StubHub vs. Vivid Seats
Quick answer
StubHub and Vivid Seats are both resale marketplaces that show prices with fees included, so neither is cheaper for every event. Vivid Seats builds a service charge and a delivery charge into each price, has sellers confirm every order, and runs a Rewards program. StubHub's service and fulfillment fees have no set percentage, and it reaches more international events. Compare final totals, and add TixBit, which has no fees for buyers, as a third quote.
| Comparison | StubHub | Vivid Seats | TixBit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buyer fees | Service and fulfillment fees; no set percentage | Service and delivery charges included in price | No fees for buyers |
| Price shown while shopping | Includes all mandatory fees | All-In Pricing | What you see is what you pay |
| Can be added at checkout | Applicable taxes, disclosed before you buy | Applicable taxes; optional ticket insurance | No buyer fees are added |
| Inventory model | Open marketplace; sellers set prices | Marketplace; seller confirms each order | Verified ticket providers and inventory sources |
| Buyer guarantee | FanProtect Guarantee | 100% Buyer Guarantee on confirmed orders | TixBit Guarantee on every order |
| Canceled event | Refund or credit at its discretion, unless law requires a refund | Refund less possible restocking fees, or credit | Comparable replacement tickets or a refund of the order total |
| Plan changes | Sales final; FanProtect excludes buyer's remorse | Sales final; no buyer's-remorse refunds | Sales are final unless the event is canceled or another TixBit Guarantee or legal exception applies. |
| Published support | Help center and order support | Phone and online, extended business hours | Replies within one business day |
| Best for | Broad US and international resale inventory | Wide resale catalog with a rewards program | US buyers who want no buyer fees and verified inventory |
StubHub vs. Vivid Seats fees
Vivid Seats says it uses All-In Pricing, with a service charge and a delivery charge included in every ticket price, and its sales terms describe the order total as the ticket price, service and delivery fees, and applicable taxes. Optional ticket insurance is a separate choice.
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. Because both sites build fees into the price you see, compare the final total for the same seats rather than fee labels.
Order confirmation and listing types
Vivid Seats sends each order to the seller to confirm the tickets are still available, and its Buyer Guarantee takes effect once the seller confirms. Some pre-approved sellers list Seat Saver tickets they do not yet hold, guaranteed within the described zone or a comparable section.
StubHub is an open marketplace where sellers set prices and must deliver by the date shown with the order. On either site, check whether a listing names an exact section and row or only a zone, and wait for confirmation before booking travel around the seats.
Guarantees and canceled events
Both guarantee on-time delivery, valid tickets, and seats that match or are comparable to the order. StubHub's remedies are replacement tickets, a refund, or credit. Vivid Seats promises your money back if it cannot deliver valid, comparable tickets in time.
For events canceled with no new date, StubHub gives a full refund or credit at its discretion unless law requires a refund. Vivid Seats refunds the purchase price, including delivery charges and less possible restocking fees, or issues credit, at its discretion, and buyers must return tickets within two weeks of its notice. Neither refunds a change of plans.
Rewards, delivery, and support
Vivid Seats Rewards gives one stamp per ticket, and ten stamps earn a Reward Credit worth their average value. Vivid Seats can deliver up to the event start time and asks buyers to report missing tickets within 48 hours of the start. StubHub sellers deliver by the method and date on the order, and FanProtect asks you to notify StubHub if that date passes.
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 Vivid Seats
- You collect Vivid Seats Rewards stamps
- You want delivery and service charges shown inside each price
- Its delivery option fits your event better
- Its final total is lower for the same seats
Where TixBit fits
If you are comparing StubHub and Vivid Seats, 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.
StubHub vs. Vivid Seats FAQs
Is StubHub or Vivid Seats cheaper?
Neither is cheaper for every event. Both show prices with fees included, and sellers set the underlying prices, so the cheaper site changes by listing. Compare the final total for the same section, row, quantity, and delivery method.
Does Vivid Seats or StubHub charge more fees?
Neither publishes a single buyer fee rate. As of October 15, 2026, Vivid Seats includes a service charge and a delivery charge in each price, and StubHub's service and fulfillment fees have no set percentage and are included in its displayed price.
Which has the better canceled-event policy?
They are similar. StubHub gives a full refund or credit at its discretion unless law requires a refund. Vivid Seats gives a refund less possible restocking fees, or credit, at its discretion, after you return the tickets. TixBit provides comparable replacement tickets or a refund of the order total when an event is canceled and not rescheduled.
Is Vivid Seats legit compared with StubHub?
Both are resale marketplaces with published buyer guarantees. Vivid Seats backs confirmed orders with its 100% Buyer Guarantee, and StubHub backs orders with FanProtect. Read each guarantee's reporting deadlines before you buy.
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. A no-fee label still does not guarantee the lowest total, so compare the same seats across sites.
Sources reviewed
- StubHub Support: StubHub's fees to buy and sell tickets
- StubHub newsroom: Understanding ticket fees (June 4, 2026)
- StubHub FanProtect Guarantee
- StubHub Marketplace Global User Agreement
- Vivid Seats: Are there additional fees? How are fees determined?
- Vivid Seats Buyer Guarantee
- Vivid Seats Terms of Use and US Sales Terms (effective July 22, 2026)
- Vivid Seats Rewards
- TickPick: Are there any additional fees?