Gametime vs StubHub: Which Is Cheaper and Safer in 2026?

Gametime vs StubHub comes down to how close to game day you shop and how you like to see the price. Gametime is a mobile-first app built around last-minute buying, with an all-in price shown on the seat map and a window that stays open after the gates open. StubHub is one of the largest secondary ticket marketplaces in the U.S., with deep broker inventory and pricing that has historically displayed the seller's listed price separately from fees. Both run a buyer-protection guarantee that pays out when a ticket fails to deliver. After running a $100 face-value ticket through both across three event types, the cheaper option flips depending on the event, the seat tier, and how late you book. This article walks through the actual fee math, the last-minute and mobile differences, the buyer-protection coverage, and where a third zero-fees option fits in at the end.

Gametime vs StubHub at a Glance: Last-Minute App vs Broad Resale Marketplace

Both connect fans who want to sell tickets with fans who want to buy them. The split is in what each was built to do best: Gametime optimizes the last-minute, on-your-phone purchase, while StubHub optimizes inventory depth across the full sales window.

What Gametime Is

Gametime launched in 2012, is headquartered in San Francisco, and remains a privately held, venture-backed company. The product was built mobile-first from the start, with the app as the primary buying surface rather than a desktop site. Two ideas define it: an all-in price shown on the listing, so the number on the seat map is close to the number you pay, and a focus on near-term events, where Gametime tends to surface deals as game day approaches and sellers cut prices to move inventory. Gametime markets itself on low fees and a price-match policy, and its LastCall feature keeps the buying window open after an event has started. For a fan deciding on the way to the arena, that mobile, last-minute design is the whole pitch.

What StubHub Is

StubHub launched in 2000 and was acquired by eBay in 2007. eBay then sold StubHub to Viagogo in a deal that completed in February 2020, and the combined business was rebranded StubHub Holdings in September 2021 after clearing a UK regulatory review. StubHub Holdings went public on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker STUB in September 2025, pricing its IPO at $23.50 per share. The platform is one of the largest secondary ticket marketplaces in the U.S., with deep broker inventory on sold-out concerts and playoff games. When a Morgan Wallen tour sells out at primary on-sale, StubHub is where season-ticket holders and brokers list resale seats first. The historical trade-off is the fee structure: a buyer service fee plus delivery and estimated tax are added at checkout, which the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees (the all-in pricing rule, effective May 12, 2025) is steadily closing.

Side-by-Side Snapshot

The two share a market type but differ on scale, corporate status, and pricing display. Here is how the fundamentals line up, with TicketX added as a third reference for fans who want to skip the buyer fee entirely.

The short version: Gametime wins for the last-minute, on-your-phone purchase where an all-in price and a still-open window matter most, StubHub wins for deep inventory on sold-out and early-on-sale events, and TicketX wins when you do not want a buyer fee added at all.

Gametime vs StubHub Fees: Real Checkout Totals on a $100 Ticket

The cleanest way to answer "why is Gametime cheaper than StubHub?" is to run the same $100 face-value ticket through both across three event types and look at the final total. The Government Accountability Office documented secondary-market fees averaging about 31 percent of the ticket price, with fees across the market ranging from 13 to 58 percent depending on platform, event, and seat tier, in its 2018 report on online ticket sales. Sportico's Sept. 19, 2025 guide revisited the GAO's findings on ticket pricing .

The numbers below reflect that range. Actual fees vary by event, seller, and the moment you check out. Gametime folds its fee into an all-in display, while StubHub historically shows the seller price and adds the fee at checkout. The underlying fee percentage on both lands in a similar band; what changes is when you see it.

How Gametime Pricing Works

Gametime shows an all-in price on the listing, so the buyer fee, delivery, and estimated tax are built into the number on the seat map. Gametime markets this as a low-fee, transparent model and runs a price-match policy that credits the difference if you find the same seat cheaper elsewhere. That marketing leans on "lowest fees," but lowest is not the same as zero: a buyer fee is still folded into the all-in price you pay. The practical benefit is that the price you see is close to the price you pay, which removes the checkout-surprise problem for a fan deciding quickly on a phone.

How Fees Stack on StubHub

StubHub charges the buyer one main line item, the buyer service fee, which varies by event, seller, and market demand and can reach the higher end on busy events. Delivery is a flat $3 to $5 for mobile transfer on most events, and estimated tax is added based on the venue's local rate, often another 5 to 10 percent. Sellers pay a separate commission, baked into the listed seller price before you see it. Industry-wide all-in pricing requirements have increased price transparency across ticket marketplaces.

Concert Scenario: Morgan Wallen Mid-Tier Show, $100 Face Value

For a mid-tier concert ticket on a Tuesday-night arena stop, here is roughly how a $100 face-value seat lands at checkout. StubHub typically lists the seller price around $95, then adds a buyer service fee of about $22, a $3 delivery charge, and an estimated tax line of $7, landing the all-in total near $127. Gametime's all-in display might show the same seat at $118 to $126 with the fee already folded in.

