Neither site is cheaper across the board. Vivid Seats and StubHub are both resale marketplaces where independent sellers set the prices, and the same seats often appear on both. What changes from one listing to the next is the fee stack at checkout. The only reliable way to choose is to compare the final total for your exact seats. Vivid Seats has a rewards program and StubHub does not. Below we cover the differences that matter, a method for comparing in about five minutes, and where we fit in.
TL;DR
- Both platforms act as marketplaces, not box offices. Sellers set prices, and buyer fees commonly run 15% to 25% or more on top of the ticket price.
- Vivid Seats Rewards earns you credit toward future tickets. StubHub has no traditional loyalty program.
- Since May 12, 2025, the FTC's fee rule requires live-event ticket sellers to show the total price upfront, so compare totals, not list prices.
- Pay by credit card on any resale site, and add your tickets to your phone wallet before you leave home.
Table of Contents
- How the two marketplaces work
- Vivid Seats vs StubHub at a glance
- Fees: what you actually pay
- Rewards and loyalty
- Buyer protection and safety
- Last-minute buying: delivery matters more than brand
- Which one should you pick?
- Our perspective
- Another option to put in your comparison
- FAQ
- Sources
How the two marketplaces work
StubHub and Vivid Seats do the same basic job. A seller lists tickets, a buyer pays the listed price plus fees, and the platform takes a cut. StubHub's main revenue comes from transaction fees charged on completed sales, and listing is free. That is the standard model for resale marketplaces, and it explains why the checkout total matters more than the number you see in search results.
The District of Columbia Attorney General's 2024 complaint describes StubHub as one of many online exchanges that let consumers buy tickets from third-party sellers. The same description fits Vivid Seats. You are buying from a seller through a platform, which is why the platform's guarantee and fee disclosure are the things to compare.
Vivid Seats vs StubHub at a glance
| Factor | StubHub | Vivid Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Resale marketplace, independent sellers | Resale marketplace, independent sellers |
| Typical buyer fees | 15% to 25% or higher, varies by demand | Similar range, though some reviewers report about 25% shown only late in checkout (a 2021 report, so verify today) |
| Loyalty program | No traditional program | Vivid Seats Rewards: stamps on purchases turn into credit |
| Who it suits | Shoppers who compare totals event by event | Repeat buyers who will use the rewards credit |
| Price-shown rule | Total price must be disclosed upfront under the FTC rule | Same |
Fee percentages are not fixed. They adjust with demand and event specifics, and historically have gone as high as 24% to 44% on major platforms. Treat any number in a comparison article, including this one, as a range and not a quote.
Fees: what you actually pay
Fees are the main reason people search for this comparison, and the honest answer is that neither platform always wins. Experts who compare these sites point out that the same event can appear on several marketplaces at nearly the same time, and the cheaper one depends on the listing.
What the FTC rule changed
The FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect on May 12, 2025. According to the FTC's own guidance, it covers any business that offers or advertises live-event tickets, including third-party platforms and resellers, whether online, in an app or in person. A business that shows pricing must tell you the total price upfront, including all charges it knows about.
In practice, that should end the old surprise where a $100 ticket became $130 on the last screen. It does not make fees smaller. It makes them visible earlier, which makes side-by-side comparison easier.
A worked example
Suppose two tickets for the same game, section and row appear on both sites. These numbers are made up to show the method, not real quotes.
- Site A lists $100 per ticket, total with fees $122 per ticket. Two tickets: $244.
- Site B lists $96 per ticket, total with fees $127 per ticket. Two tickets: $254.
Site B looks cheaper in search and costs $10 more at checkout. That is why you compare the final number, delivery fees and taxes included.
A five-minute comparison routine
- Pick your exact event, date, section and row, not just a price range.
- Open the same listing on both sites, with the same quantity.
- Go to the last screen before payment and note the total with all fees.
- Check the delivery method: mobile transfer, mobile entry or PDF.
- Check seat details. The BBB says a legitimate marketplace should clearly disclose seat locations and delivery methods before you finalize.
- Buy where the total is lowest and the protection terms are clear.
If you want alerts when a price drops, our guide to ticket price alerts and counting every fee walks through the setup.
Rewards and loyalty
This is the clearest feature difference. As of mid-2026, Vivid Seats Rewards lets U.S. users earn stamps on purchases, and a Reward Credit equal to the average value of 10 stamps from previous purchases goes toward future tickets. StubHub has no traditional rewards program.
Whether that matters depends on how often you buy. If you go to a handful of events a year, rewards credit can soften the next purchase. If you buy once or twice a year, a lower total on a single listing is worth more than stamps you may never redeem. Do not choose a site for rewards if its total for your seats is clearly higher.
