see is what you pay. It sources listings from verified ticket providers and inventory sources, focuses on US events, and backs every order with the TixBit Guarantee.

If an event is canceled and not rescheduled, the TixBit Guarantee provides comparable replacement tickets or a refund of the order total to the original payment method; shipping costs may be excluded unless law requires otherwise. Support replies are targeted within one business day. TixBit's catalog can be smaller for niche or overseas events, so use it as one quote among several and buy wherever the same seats have the lowest final total.

Get a TixBit quote

StubHub vs. SeatGeek FAQs

Is StubHub cheaper than SeatGeek?

Sometimes. Both show prices with mandatory fees included, and sellers set many of the prices, so the cheaper site changes by event and listing. Compare the final total for the same section, row, quantity, and delivery method on both.

Does StubHub or SeatGeek have higher fees?

Neither publishes a fixed buyer fee rate. As of October 15, 2026, StubHub says its service and fulfillment fees have no set percentage, and SeatGeek says its service and marketplace fees vary and are included in the event-page price.

Is SeatGeek or StubHub more reliable?

Both back orders with a guarantee covering on-time delivery, valid entry, and tickets that match the order. StubHub calls its version FanProtect; SeatGeek calls its version the Buyer Guarantee. Read the claim steps and deadlines for the site you use.

Can I get a refund on StubHub or SeatGeek?

For a canceled event, both give a refund or credit under their published policies. For a change of plans, neither refunds a standard order, but SeatGeek sells a Refundable Tickets add-on on select events that allows cancellation up to 48 hours before the start.

Is there a ticket site with no buyer fees?

Yes. TixBit has no fees for buyers, and TickPick says it charges no buyer service fees. Even so, compare the final total for the same seats, because the seller's price can make a no-fee listing more expensive.

Sources reviewed October 15, 2026

Compare the full ticket price

Browse tickets All comparisons