Ticketmaster and StubHub are not the same kind of site. Ticketmaster is the primary seller for most big tours and teams, and it also runs its own fan-to-fan resale. StubHub is a pure resale marketplace. During an official on-sale, Ticketmaster is usually the cheapest place to buy. After a show sells out, StubHub (and others) may be the only place with seats, and you will pay for that. The right choice depends on timing, the all-in price at checkout, and how the ticket gets into your hands.
Below we compare the two on fees, inventory, safety, delivery and refunds, then cover SeatGeek and other alternatives, including ours.
TL;DR
- Before and during the on-sale: start at Ticketmaster. It is generally the best starting point for face-value tickets in an official on-sale window.
- After a sellout: resale sites such as StubHub have wider inventory, but buyer fees are often cited at 25% to 40% above the listed price. Compare totals, not listings.
- Fees are no longer an excuse for surprises: since May 12, 2025, a federal rule requires the total price, with mandatory fees, wherever a price is shown.
- Check the delivery format: many entry problems come from transfers and apps, not fake tickets. Confirm the ticket is transferable and that you have the right app before you pay.
Table of Contents
- What each site actually is
- Fees: where the money goes
- Inventory: why StubHub has tickets before Ticketmaster does
- Safety: fake tickets or failed transfers?
- Head-to-head: which one wins by situation
- How SeatGeek and other alternatives fit in
- Our perspective
- Where Capital City Tickets fits
- A quick pre-purchase checklist
- FAQ
- Sources
What each site actually is
Ticketmaster sells tickets directly for venues, teams and promoters. Its exclusive agreements with venues mean that for many arenas it is the only official box office. It also lets fans resell tickets through its own platform, so a Ticketmaster page can show both face-value and resale listings.
StubHub is a secondary marketplace. It does not run the box office. Sellers, from season-ticket holders to professional brokers, list tickets and set their own prices. StubHub takes fees from the transaction. The Federal Trade Commission describes it as the nation's largest ticket exchange and resale ticket provider.
That difference explains most of what readers ask. "Which is cheaper?" really means "is the event still on sale at face value?"
Fees: where the money goes
Both sites add fees on top of the ticket price. Neither has a fixed schedule. One comparison puts primary-market fees around 19% to 27% on average and secondary-market fees around 28% to 31%, but total fees can swing between 13% and 58% depending on the event, demand and timing. Treat any single percentage as a rough guide.
| Ticketmaster (primary) | Ticketmaster resale | StubHub | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seller type | Venue, team or promoter | Fans reselling | Fans and brokers |
| Price basis | Set by the event, including dynamic pricing on some shows | Set by the seller | Set by the seller |
| Buyer fees | Added at checkout, event-specific | Added at checkout | Added at checkout, often higher on in-demand events |
| Best time to use | On-sale and any time face-value seats remain | Sold-out events | Sold-out events, or when a listing beats every other total |
The federal rule that changed price displays
The FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, 2025. It requires live-event ticket sellers to show the total price, meaning the maximum a buyer must pay including mandatory fees, wherever a price is displayed. It was aimed at pricing where fees only appeared at the last checkout screen.
In April 2026 the FTC announced that StubHub would pay $10 million to settle charges that it deceptively advertised ticket prices. That is not a reason to avoid StubHub, but it is a reason to read the final total before you click buy.
How to compare the real price
- Pick the exact section and quantity you want on each site.
- Turn on the all-in or total-price display if the site offers it. Analysts say comparing the all-in price is the only reliable way to find the best value.
- Go to the last checkout screen before payment and write down the total.
- Repeat in a second browser. Fees are dynamic, and the same source notes that totals can differ by device, location or browsing history.
- Buy the lowest total that also has a delivery format you can use.
Our guide to price alerts and counting every fee walks through this habit in more detail.
Inventory: why StubHub has tickets before Ticketmaster does
A common question is why StubHub lists seats hours before Ticketmaster says the show is sold out. Part of the answer is how the market is built. Exclusive deals between venues and primary ticketers can limit what ordinary fans can reach, and USA Today's buying guide notes that brokers or insiders with early access to primary inventory often resell on secondary sites.
Another part is speculative listing. The Government Accountability Office has described how resellers may list tickets they do not yet hold. If the seller fails to get them, your order can be cancelled or delayed. Look for labels such as instant download or mobile transfer, which usually mean the seller already has the ticket.
Brokers can also exploit the primary system. In a federal complaint, the FTC alleged that one operation bypassed purchase limits on more than 2,400 events and resold the tickets on marketplaces including StubHub. That is part of why resale prices on hot shows climb so fast.
Safety: fake tickets or failed transfers?
Most readers worry about counterfeits. Industry experts say the bigger modern risk is the complexity of digital transfers. Many venues require entry through an official app such as Ticketmaster's SafeTix. If you buy on a resale site, make sure you will actually receive the ticket in that app before you pay.
