Venue Pulse vs Eventbrite: Booking vs Ticketing
Eventbrite is great for ticketing, but venue booking needs a different approach. Here's how Venue Pulse fills the gap.
Venue Pulse vs Eventbrite: Understanding the Difference
Eventbrite and Venue Pulse serve different purposes in the live music ecosystem. Understanding when to use each—or both—can help you run your venue more efficiently.
They Solve Different Problems
Eventbrite is a ticketing platform. It helps you sell tickets to events.
Venue Pulse is venue management software. It helps you book and manage shows before tickets go on sale.
Think of it this way:
- Venue Pulse helps you decide what shows to book
- Eventbrite helps you sell tickets after shows are booked
When You Need Venue Pulse
Use Venue Pulse for:
- Managing your calendar — See availability, holds, and confirmed dates
- Receiving booking requests — Artists and bookers submit through the platform
- Hold management — Track first holds, second holds, and challenges
- Artist discovery — Find artists that fit your venue
- Communication — Keep all booking conversations organized
These are things Eventbrite doesn't do. Eventbrite assumes you've already decided what events to host.
When You Need Eventbrite
Use Eventbrite for:
- Selling tickets — Their core feature
- Event promotion — Eventbrite's discovery features
- Check-in — Scanning tickets at the door
- Payment processing — Collecting ticket revenue
The Cost Comparison
Eventbrite Pricing:
- Free for free events
- 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket for paid events
- Additional fees for certain features
For a 200-person show at $15/ticket:
- Ticket revenue: $3,000
- Eventbrite fees: ~$470
- Net: ~$2,530
Venue Pulse Pricing:
- Free for venues
- No per-ticket fees
- No transaction costs
Can You Use Both?
Absolutely. Many venues use:
- Venue Pulse for booking management (free)
- Eventbrite for ticketing (per-ticket fees)
This gives you professional booking tools without monthly software costs, plus Eventbrite's ticketing infrastructure when you need it.
Alternatives to Eventbrite for Ticketing
If Eventbrite's fees are too high, consider:
- Dice — Artist-friendly, no fees for buyers
- See Tickets — Lower fees for some events
- Your own website — Stripe/Square integration
- Door sales — No fees, but less data
The Bottom Line
Don't think of Venue Pulse vs Eventbrite as either/or. They complement each other:
- Venue Pulse: Free booking and calendar management
- Eventbrite: Ticketing when you need it
Use Venue Pulse to manage your booking workflow, then use whatever ticketing platform makes sense for each show.