Buyer protection and safety
Both platforms market a buyer guarantee, and the BBB notes in its resale ticket guidance that major resellers such as StubHub and Vivid Seats are among the sites fans use for last-minute sports tickets and sold-out concerts. A guarantee is only as good as its terms, so read what it covers (invalid tickets, cancelled events, non-delivery) and how to file a claim before you pay.
The general safety rules apply on any site:
- Pay with a credit card. The BBB advises against wire transfers, debit cards, gift cards and peer-to-peer apps, because a credit card keeps your right to dispute a charge if tickets are fake or never arrive.
- Distrust bargains. The BBB lists artificially low prices and high-pressure tactics as common red flags.
- Stay on the platform. Do not move a deal to social media or a text thread because a seller offers a better price.
- Check broker credentials. NBC 5 reports that the BBB suggests checking resources like the National Association of Ticket Brokers.
For a deeper checklist, see our guide to spotting ticket scams and our explainer on verified resale tickets.
Last-minute buying: delivery matters more than brand
When the event is tonight, the question shifts from fees to delivery. Download your mobile tickets and add them to your digital wallet before you leave. Stadium crowds strain cell networks, and troubleshooting at the gate is how people miss the first act.
Before paying, confirm whether the tickets are instant download, a transfer you must accept, or something that arrives later. If it arrives later, make sure the delivery date is before your event with room to spare.
Which one should you pick?
Use this as a decision guide, not a verdict.
- You buy often and want credit back: Vivid Seats, if the total is competitive, because of its rewards program.
- You buy once and want the lowest number: whichever shows the lower all-in total for your exact seats. Check both.
- You want a wider field of comparison: add a third or fourth site, such as SeatGeek, Ticketmaster's resale marketplace or us. Fan forums regularly weigh SeatGeek against Vivid Seats for transparency and delivery.
- You are unsure about legitimacy: pick the option with the clearest guarantee, pay by credit card and read the terms first.
The real mistake is treating the choice as brand loyalty. Dynamic pricing means the same seat can change in price between visits, as we explain in our piece on fighting back against dynamic ticket pricing.
Our perspective
We have sold tickets for more than 20 years, and the pattern we see is simple: fans do not hate resale, they hate surprises. A low price that grows at checkout, a delivery method you did not expect, or a guarantee you cannot understand all feel like a trick, even when they are legal.
So we tell buyers the same thing whether they shop with us or not. Compare the all-in total for the exact seats. Know how the tickets will reach you. Pay by credit card. And choose a seller that stands behind the ticket. Our own answer to that last point is a 100% guarantee on ticket authenticity and delivery, and we built the site so you can filter by city, venue, date and category to see what is on sale near you without hunting.
— Capital City Tickets
Another option to put in your comparison
If you are already running a two-site comparison, add a third tab. Capital City Tickets sells discounted tickets across concerts, sports and theater nationwide, accepts promo codes, and backs purchases with a 100% guarantee on authenticity and delivery. Browse concert tickets, sports tickets or theatre tickets, then compare the total with what you found elsewhere. Our guide to safe resale tickets explains how the guarantee works.
FAQ
Is Vivid Seats cheaper than StubHub?
Not consistently. Experts say neither is universally cheaper, and the lower price depends on the listing. Compare the total at the last checkout screen for the same seats on both.
Are Vivid Seats and StubHub legitimate?
Both are established resale marketplaces, and the BBB names them among the sites fans use for resale tickets. Legitimate does not mean risk-free, so pay by credit card, read the guarantee and avoid taking deals off-platform.
Do StubHub and Vivid Seats show the full price upfront now?
They are required to. The FTC's fee rule, effective May 12, 2025, requires live-event ticket sellers to disclose the total price upfront. Still check the final screen, because delivery options and quantity can change the number.
Does StubHub have a rewards program like Vivid Seats?
Not a traditional one. Vivid Seats Rewards gives stamps on purchases that convert into credit toward future tickets. Programs can change, so confirm current terms on each site.
Sources
- The Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees: FAQ, FTC
- StubHub vs Vivid Seats, Eventsfy
- StubHub, Grokipedia
- Vivid Seats vs StubHub vs SeatGeek Review, TicketsTo
- BBB Tip: What to know about buying tickets from an online reseller
- How to avoid scams as Messi fans scramble for tickets, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
- DC Attorney General complaint against StubHub
- StubHub vs. Ticketmaster vs. SeatGeek vs. Vivid Seats, Extrabux
- Best Resale Site: SeatGeek vs Vivid Seats