The Best Ticket Resale Marketplaces for Brokers (2025 Guide)

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Ticket Resale Platform

• Fees & commissions: High seller fees cut into profit. Most large marketplaces charge ~10–15% to sellers. Lower fees increase your net.
• Audience size & reach: Bigger buyer pools (StubHub, Ticketmaster) can sell faster; niche platforms may have fewer buyers but less competition.
• Payment speed: Most pay after the event — typically ~5–8 business days post‑event. Plan cash flow around this.
• Ease of listing & delivery: Primary integrations (e.g., Ticketmaster) enable one‑click listing and automatic transfer. Others may require barcode/PDF upload.
• Event restrictions & fit: Official partner exchanges (NFL/NBA/NHL on Ticketmaster; MLB on StubHub) attract the right buyers and can convert better.
• Unique features: SeatGeek Deal Score, Vivid Rewards, TickPick no buyer fees, Gametime last‑minute tools, etc.
• Buyer trust & protection: Guarantees on big marketplaces improve conversion vs. informal channels (Facebook/Craigslist).

Platform Breakdowns

StubHub

The largest global resale marketplace with strong brand trust and extensive buyer traffic. Official partnerships (e.g., MLB) funnel demand. Competition is high, but reach is unmatched. For brokers, StubHub is often the “default” because it simply moves inventory — especially premium seats and playoff scenarios. The downside is higher seller fees and high buyer fees (which impact checkout competitiveness). Pricing tools and historical sales data help you position listings intelligently.

• Fees: ~15% seller commission; high buyer fees.
• Payout: ~5–8 business days after event.
• Notes: Robust pricing tools, auto‑pricing; great for hot events and maximum exposure.

Ticketmaster Exchange (Verified Resale)

Ticketmaster’s fan‑to‑fan resale displays directly on the event page. For tickets in your TM account, listing is often one click and delivery is auto-transfer — making it the lowest-friction path for many sports teams (NFL/NBA/NHL) and large tours that allow resale. Some events enforce price caps (face value only) — in those cases, TM is about recouping cost rather than profit. When caps don’t apply, TM’s built-in audience (fans who never leave the primary site) can convert at high rates.

• Fees: ~10–15% to sellers (varies by event/partner); some face‑value‑only policies apply.
• Payout: ~7 business days post‑event.
• Notes: One‑click listing if tickets are in TM; enormous audience for partner events.

Vivid Seats

Top‑tier marketplace with heavy U.S. buyer traffic and strong loyalty program (9% credit for buyers). Slightly lower seller fees than StubHub; manual transfer is typical. Vivid’s rewards ecosystem builds repeat buyers, which can improve sell-through, and for some events the Vivid market runs hotter (higher prices) than competitors — worth checking comps before listing.

• Fees: ~10% to sellers.
• Payout: ~7 business days post‑event.
• Notes: Great all‑around option; fewer official team partnerships than TM/StubHub.

SeatGeek

Mobile‑first marketplace with Deal Score and an excellent browsing experience. Requires uploading a file/barcode to list in many cases; shines when you can deliver instantly from an upload. Deal Score surfaces well-priced inventory, so smart pricing can vault your listing to the top. SeatGeek’s audience skews younger and highly mobile, which is useful for concerts, festivals, and MLS/NFL teams on SeatGeek Enterprise.

• Fees: ~10% to sellers.
• Payout: Typically 3–7 days post‑event (ACH).
• Notes: Strong for concerts/festivals; Deal Score can boost competitively priced listings.

TickPick

Buyer‑friendly “no fees” at checkout. You pay ~10% seller fee; listings can still appear cheaper to buyers vs. fee‑heavy sites, which can increase conversion and your net. Because buyers see an all‑in price up front, you can often list slightly higher and still win the all‑in comparison — powerful for maximizing proceeds without scaring off buyers with add‑on fees.

• Fees: ~10% to sellers; no buyer fees (all‑in pricing).
• Payout: ~3–5 days post‑event.
• Notes: Bidding/offers; good for maximizing net on fee‑sensitive buyers.

Lysted (Distribution Tool)

A multi‑channel distribution platform (not a buyer marketplace) that lists and syncs your inventory across major sites with auto‑delist on sale, bulk tools, delivery automations, and centralized order tracking. For teams running significant volume, this reduces manual errors, prevents double‑selling, and speeds response times for market-driven repricing.

• Best for: Multi‑listing at scale; operational efficiency; consolidating payouts/fulfillment workflows.

Other Resale Options

Gametime: Last‑minute mobile buyers; screenshot upload; pricing automation; ~10% seller fee; post‑event payout.

Facebook Groups/Marketplace: 0% fees and instant payment possible, but higher scam risk; you manage delivery/payment.

Craigslist / Local classifieds / CashorTrade: Useful for local or face‑value exchanges; minimal/no fees, but manual work and safety considerations.

General Marketplace Considerations (2025)

• Delivery types: Mobile transfer vs. barcode upload vs. PDF. For rotating barcodes (Ticketmaster/Axs), prefer official transfers to minimize invalid scans and penalties.
• Instant delivery: “Instant” listings convert better; enable auto‑delivery where allowed.
• All‑in pricing: Buyer‑ vs. seller‑fee models change where you’re most competitive at checkout.
• Price floors/caps: Official exchanges may enforce rules; check event resale policy.
• Multi‑listing safety: Use a distributor (e.g., Lysted) or strict process to delist instantly after a sale (webhooks/alerts).
• Payout timing: Most pay post‑event in ~3–8 business days; plan cash flow accordingly.
• Taxes & reporting: Track profits and 1099‑K (or local equivalents) and keep fee records.

