SeatGeek vs StubHub: How Do They Compare?

Short answer: SeatGeek and StubHub are separate companies, and neither is cheaper or safer for every event. StubHub is a resale marketplace. SeatGeek is also a resale marketplace, and for some leagues and venues it is the primary ticketing platform as well. Both publish a buyer guarantee that covers late, invalid or wrong tickets and events that are cancelled and not rescheduled. The useful comparison is the same ticket, for the same date, at the complete current total on each site.

SeatGeek vs StubHub at a glance

These are the terms each company publishes at the time of writing. Read the current version at checkout, because the order is governed by what you accept there.

Who is actually selling the ticket?

On StubHub, a listing comes from a seller who holds the ticket or has been officially allocated it. StubHub says speculative listings, meaning tickets the seller does not own, are against its seller policies, and that sellers are paid only after the event.

SeatGeek describes its sellers as licensed sellers, other SeatGeek customers, integrated partners and sometimes the team's box office. So a SeatGeek listing might be resale or might be primary, depending on the event. Its help centre calls SeatGeek the primary ticketing platform for a number of leagues and venues, and a marketplace for everyone else.

That distinction matters more than the brand. A primary ticket and a resale ticket for the same show are different products, with different pricing and sometimes different delivery.

Is SeatGeek cheaper than StubHub?

There is no general answer. Resale prices are set by sellers and move with demand, and SeatGeek's own help centre says secondary-market prices can fall below face value or rise well above it. Two sellers listing similar seats on two marketplaces can land either way round, and the gap can flip within a day.

In the US, both sites must show mandatory fees in the upfront price (the fees guide covers the rule). SeatGeek says its displayed price already includes all mandatory fees, with taxes, shipping and optional services added at checkout where they apply.

So compare order summaries, not headline numbers:

• Same ticket quantity, section, row and seat type.
• Same currency, and any conversion cost.
• Taxes, delivery charges and any add-ons you selected.
• The time you checked, because either listing can change or disappear.

Buyer protection side by side

Both guarantees cover the same core failures: tickets that arrive late, do not get you in, or are not what you ordered.

SeatGeek's Buyer Guarantee says that when one of those happens, SeatGeek may provide comparable or better replacement tickets or offer a refund, depending on the situation. It lists what is generally not covered: mistaken purchases, personal schedule changes, lineup changes that are not cancellations, being refused entry under venue rules, and travel or hotel costs.

StubHub's FanProtect Guarantee promises tickets that arrive in time and are valid for entry, a comparable replacement or your money back if there is a problem, and a refund if the event is cancelled and not rescheduled. StubHub says getting you into the event is the first priority, with a refund as the backstop. It is included in every order, not an add-on. It does not cover a change of plans, postponed events or travel costs.

Both companies ask you to report a problem as soon as possible. StubHub suggests documenting it on the spot, such as a photo at the gate.

Cancelled and postponed shows

A cancelled show and a postponed show are handled very differently on both sites.

• Cancelled and not rescheduled: StubHub refunds. SeatGeek, at its discretion, refunds the purchase price to the original payment method or issues a credit, subject to state law.
• Postponed or rescheduled: on both sites your ticket normally carries over to the new date. SeatGeek says it generally does not refund these except where replacement tickets are required or the law requires it. If you cannot make the new date, both sites let you list the ticket for resale.

For what to do in each case, see what to do if a concert is postponed or cancelled.

Delivery

Delivery depends on the event, not only on the marketplace. SeatGeek delivers some tickets to your SeatGeek account and others through the venue's ticketing app, such as AXS, and some are released only 24 to 48 hours before the event. StubHub covers mobile transfers, PDFs and shipped tickets under FanProtect's on-time delivery promise.

Check the delivery method and expected timing on the listing before buying, especially if you are travelling.

StubHub in the US vs StubHub outside North America

StubHub's own support site explains that stubhub.com and stubhub.ca are StubHub North America, while the StubHub sites in the UK, Ireland, much of Europe and Mexico belong to StubHub International, a separately owned business. Accounts do not carry over between the two. If you are buying for a show outside the US or Canada, check which StubHub site you are on and read that site's terms. On TourTicketCompare, every StubHub button is a StubHub International link that opens a stubhub.ie event page, including for US shows, so the StubHub terms that apply to an order placed from this site are StubHub International's.

Which should you use?

• For an official onsale: start with the seller named by the artist, venue or promoter. For some events that is SeatGeek; StubHub is not a primary seller.
• For resale: open the same date on both, match the seats and quantity, and compare the full order totals and delivery timing.
• If you might not be able to go: remember that neither guarantee refunds a change of plans. Both let you resell.

FAQ

Is SeatGeek the same as StubHub?

No. They are separate companies. StubHub is a resale marketplace; SeatGeek is a resale marketplace that is also the primary ticketing platform for some leagues and venues.

Is SeatGeek or StubHub cheaper?

Neither is cheaper for every show. Resale prices are set by individual sellers and change constantly, so compare the complete order total for the same seats on both sites at the same time.

Do SeatGeek and StubHub both guarantee tickets?

Both publish a buyer guarantee covering tickets that arrive late, are invalid, or are not what you ordered, and both refund events that are cancelled and not rescheduled. Neither covers a change of plans.

What happens if my show is postponed?

On both sites the ticket normally stays valid for the new date. A postponement is generally not a refund case, but you can usually list the ticket for resale if the new date does not work.

Are fees included in the price on SeatGeek and StubHub?

In the US, mandatory fees must be included in the upfront total price for live-event tickets. Taxes, shipping and optional extras can still be added at checkout, so compare the final order summary.

Does TourTicketCompare sell SeatGeek or StubHub tickets?

No. The site links to ticket providers and explains how they differ. The order, its price and its guarantee are between you and the provider.

Related guides

• Ticketmaster vs StubHub
• SeatGeek vs Ticketmaster
• Primary vs resale concert tickets
• Concert ticket fees explained

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