Compare current Morgan Wallen seats on TicketX for a zero-fees baseline:

NBA Scenario: Los Angeles Lakers Game, $100 Face Value

A high-demand NBA night flips the math. When the Lakers play a marquee game at Crypto.com Arena, primary inventory disappears in the presale and dynamic pricing pushes the resale floor up. A seat with a $100 face value can list at $480 to $620 on StubHub, with a buyer service fee on top, landing the all-in total around $640 to $720. Gametime's all-in display on the same section often lands at $600 to $680.

The catch: for a group buying three or four adjacent seats, StubHub's deeper broker pool surfaces paired seats more often on a sold-out game. If you want a zero-fees price reference before deciding, check live Lakers seats on TicketX:

NFL Scenario: Buffalo Bills Home Game, $100 Face Value

NFL pricing sits between the concert and NBA cases. For a Bills regular-season home game with a $100 face-value seat, StubHub might list the seat between $90 and $140, with fees pushing the all-in total to $115 to $175. Gametime's all-in price on the same seat lands at $115 to $165.

For a zero-fees comparison on Bills home games, see live prices on TicketX:

Last-Minute and Mobile: Where Gametime Was Built to Win

Fees set the floor on the buying experience. For a fan deciding on the way to the venue, the last-minute window and the phone experience decide whether the purchase happens at all. This is the part of the comparison Gametime was designed around.

LastCall and Buying After the Gates Open

Gametime's LastCall feature keeps the buying window open after an event has started, with seats available to buy up to 90 minutes into the game on many events. That changes the calculus for the spontaneous fan: a Nuggets game that looked too expensive at noon can have cut-rate seats by the second quarter, and Gametime is built to surface them. StubHub also lists last-minute inventory and its deep broker pool can show more total seats on a hot event, but the product is not organized around the after-the-gates-open window the way Gametime is. For the "I'll decide once I'm downtown" buyer, Gametime's LastCall is the standout feature.

Two-Tap Checkout, Seat Views, and Mobile Transfer

Gametime markets a streamlined checkout experience for users with saved payment details and a buying flow designed for mobile users. The app shows real seat-view photos on many listings so you can see the view from the section before you buy, rather than a generic seat map. StubHub completes purchases on both desktop and its app, with finer filters for row, view, and accessibility and a price-alert system that pings when a section drops below a target. Both deliver tickets through mobile transfer with QR codes on the day of the event. For sold-out events less than 24 hours out, the transfer step is where most fan-side anxiety appears, and both platforms handle it natively in-app.

Inventory, Search, and Discovery: Where StubHub's Scale Pulls Ahead

If Gametime owns the last-minute window, StubHub owns the size of the marketplace. The two strengths serve different shopping moments.

Broker Depth on Sold-Out and Early-On-Sale Events

StubHub surfaces deeper resale inventory on sold-out concerts and playoff games because its broker network is the largest in the U.S. secondary market, and listings appear from the moment primary on-sale completes through to game day. Season-ticket holders selling two to four paired seats often list on StubHub first for the audience size. Gametime's inventory is competitive and tends to be strongest as events approach, when its near-term focus and price-cut surfacing line up with seller behavior. For a sold-out game weeks out, or for a group that needs four adjacent seats, StubHub usually shows more total listings in the prime sections.

Browsing on Desktop vs Phone

StubHub works well on a laptop for a fan who wants to compare dozens of listings across sections, sort by price, and set alerts over several days. Gametime is built for the phone, where seat-view photos and an all-in price make a quick decision easier but a large browse session is less comfortable. The split matches the buyer: a planner comparing seats over a week leans StubHub, while a fan deciding in five minutes on a phone leans Gametime.

Safety and Buyer Protection: Gametime Guarantee vs FanProtect

The question that matters more than fees is what happens when something goes wrong. Both run a guarantee that pays out when a ticket fails to deliver as promised, and the coverage scopes are close, with differences in how disputes resolve.

What the Gametime Guarantee Covers

The Gametime Guarantee backs every purchase with an on-time delivery guarantee and a ticket-validity guarantee, which together cover the four situations that matter most to buyers. 

Fake or invalid tickets: a refund or comparable replacement seats, since every ticket is guaranteed valid for entry. Late delivery (tickets not received in time for the event): comparable replacement seats or a refund under the on-time delivery guarantee. Event cancellation without rescheduling: a refund of the ticket price; rescheduled events keep your tickets valid for the new date. Seller no-show: comparable replacement seats or a refund. 

Gametime's policy is published at Gametime Guarantee, and the platform provides buyer protection through the Gametime Guarantee.

What StubHub's FanProtect Covers

StubHub's FanProtect Guarantee covers the same four scenarios. 

Fake or invalid tickets: a full refund or comparable replacement seats at StubHub's discretion. Late delivery: comparable replacement seats or a full refund. Event cancellation without rescheduling: a refund, credit, or replacement option depending on the circumstances and the platform's current policy; rescheduled events keep your tickets valid. Seller no-show: comparable replacement seats or a full refund. 

