Overview

Ticketbud is an event registration and ticketing platform for organizers running everything from school and nonprofit events to festivals and hybrid programs. It suits teams that want flexible event pages, multiple ticket types, and mobile check-in without requiring attendees to create accounts. Its broad integrations and unlimited events and ticket types are useful foundations, though paid-ticket fees should factor into the budget.

Key features

Organizers can build mobile-optimized event pages with images, video, ticket options, maps, and social links. Unlimited events and ticket types make the platform a workable fit for recurring programs and larger campaigns, rather than imposing a stated event-count ceiling.

The free iOS and Android check-in app scans tickets or finds attendees by name. It can also work offline after the attendee database is downloaded, a practical safeguard at venues with unreliable connectivity. Ticketbud supports QR or barcode tickets, attendee data import, badge customization, and both printing modes.

Ticketbud connects with Zoom, Salesforce, Zapier, SSO, Stripe, PayPal, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and Refund Protect. A beta API provides another route for connecting services, but its beta status makes it a less settled integration path. Organizers retain ownership and access to attendee and ticketing data; Ticketbud says it does not sell that data. The company says the platform uses SSL, payment processing follows PCI DSS standards, and it is GDPR compliant.

Attendees can register or buy without creating Ticketbud accounts. Organizers can choose daily, weekly, or monthly payouts through their payment provider. Support is available by email and phone Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm CST, alongside help-center and tutorial resources. Rentable event hardware is limited to US-based customers.

Pricing

Ticketbud uses a freemium model, with separate terms for free and paid events. Free Events costs 0.00 USD per free and includes complete access to all features, making it the clearest fit for organizers who do not charge admission.

Paid Events costs 0.00 USD per free, but attendees pay 2% +99c per ticket sold, plus a payment processor fee of 2.9% + 30c per ticket. The organizer may absorb the fees, so the choice is whether to pass those costs to buyers or account for them in event finances.

Non-profit & Schools also costs 0.00 USD per free. Its ticketing fee is 1.75% +99c per ticket sold, alongside a 2.9% + 30c payment processor fee; organizers may absorb the fees. This lower ticketing percentage makes it the more relevant paid-event option for qualifying schools and nonprofits, though the processor charge remains.

Custom & White Label has custom pricing for organizers with custom ticketing or white-label requirements. No attendee quotas or event caps are stated for these plans; unlimited events and ticket types are supported.

Platforms

Ticketbud supports web, Android, and iOS, plus an API. The mobile apps matter most for event-day scanning, while the beta API is aimed at teams connecting Ticketbud to other services. Rentable hardware is available only to US customers.

Who it's for

Ticketbud is a strong match for organizers who need ticketing across varied event formats, want control of their attendee data, and value offline-capable check-in. Schools and nonprofits have a lower ticketing fee option. Teams that require a mature API, support outside weekday business hours, or rentable hardware outside the US should weigh those constraints before choosing it.

Pros and cons

Pro: Unlimited events and ticket types support recurring schedules and broad ticket structures without a stated count cap.
Pro: Offline check-in after downloading attendee data helps teams keep scanning when venue connectivity drops.
Pro: Attendees need no account to register or purchase, reducing a step for ticket buyers.
Con: Paid tickets incur both a platform ticketing fee and a payment processor fee, even on the school and nonprofit option.
Con: The API is in beta, so teams relying on a stable integration surface may prefer another route.
Con: Phone and email support operates only Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm CST.
Con: Rentable hardware is restricted to US-based customers.

Alternatives

For self-hosting and open-source software, choose Indico: its 0.00 USD per free plan is self-hosted, with no pricing plans stated. If you need a defined free-event capacity and session limits, Zoho Backstage offers 100 attendees, 300 RSVP invites, three sessions, three speakers, and one event day per event on its free plan; it also has a free trial.

For badge-centered workflows, CredsNow offers a free account with unlimited badge designs, events, and data loading, plus unlimited check-in screens. Eventbrite is another freemium option; its free event publishing includes unlimited publishing, no ticketing fees on free tickets, and no size cap for free events.

If a small event fits your needs, EventTitans Abstract Management has a free tier for 100 attendees, three sessions, and three speakers, with a 2.5% + 1$ fee on ticket price. EventX may suit a single-user setup capped at 30 attendees per event; its free plan includes unlimited events, tickets and registration forms, check-in, and badge printing. For a free plan capped at 50 attendees, Micepad includes QR code check-in, seating charts, and basic reports.

For larger registration limits, Accelevents offers a Professional plan for one event and 500 registrants, with custom pricing; its Business plan allows unlimited events and 2,000 registrants, also at custom pricing.

For related categories, browse Event Badge Printing Software or Event Management Software.

Verdict

Ticketbud is a sensible choice for organizers who need flexible ticketing, attendee-data ownership, and mobile check-in that can continue offline. Its unlimited event and ticket-type capacity and broad event coverage are compelling; the main reason to look elsewhere is the combined ticketing and processing fees on paid events, or a need for a non-beta API, broader support hours, or hardware outside the US.

	QRGATE	Ticketbud
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	€129/mo	Free
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Web	Android, api, iOS, Web
Free plan	No	Yes
Event formats	in-person	—
Registration forms	Yes	—
Onsite check-in	Yes	Yes
Attendee email	Yes	—
Exhibitor tools	Yes	—

QRGATE vs Ticketbud

QRGATE

Ticketbud