Which Platform Should You Use? (Real Scenarios)

• Sold‑out arena concert (2 months out): Start with StubHub for reach and Vivid/SeatGeek for margin. Price high early; monitor comps weekly and tighten spread as show nears.
• NFL/NBA season tickets: If the team uses Ticketmaster Exchange, list there first for frictionless delivery and trusted buyer flow. Multi‑list if allowed by terms; delist instantly on sale.
• Festival GA passes: Audience skews to SeatGeek and TickPick. Upload PDFs/screenshots for instant delivery; position for Deal Score and no‑fee all‑in advantage.
• Last‑minute local event (48 hours): Add Gametime for day‑of mobile buyers; enable instant delivery and consider dynamic undercutting.
• Thin‑margin tickets: Prioritize SeatGeek/Vivid/TickPick to reduce seller fees. Optimize buyer all‑in vs. fee‑heavy sites.

Pricing Math: Net Proceeds Examples

Assume a buyer’s all‑in willingness is roughly $120 for a given seat. Here’s how your net can differ:

• StubHub (~15% seller fee; buyer fees ~25–30%): To keep buyer near $120 all‑in, you might list at ~$95 (buyer pays ~25% fees → ~$119). Your net ≈ $95 × 0.85 = $80.75.
• SeatGeek/Vivid (~10% seller fee; similar buyer fees): List ~$100 (buyer sees ~25% fees → ~$125). Your net ≈ $100 × 0.90 = $90.
• TickPick (~10% seller; no buyer fees): List ~$120 (buyer pays $120). Your net ≈ $120 × 0.90 = $108.

Result: TickPick can net materially more at the same buyer all‑in willingness. However, if TickPick demand is lower for the event, StubHub’s audience might sell faster at a slightly lower net. Use data to balance speed vs. profit.

A Simple Multi‑Listing Workflow

1. Check comps across StubHub, Ticketmaster, Vivid, SeatGeek, TickPick. Note section/row medians and instant‑delivery premiums.
2. Set tiered prices: list slightly higher on no‑fee buyer platforms (TickPick), competitive on SeatGeek/Vivid, and coverage on StubHub for reach.
3. Enable instant delivery wherever possible (upload PDFs/barcodes; connect accounts for auto‑transfer).
4. Automate repricing daily/weekly as the event approaches (manual or with tools). Watch inventory velocity.
5. Delist instantly on all other platforms at the moment of sale (use Lysted or strict notifications/process).
6. Post‑event reconciliation: confirm payouts, fees, and track true profit for future pricing models.

Compliance, Risk, and Best Practices

• Know local laws: Some regions cap resale pricing or restrict transfer methods. Face‑value exchanges may be mandatory.
• Avoid screenshots for rotating barcodes until stable; prefer official transfers to minimize invalid scans and penalties.
• Protect accounts: Follow platform terms; repeated cancellations or invalid deliveries risk bans and clawbacks.
• Document everything: Store order IDs, transfer confirmations, and payout proofs for audits and disputes.
• Taxes: Track proceeds, fees, and cost basis. Expect forms (e.g., 1099‑K) at threshold. Use accounting tools to reconcile.

Comparison Table

StubHub vs. SeatGeek — Which Is Better?

StubHub vs. SeatGeek is often a trade‑off of audience size vs. fees. StubHub gets more eyeballs (and may sell faster) but charges ~15% to sellers and high buyer fees. SeatGeek’s ~10% seller fee helps you net more, and Deal Score can surface competitively priced listings — but its buyer pool is smaller than StubHub’s for some events.

• Choose StubHub for maximum exposure, hot events, and official partnerships.
• Choose SeatGeek when lower fees improve margins and you can upload tickets for instant delivery.
• Smart approach: Multi‑list and delist instantly on sale (or use a distributor like Lysted).

FAQs

• When do I get paid? Most platforms pay after the event within ~3–8 business days. Some broker tools offer earlier payouts for a fee/risk model.
• Can I list without a barcode? Ticketmaster Exchange allows one‑click listing from your account. SeatGeek/Gametime often require barcode or file at listing.
• Is multi‑listing allowed? Yes, but you must delist instantly after a sale to avoid double‑selling (use Lysted or vigilant alerts).
• What about face‑value restrictions? Some events enforce face‑value caps on official exchanges. If profit is the goal and caps apply, consider alternate platforms where permitted by law.
• Which platform is “best”? Depends on your priority: reach (StubHub), integration (Ticketmaster), lower fees (SeatGeek/Vivid/TickPick), last‑minute demand (Gametime). Often, the best is “several.”

Maximizing Profit: Practical Tips

• Favor lower‑fee platforms when buyer demand is sufficient (SeatGeek, Vivid, TickPick).
• Optimize all‑in price: On no‑fee‑to‑buyer sites (TickPick), you may list higher and still be most competitive at checkout.
• Time the market: List early at a premium; adjust as supply/demand shift; consider last‑minute surges.
• Use analytics: Compare marketplaces and trend data (e.g., with ProTickets) to decide where you’ll net the most.
• Multi‑list safely: Use syncing tools or strict processes to prevent double‑selling.

Bottom Line

There’s no single “best” marketplace. Choose based on your priority: reach (StubHub), convenience and official integrations (Ticketmaster Exchange), lower fees and loyal buyers (Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, TickPick), or last‑minute demand (Gametime). Use multiple marketplaces when appropriate and lean on data to make informed, profitable decisions.