StubHub's policy is published in its FanProtect® Guarantee. The "comparable replacement" provision is where many disputes arise, and replacement options depend on available inventory at the time the issue occurs, though resolution may take place through email or phone support rather than chat alone.

When to Use Which: A 2026 Decision Guide by Buyer Type

Different fans shop at different moments. Here is the verdict by buyer type, drawing on the fee, last-minute, and protection differences above.

Last-Minute Mobile Buyers (Within 24 to 48 Hours)

For the fan deciding on the day of the event, Gametime is the natural fit. LastCall keeps the window open after the gates open, the all-in price reads clean on a phone, and seat-view photos help a fast decision. StubHub still works and its broker pool can show more total seats on a hot event, but Gametime is the app built for this exact moment.

Early Planners and Sold-Out Big Events

For seats bought weeks out, or for a sold-out playoff game or major concert, StubHub's deeper inventory wins. The broker pool fills prime sections and adjacent seats that a smaller marketplace cannot match, and the desktop browse experience suits a multi-day comparison. Gametime is worth a check as the event nears, but the early-and-deep search favors StubHub.

First-Time Resale Buyers

For a first purchase on the secondary market, Gametime's all-in price and simple app flow are the gentler entry point, since the number on the seat map is close to the number you pay. StubHub's pre-fee display takes a mental fee-add to read, though its scale and long track record reassure many first-timers. Either works; the all-in display is the friendlier on-ramp.

Price-First Comparison Shoppers

For the fan who treats every purchase as a price-optimization problem, scan both: Gametime's all-in number and near-game-day cuts against StubHub's seller-set listings and deeper pool. The same seat is often on both at different displayed totals, so compare the final number, not the listing. 

Browse a zero-fees baseline on TicketX while you compare.

Bottom Line: Which Wins, and Where a Zero-Fees Option Fits In

The honest read on Gametime vs StubHub in 2026: the buyer fee bands are close, the protection programs cover the same scenarios, and the choice comes down to when you shop and how you like to see the price. 

Quick Verdict by Scenario

For last-minute, on-your-phone buying: Gametime, for LastCall and the all-in display. For sold-out playoff games or major concerts bought early: StubHub, for broker-pool depth. For a family group buying three to four adjacent seats: StubHub, for adjacent-section availability. For a first purchase that should not surprise you at checkout: Gametime, for the all-in price. For price-first shoppers: scan both and compare the final totals.

How TicketX's Zero-Fees Model Sits Beside Both

Gametime markets low fees and StubHub is closing its disclosure gap, but a buyer fee is still folded into the price on both. TicketX runs on a zero-fees model on the buyer side: the listed price is the price you pay, with no service fee, no delivery surcharge, and no estimated tax line added at checkout. Tickets are verified, and users can apply a limited-time promo code on their purchase. For fans tired of running the same ticket through two checkouts to compare totals, start your search on TicketX and see the full price upfront.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gametime a trusted place to buy tickets?

Gametime is a legitimate U.S. ticket app that has operated since 2012, with every purchase backed by the Gametime Guarantee covering fake tickets, late delivery, cancellation without rescheduling, and seller no-show. Like any secondary marketplace, prices and seller listings vary, so compare the all-in total before you buy. For a deeper look at the app's track record, see our breakdown of whether Gametime is legit.

Why is Gametime cheaper than StubHub?

Gametime is not always cheaper, but it often reads cheaper for two reasons. It shows an all-in price with the fee folded in, so there is no checkout jump, and its near-term focus surfaces the price cuts sellers make as game day approaches. On sold-out events bought early, StubHub's deeper pool can match or beat it. Compare the final total on the specific event.

What is the most trusted concert ticket site?

There is no single answer, since the major secondary marketplaces all run buyer-protection guarantees and serve different shopping moments. Gametime suits last-minute mobile buying, StubHub suits deep inventory across the full sales window, and others compete on pricing display. The most trusted choice is the one whose guarantee, inventory, and pricing fit your event and how you shop.

Is it risky to buy tickets from StubHub?

Buying from StubHub carries the normal secondary-market risks, but every purchase is covered by the FanProtect Guarantee, which provides a refund or comparable replacement for fake tickets, late delivery, seller no-show, and cancellation without rescheduling. The main caution is the fee structure: the listed price is the seller's number, and the buyer fee, delivery, and tax land at checkout.

Can you buy tickets last minute on Gametime and StubHub?

Yes on both, with a difference in design. Gametime's LastCall feature keeps the buying window open after an event has started, with seats available up to 90 minutes into the game on many events, and the whole app is built for the on-your-phone purchase. StubHub also lists last-minute inventory and its broker pool can surface more total seats on hot events, but it is not organized around the after-the-gates-open window.

Which has lower fees, Gametime or StubHub?

Buyer fees on both platforms vary by event, seller, and market conditions. Gametime folds the fee into an all-in price you see upfront, while StubHub shows the seller price and adds the fee at checkout. Gametime markets the lower number, but the lowest is not zero. Compare the final all-in total on the event you want, since the seller-set price drives most of the gap.