Some shows also restrict resale altogether. A recurring theme in fan threads is a tour with a no-resale or restricted-transfer policy, where a ticket bought from a third party may be refused at the door. Before buying, check the artist's or venue's ticket policy. Likewise, if you might need to resell later, remember that some tickets are nontransferable or locked to a closed-loop app, which can make selling on a competing marketplace difficult or impossible.
The webwiki review of StubHub reaches a measured verdict: it is safe to use, expensive by design, and worth comparison-shopping against the primary seller and other resale marketplaces. We agree with that framing, and it applies equally to Ticketmaster's resale listings.
If you want a refresher on spotting problems, see our U.S. ticket scam checklist and our guide on finding transferable tickets.
Head-to-head: which one wins by situation
| Your situation | Better starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Official on-sale is open, face-value seats available | Ticketmaster | Face value is usually the floor price |
| Event sold out | Compare StubHub, Ticketmaster resale and others | Total price varies a lot by listing |
| Show has a strict transfer or no-resale policy | Official seller only | Third-party tickets risk being refused |
| You want to sell tickets you cannot use | Whichever platform your ticket format allows | Closed-loop tickets may not move to a rival site |
| Day-of or last-minute purchase | Compare several sites | Resale prices often drop as the event nears, though not always |
Our analysis of when to buy concert tickets and how dynamic pricing works explain why a single timing rule does not work for every show.
How SeatGeek and other alternatives fit in
Many readers also ask about SeatGeek, Vivid Seats and similar sites. SeatGeek, like StubHub, is a resale marketplace that typically adds buyer fees at checkout, and one 2026 fee comparison reaches the same advice as for StubHub: the cheapest option depends on the event and the moment. The USA Today guide covers StubHub, SeatGeek and Ticketmaster side by side on fees, delivery and transfers.
The lesson is the same everywhere. Do not trust a listing price. Open two or three sites, reach the final checkout screen on each, and compare the total.
Our perspective
We have sold tickets for more than 20 years, and the most common complaint we hear is not about any one website. It is about surprise. A fan sees a price, gets to the last screen, and the total is a different number. Since the FTC rule, that gap should be smaller, but it has not disappeared, and comparison is still the fan's best tool.
We built Capital City Tickets around a few simple ideas. Show people events across concerts, sports and theater in one place. Let them filter by city, venue, date and category. Support promo codes so a price can come down, not only up. And back every purchase with a 100% guarantee on ticket authenticity and delivery, so that the question "will this actually get me in?" has a clear answer.
We do not think any single site is right for every show. If the official on-sale is open, check it. If it has ended, or the price is out of reach, look at us alongside the others and compare the total.
— Capital City Tickets
Where Capital City Tickets fits
If you are comparing totals after a sellout, add us to the list. We sell concert tickets, sports tickets and theater tickets nationwide, accept promo codes, and offer instant-download options on many events. Our 100% guarantee covers ticket authenticity and delivery. To understand how that works in practice, read our explainer on verified resale tickets and the FTC rule.
A quick pre-purchase checklist
- Confirm the event, date, venue and section before comparing anything else.
- Check whether tickets are face value or resale. Our face-value checks help.
- Look for instant download or mobile transfer labels.
- Confirm the app or delivery method the venue requires.
- Read the refund and guarantee terms before you pay, and compare the final total on at least two sites.
- Keep screenshots of the listing and the confirmation.
FAQ
Is Ticketmaster cheaper than StubHub?
Often, but only while face-value tickets remain. At on-sale, Ticketmaster is usually the floor price. After a sellout, the cheapest option depends on the listing, the fees and the day, so compare totals at checkout.
Is it safe to buy a ticket on StubHub?
It is generally considered safe, but expensive by design, and you should still compare. The bigger risk is often transfer format rather than fakes, so confirm that you will receive the ticket in the app the venue requires. Check the event's resale policy first.
Why does StubHub have tickets before Ticketmaster?
Some listings are from brokers or insiders with early access, and some sellers list tickets they do not yet hold. Seats can appear on resale sites before the primary site shows a sellout. Prefer listings marked as instant download or mobile transfer.
What are good Ticketmaster alternatives?
SeatGeek, Vivid Seats and other resale marketplaces are common choices once an event has sold out, as is our marketplace. None is cheapest every time. Look at the all-in total and the delivery guarantee, and buy from the one that wins on both.
Sources
- FTC: StubHub refunding $10 million in fees after deceptive ticket pricing
- Tixplorer: Ticketmaster vs StubHub (2026)
- USA Today: Your ultimate guide to buying concert tickets online
- Webwiki: Is StubHub Legit? Review, Ratings and Safety Check 2026
- GAO-18-347: Event Ticket Sales
- FTC complaint: Elite Events