FacilEvents vs Eventbrite
The Eventbrite alternative for community organisations
FacilEvents gives gyms, churches, schools and clubs their own branded ticket site — with QR check-in, a box office and food redemption for the event day — and the money lands directly in the organisation's own SumUp or Stripe account. Eventbrite is a marketplace; this is your own shop.
Side by side
An honest comparison — each tool wins at what it was built for.
| Eventbrite | FacilEvents | |
|---|---|---|
| Where tickets are sold | A listing on the Eventbrite marketplace, in their branding | Your OWN branded site — your name, colours and domain |
| Fees | Per-ticket service fees on paid tickets, usually added at checkout (check their current pricing) | £19.99/month + 1% of ticket sales, deducted automatically at payment. Buyers see no added fees |
| When you receive the money | Held by the platform and paid out on their schedule, typically after the event | Instantly — buyers pay straight into your own SumUp or Stripe account. We never hold funds |
| Door check-in | Check-in app for organisers | QR check-in built for untrained volunteers, several phones scanning in parallel |
| Box office for walk-ins | Not aimed at on-the-door sales of tickets plus food | Tap-friendly POS for tickets, food and drinks at the door |
| Food & drink redemption | Not available | QR food vouchers redeemed at the counter — no double-serving |
| Marketplace audience | Discovery from people browsing Eventbrite — genuinely useful for public one-off events | No marketplace: your buyers come from your own community and channels |
| Church giving / Gift Aid | Not available | Tithes & offerings page with UK Gift Aid capture and HMRC-ready export — 0%, always free |
Choose Eventbrite when…
- Your event is a one-off open to the general public
- You want discovery from people browsing a marketplace
- You only need ticket sales — no door, counter or volunteer tooling
Choose FacilEvents when…
- You run recurring events for a community that already knows you
- You want your own brand, site and domain — not a marketplace listing
- Event day needs check-in, box office and a food counter run by volunteers
- You want the money in YOUR account the second someone pays
- You are a church and want giving with UK Gift Aid at 0%
Frequently asked questions
Is FacilEvents cheaper than Eventbrite?
For recurring paid events, usually yes: FacilEvents costs £19.99/month plus 1% of ticket sales, with no per-ticket fees added at checkout. Eventbrite charges per-ticket service fees on paid tickets (typically a percentage plus a fixed amount per ticket — check their current pricing). The more tickets you sell across the year, the more the flat model tends to win.
Do my buyers need an account to purchase tickets?
No. Buyers pay as guests on your site and receive their QR ticket by email. There is no marketplace account, no app to install and no upselling to other events.
When do I actually receive the ticket money?
At the moment of each sale. Payments go directly into your organisation’s own SumUp or Stripe account — FacilEvents never receives or holds your money. There is no payout schedule to wait for.
Can I switch from Eventbrite mid-season?
Yes. Your FacilEvents site is live the day you register, so a common path is to run your next event on FacilEvents while past events stay archived on Eventbrite. There is no data lock-in on our side: you can export everything.
When is Eventbrite the better choice?
If your event is a one-off aimed at the general public and you want discovery from people browsing a marketplace, Eventbrite’s audience is a real advantage. FacilEvents is built for organisations whose buyers already know them — gyms, churches, schools, clubs — and who run events repeatedly.
Try it on your next event
Register, connect your own SumUp or Stripe account, and publish your first event — your branded site is live in a day.
No card needed. £19.99/month + 1% after the trial.
Last updated: 11 August 2026