Best ticketing system for independent venues

Same formula as the main leaderboard, but the Features category only counts what independent music and event venues typically need: Reserved Seating, Box Office / POS, Mobile Scanning, Embeddable / White-Label Checkout, Email Marketing, Concessions / Merch POS, Flexible / Pre-Event Payouts.

AllK-12College/UniversityCommunity TheatreDance StudiosMusic EnsemblesPACsIndependent Venues

Top pick: Ludus (90/100). Runner-up: VenuePilot (87).

  1. 1

    Ludus

    All-in-one ticketing for schools, theaters and performing arts groups.

    K-12Community TheatrePACsNonprofitsDance StudiosCollege/UniversityMusic EnsemblesIndependent Venues
    90score
  2. 2

    VenuePilot

    Booking, ticketing and box office for independent venues at a flat $0.75 per online ticket; NIVA conference sponsor.

    Independent Venues
    87score
  3. 3

    TicketSpice

    Low flat-fee ticketing from Webconnex.

    General eventsFestivals
    86score
  4. 4

    TicketLeap

    Free-to-organizer ticketing when buyers pay fees.

    General eventsK-12College/University
    85score
  5. 5

    BookTix

    All-in-one ticketing built for community theaters.

    Community TheatrePACsDance Studios
    84score
  6. 6

    Ticket Tailor

    Flat per-ticket pricing; bring your own payment processor.

    General eventsIndependent VenuesFestivals
    83score
  7. 7

    Humanitix

    Nonprofit-owned ticketing that donates its profits to charity.

    NonprofitsGeneral eventsK-12
    82score
  8. 8

    Seat Yourself

    Low-cost online ticketing for schools, churches and nonprofit theaters.

    K-12Community TheatreNonprofits
    82score
  9. 9

    CrowdWork

    Ticketing, classes and marketing for comedy and improv theatres, clubs and festivals.

    Community TheatreIndependent VenuesFestivals
    82score
  10. 10

    Universe

    Ticketmaster-owned self-serve ticketing.

    General eventsFestivals
    80score
  11. 11

    Tix

    Box office and online ticketing software and services.

    Community TheatrePACsIndependent Venues
    80score
  12. 12

    Hometown Ticketing

    Ticketing and event management for schools.

    K-12Athletics
    80score
  13. 13C

    CUR8

    Ticketing, streaming and production management for schools and theaters.

    K-12Community Theatre
    79score
  14. 14

    SimpleTix

    Self-serve ticketing for theatres, schools, festivals, memberships and attractions.

    Community TheatreK-12FestivalsIndependent Venues
    79score
  15. 15

    Ticketbud

    Self-serve event ticketing and registration with no contracts or pricing tiers.

    General eventsFestivalsNonprofitsConferences
    78score
  16. 16

    GoFan

    Digital ticketing for high school athletics and activities (PlayOn).

    K-12Athletics
    76score
  17. 17

    Eventbrite

    Self-serve ticketing with a large consumer discovery marketplace.

    General eventsFestivalsConferencesIndependent Venues
    75score
  18. 18Y

    Yapsody

    Self-serve event ticketing with transparent per-ticket pricing and bring-your-own gateway.

    General eventsIndependent VenuesFestivals
    75score
  19. 19

    Prekindle

    Ticketing and marketing platform for venues and promoters; NIVA conference sponsor.

    Independent Venues
    75score
  20. 20

    TeachTix

    Simple, affordable ticketing and streaming for schools and community groups.

    K-12Community Theatre
    75score
  21. 21

    Tickets to the City

    Free-to-organization ticketing for community theatre.

    Community TheatrePACsNonprofits
    75score
  22. 22

    ThunderTix

    Flat per-ticket box office software for venues with reserved seating.

    Community TheatrePACsK-12Dance Studios
    75score
  23. 23

    Arts People (Neon One)

    Performing arts box office and CRM from Neon One.

    Community TheatrePACsNonprofitsMusic Ensembles
    74score
  24. 24

    On The Stage

    Ticketing, marketing and fundraising for theaters and live arts.

