Ticketmaster vs. StubHub

Quick answer

Ticketmaster mainly sells primary tickets for event organizers and also runs Verified Resale. StubHub sells resale only. Both show prices with mandatory fees included. For face-value tickets at an on-sale, start with Ticketmaster. For a sold-out event, compare resale totals for the same seats on both sites, and on TixBit, which has no fees for buyers. Neither Ticketmaster nor StubHub is cheaper for every event.

Comparison	Ticketmaster	StubHub	TixBit
Buyer fees	Required fees included in the upfront price	Service and fulfillment fees; no set percentage	No fees for buyers
Price shown while shopping	Upfront price, generally before taxes	Includes all mandatory fees	What you see is what you pay
Can be added at checkout	Taxes unless included; mail or courier delivery	Applicable taxes, disclosed before you buy	No buyer fees are added
Inventory model	Primary sales plus labeled Verified Resale	Open marketplace; sellers set prices	Verified ticket providers and inventory sources
Buyer guarantee	Resale tickets authenticated before sale	FanProtect Guarantee	TixBit Guarantee on every order
Canceled event	Automatic refund; resale follows separate rules	Refund or credit at its discretion, unless law requires a refund	Comparable replacement tickets or a refund of the order total
Plan changes	Refunds only when the organizer offers them	Sales final; FanProtect excludes buyer's remorse	Sales are final unless the event is canceled or another TixBit Guarantee or legal exception applies.
Published support	Chat, email form, and phone with daily hours	Help center and order support	Replies within one business day
Best for	Primary tickets and issuer-native resale	Broad US and international resale inventory	US buyers who want no buyer fees and verified inventory

Primary tickets versus resale

Ticketmaster sells original tickets for event organizers, who set face value, and it also lists fans' tickets for resale. Ticketmaster labels resale before you buy, and the reseller sets that price above or below face value. StubHub is not the ticket seller. It runs a marketplace where sellers set prices, which can be above face value.

That makes Ticketmaster the first stop for an on-sale and StubHub a resale option once an event sells out. Ticketmaster keeps its resale tickets inside its own account system, and on Face Value Exchange listings the artist caps resale at face value. StubHub's open marketplace covers many events Ticketmaster does not ticket, including international dates.

Ticketmaster vs. StubHub fees

Ticketmaster says its upfront price covers face value plus required fees, such as a service fee and any venue facility charge, and is the price you pay, generally before taxes. A delivery fee applies only if you choose mail or courier. Resale fees fund ticket authentication, and Ticketmaster charges no resale fees on Face Value Exchange tickets.

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. Its June 2026 newsroom post says the displayed price includes all mandatory fees. Neither company publishes one resale fee rate, so compare final totals for the same seats rather than fee labels.

Guarantees and canceled events

StubHub's FanProtect Guarantee covers on-time delivery, valid entry, and tickets that match or are comparable to the order, with replacement tickets, a refund, or credit as remedies. For an event canceled and not rescheduled, StubHub provides a full refund or a credit at its discretion, unless law requires a refund. It does not cover buyer's remorse.

Ticketmaster refunds canceled events automatically once the organizer releases funds, usually within 14 to 21 days, but resale and transferred tickets follow separate rules sent by email. For other changes, the organizer decides, and a Request Refund button appears only when refunds are offered.

Delivery and support

Ticketmaster usually delivers resale tickets by Mobile Entry or Print-at-Home. A resale order can take up to 24 hours to appear, and mobile barcodes may unlock three days before the event. Ticketmaster offers signed-in chat, an email form, and a phone line with published hours every day.

On StubHub, the seller delivers by the method and date shown with the order. If that date passes, FanProtect asks you to notify StubHub so it can find the tickets, replace them, or refund the order. StubHub provides a help center and order-specific support.

When to pick Ticketmaster

You want face-value primary tickets at an on-sale
The event is ticketed by Ticketmaster and you want resale in its system
A Face Value Exchange listing is available
Its labeled resale listing has the lower final total

When to pick StubHub

The event is sold out on Ticketmaster
You need an event Ticketmaster does not ticket, including international dates
You want the deepest open resale catalog
Its final total is lower for the same seats

Where TixBit fits

If you are comparing Ticketmaster and StubHub, 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.

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Ticketmaster vs. StubHub FAQs

Is StubHub cheaper than Ticketmaster?

Not reliably. Ticketmaster's primary tickets sell at face value plus fees, while StubHub resale prices are set by sellers and can be higher or lower. For resale, both show prices with mandatory fees included, so compare the final total for the same section, row, and quantity.

What is the difference between Ticketmaster and StubHub?

Ticketmaster is primarily a ticketing company that sells original tickets for event organizers and also hosts labeled Verified Resale. StubHub is a resale marketplace where independent sellers list tickets at prices they set, and StubHub is not the ticket seller.

Does Ticketmaster or StubHub charge higher fees?

Neither publishes one fee rate. As of October 15, 2026, Ticketmaster includes required fees in its upfront price, generally before taxes, and charges no resale fees on Face Value Exchange tickets. StubHub's service and fulfillment fees have no set percentage. Compare final totals instead.

Are resale tickets safer on Ticketmaster or StubHub?

Both protect buyers differently. Ticketmaster keeps resale tickets inside its own system and authenticates them before sale. StubHub backs orders with FanProtect, which offers replacement tickets, a refund, or credit when tickets are late, invalid, or not as ordered.

Can I get a refund from Ticketmaster or StubHub?

For canceled events, yes, with differences. Ticketmaster refunds automatically once the organizer releases funds; resale follows separate rules. StubHub gives a refund or credit at its discretion unless law requires a refund. Neither refunds a change of plans.

Is there an alternative to Ticketmaster and StubHub with no buyer fees?

Yes. TixBit has no fees for buyers and sources listings from verified ticket providers. TickPick also says it charges no buyer service fees. Compare the final total for the same seats, because a no-fee label does not guarantee the lowest price.

Sources reviewed October 15, 2026

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