Skiddle vs Ticketmaster: Which ticketing platform is right for your event?
Choosing the right ticketing platform isn’t about finding the most convenient option. It’s about getting your event in front of the right people, getting the support you need when you need it, and, most importantly, picking a platform where you know you’ll sell tickets.
While Ticketmaster is built primarily for massive stadium tours and arena entertainment, Skiddle is built to handle any kind of event. Whether you run weekly club nights, local gigs, multi-stage summer festivals, or independent attractions, Skiddle combines simple, powerful ticketing tools with a massive UK event guide to help you pack your venue and make a profit.
6.5 Million
UK consumers use Skiddle to discover events
3.6 Million
Users active on the Skiddle app
97%
Promoters who renew their contract with Skiddle every year
Skiddle
Skiddle gives you straightforward ticketing tools, easy marketing features, and real help from a UK-based team to make sure your shows run smoothly. We put your brand first, giving you full access to your sales data and flexible ways to get your ticket money early so you can keep your business running on your own terms.
Additionally, our app, push notifications, email alerts, and personalised recommendations work together to get your events in front of active ticket buyers right across the country.
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is a global powerhouse that dominates stadium sports, arena pop tours, and West End theatre productions.
Because they focus entirely on the biggest names on the planet, their platform is geared toward massive corporate accounts and arena tours. This means independent festivals, unique live experiences, and growing promotions risk being completely hidden. If you aren’t filling a stadium, your event can easily get overshadowed by those with bigger names.
Trusted by organisers across the UK
"We use Skiddle to sell tickets across all of our events & festivals, and would highly recommend their services to any event organiser. The easy-to-use back-end dashboard, sign-up campaign options and direct account manager support make the whole ticketing process very easy."
Glorious Day Festival
The audience reach gap
Ticketmaster is great for stadium tours, but its massive marketplace makes it incredibly hard for growing promoters to get noticed. On Ticketmaster, mid-sized shows and local gigs easily get buried under the noise of announcements from massive pop stars.
Skiddle fixes this problem. Our millions of monthly visitors come to our site specifically to discover a wide variety of events – from indie gigs and comedy nights to multi-genre summer festivals. Instead of forcing you to compete with global arena acts for attention, Skiddle puts your show directly in front of event-goers who are looking for exactly the type of events you organise.
5 reasons UK promoters choose Skiddle over Ticketmaster
Reach people looking for events you run
Your next customer might not follow you on social media or be on your mailing list just yet. Skiddle solves this by putting your show in front of an active audience searching for live experiences, ensuring your listing never gets hidden behind stadium-scale entertainment.
Turn browsers into ticket buyers
We give you practical features that actually sell tickets. From automated alerts that notify fans the second their favourite artists or event brands announce a show, to our official Spotify integration that matches your lineup with local listeners, Skiddle makes it easy to capture fan interest instantly.
Support from people who know events
Paying for venue hire, artist deposits, and upfront marketing requires real cash. While Ticketmaster holds onto your ticket money until well after the show is completely over, Skiddle offers flexible payout options. This means you can get your cash as tickets sell to keep your cash flow moving when you need it most.
Fair, transparent fees that protect your brand
Ticketmaster is heavily criticised by consumers for unexpected checkout fees, dynamic pricing spikes, and hidden delivery charges. Skiddle provides clear, transparent booking fees that scale fairly with ticket prices, protecting your brand from fan backlash while keeping your entry prices accessible.
Access your ticket revenue as you sell
Scaling an event or launching a multi-stage festival requires upfront capital for artist deposits and marketing. While Ticketmaster holds your ticket revenue until well after the event concludes, Skiddle offers flexible payout options that allow you to access your funds as tickets are sold, keeping your cash flow moving when you need it most.
Skiddle Vs Ticketmaster: Feature by Feature
| Feature |
|
Ticketmaster |
| Brand Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Push Notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Cool Off (72hr Refund) | Yes | No |
| Customer App | Yes | Yes |
| WhatsApp/SMS alerts | Yes | No |
| Spotify Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Same-Day Remittance Payments | Yes | No |
| White Label Ticketing | Yes | No |
| Skiddle Reps (Affiliate Marketing) | Yes | No |
| Dedicated In-house Marketing Team | Yes | Yes |
Questions about our features or bespoke requirements? Book a call with our team
Switching from Ticketmaster is simple
Most promoters completed the switch within a working day. There’s nothing to lose by trying – it’s free to list your event, and there are no listing fees or contracts to sign.
Register your account
Create your free Promotion Centre account and start listing events in minutes.
Takes 30 seconds
Create an event
Take advantage of free tools to build and promote your events.
Takes 30 seconds
Start selling tickets
Publish your event and begin selling tickets free of charge.
Takes 30 seconds
Register your account
Create your free Promotion Centre account and start listing events in minutes.
Takes 30 seconds
Create an event
Take advantage of free tools to build and promote your events.
Takes 30 seconds
Start selling tickets
Publish your event and begin selling tickets free of charge.
Takes 30 seconds
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sell tickets on Skiddle?
When do organisers receive ticket revenue?
Can I customise my event page?
Can I sell tickets on the door with Skiddle?
Is Skiddle only for music events?
Does Skiddle help promote my event?