    Community TheatrePACsK-12Dance StudiosCollege/UniversityIndependent Venues
    73score
  25. 25

    Stubs.net

    Tiered per-ticket pricing for venues, festivals and charity events.

    Independent VenuesFestivalsNonprofitsGeneral events
    70score
  26. 26

    Afton Tickets

    Online ticketing, box office and on-site equipment for festivals, fairs and live events.

    FestivalsFairsGeneral eventsIndependent Venues
    69score
  27. 27

    Freshtix

    Flat per-ticket ticketing with reserved seating and a box office app.

    Independent VenuesFestivalsGeneral events
    68score
  28. 28

    DRT Performance Tix

    Free-to-studio recital ticketing; buyers pay one all-inclusive fee.

    Dance StudiosIndependent Venues
    66score
  29. 29

    InstantSeats

    Ticketing, box office, patron CRM and email marketing for clubs, theaters and festivals.

    Independent VenuesCommunity TheatreFestivals
    66score
  30. 30

    Etix

    Contract-based ticketing for venues, fairs and attractions.

    Independent VenuesFairsPACs
    57score
  31. 31

    HoldMyTicket

    Ticketing, mobile box office and email marketing for venues, festivals and promoters.

    Independent VenuesFestivalsPACsGeneral events
    56score
  32. 32

    Purplepass

    Event ticketing with published per-ticket fees, reserved seating and 24/7 support.

    General eventsK-12Independent Venues
    55score
  33. 33

    Spektrix

    Ticketing, CRM and fundraising for arts organizations.

    Community TheatrePACsNonprofitsCollege/UniversityMusic Ensembles
    53score
  34. 34

    VBO Tickets

    White-label ticketing, CRM and POS for performing arts, museums, campuses and live events.

    Community TheatrePACsCollege/UniversityFestivalsIndependent Venues
    53score
  35. 35

    Opendate

    Booking, ticketing, marketing and settlements in one platform for independent venues; NIVA conference sponsor.

    Independent VenuesPACs
    53score
  36. 36EU

    Eventim US

    CTS EVENTIM's US ticketing (formerly See Tickets US) for venues, promoters and festivals.

    Independent VenuesFestivals
    49score
  37. 37

    DICE

    Mobile-first ticketing and discovery for music events.

    Independent VenuesFestivalsGeneral events
    47score
  38. 38

    Seat Engine

    Ticketing, websites and email marketing for comedy clubs and live venues.

    Independent VenuesFestivals
    46score
  39. 39

    AudienceView Professional

    Formerly OvationTix; subscription or per-ticket plans.

    Community TheatrePACsCollege/University
    42score
  40. 40

    TixTrack (Nliven)

    Enterprise reserved-seating ticketing and box office for theatres and performing arts centers.

    PACs
    41score
  41. 41

    accesso ShoWare

    Cloud venue ticketing for box office, online, mobile and call center.

    Independent VenuesArenasPACs
    39score
  42. 42

    Tixr

    Ticketing and commerce for venues, festivals and live events.

    Independent VenuesFestivals
    37score
  43. 43

    Ticketmaster (TM1)

    Enterprise ticketing for large venues, teams and promoters.

    Independent VenuesArenasFestivalsCollege/University
    32score
  44. 44

    SquadUP

    White-label ticketing and mobile app used by clubs and venues; NIVA '26 sponsor.

    Independent Venues
    31score
  45. 45TM

    Theatre Manager (Arts Management Systems)

    Installed venue management, ticketing and fundraising software from Calgary-based Arts Management Systems.

    PACsCommunity Theatre
    27score
  46. 46A

    AXS

    Enterprise ticketing for arenas, theaters and venues of all sizes; NIVA '25 sponsor.

    Independent VenuesPACs
    21score
  47. 47

    PatronManager

    Salesforce-native ticketing, CRM and fundraising for arts organizations (part of the Ticketure family).

    PACsCollege/UniversityMusic Ensembles
    20score