Best Ticketing Sites with No Hidden Fees
Hidden fees are the number one frustration for online ticket buyers: an attractive price on the event listing, then service, processing or delivery fees that appear at the last step. The best sites on this criterion are not necessarily those which apply the least fees, but those which make them visible early, so that you know what you are paying before validating. Here is our selection of platforms that highlight transparency, and the method to never be surprised, whatever the site.
Our selection on fee transparency
Editorial selection based on visibility of total before payment, not amount of fees.
“No hidden fees” does not mean “no fees”
A “no hidden fees” platform most often applies fees – this is normal – but it clearly displays them “T0” before validation “T1”. Transparency does not eliminate cost; it removes the surprise. It is this nuance that we value: a ticket office which shows the total including all costs early in the journey deserves more trust than one which reveals it at the very last screen. OWTicket precisely highlights this anticipated display.
Fees to identify before paying
| Type of fees | What it covers | When it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Service fees | Sales and order management | Often in the basket |
| Processing Fees | Payment and ticket issuance | At the payment stage |
| Delivery costs | Depending on the reception mode chosen | Choice of reception mode |
| Resale margin | Deviation set by a third-party seller | Included in the displayed price (resale) |
On a transparent ticketing system, these positions are detailed before validation. Their appearance on the very last screen is a signal of vigilance.
Method to never pay surprise fees
- 1
Note the call price
Locate the price displayed on the event sheet: this is your point of reference.
- 2
Go to summary
Never judge an offer before the payment screen, the only one that binds your card.
- 3
Read the detail line by line
Check that each fee is explained and that the final total is clearly indicated.
- 4
Compare the total, not the call price
Compare the total including all costs of two platforms before choosing.