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

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

Both connect fans with ticket sellers, who aren't all individual fans. The split is in how each one presents itself: Gametime markets itself around last-minute tickets, while StubHub points to its size.

What Gametime Is

Gametime's site title reads "Last-Minute Sports, Music & Shows Tickets," and it markets itself as a site for last-minute tickets. That doesn't guarantee a lower price as the event gets closer: sellers set the prices, and Gametime itself says prices can drop in a lot of cases, but not always. Its Gametime Guarantee has five parts: a Lowest Price Guarantee, Event Cancellation Protection, Job Loss Assurance, On-Time Ticket Delivery and a Seller Guarantee.

What StubHub Is

StubHub is run by StubHub Holdings, Inc., which has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: STUB) since September 2025 and also runs viagogo, its international brand. StubHub says in its annual report that it believes it operates the largest global secondary ticketing marketplace for live events. This guide covers StubHub in the U.S.; in the U.K. and most other countries outside the U.S. and Canada, the StubHub brand is licensed to a separate company.

Side-by-Side Snapshot

Here is how the two compare. TicketX, our own marketplace, is a third option to add to your comparison; it lists tickets with no hidden fees.

The short version: neither site is cheaper every time, so compare the final price for the same seats. The biggest difference in the guarantees is what happens when an event is canceled.

Gametime vs StubHub Fees: How Each Site Charges and Shows Them

Neither site publishes a fee rate you can apply to a ticket price, so no fixed percentage tells you which site costs less.

How Gametime Pricing Works

Gametime's help center says it shows fee-inclusive "Includes Fees" prices by default for every event, and you can switch that setting off to see prices without fees. In some states, such as Texas and Georgia, tax isn't included until the final checkout page. Its help center doesn't list its fee types or rates. Gametime also has a price guarantee: if you find the same event, date, section, row and quantity for a lower final price elsewhere and contact it within 2 hours of your purchase with a timestamped screenshot, it gives you 110% of the difference as Gametime credit, not a refund, up to $200 per claim. The lower price must still be available when you file, the difference can't be only taxes or fees, and some prices, such as AARP, AAA, military, corporate and loyalty prices, don't count.

How Fees Stack on StubHub

StubHub charges buyers a service fee and a fulfillment fee. Its help center says these fees have no fixed rate: they depend on the ticket price, how close the event is, updates to event information, and supply and demand. In a September 2026 newsroom post, StubHub said its service fee is a percentage of the listing price, chosen from a set of fee levels for each browser session, so two people looking at the same tickets at the same time can see different fees. In its newsroom, StubHub says the price it displays includes all mandatory fees, but its help center still tells buyers to turn on "Include estimated fees" to see the total price, so confirm the total on the checkout page before you pay.

Comparing a Concert Ticket

For a concert, open both sites for the same show. Compare the final price, including tax, for the same section, row and quantity. You can add TicketX to the comparison; it lists tickets with no hidden fees.

Comparing an NBA Ticket

Sellers set resale prices, so the same section can be listed at different prices on each site. If you need seats together, compare listings for the exact quantity you want.

Comparing an NFL Ticket

The same check applies to NFL games: compare the final price, including tax, for the same section, row and quantity on each site, including TicketX.

Last-Minute Buying: What to Check on Each Site

If you are deciding close to the event, check how and when the tickets will be delivered before you pay.

If Tickets Don't Arrive in Time

Gametime guarantees delivery before the event starts. If tickets don't arrive, it looks for comparable replacements, and if none are available, it gives a 110% Gametime credit or a full refund. If tickets don't arrive in time, StubHub, at its discretion, provides comparable or better replacement tickets at no extra cost, a full refund including fees and delivery, or a credit.

Inventory: What to Check

StubHub says in its annual report that it believes it operates the largest global secondary ticketing marketplace for live events. That statement covers StubHub Holdings as a whole, including viagogo. Inventory changes from event to event, so the practical check is to open both sites for the event you want and compare the same section and row.

Safety and Buyer Protection: Gametime Guarantee vs FanProtect

What happens when something goes wrong matters as much as the price. Both sites have a named guarantee, but they differ in the details.

What the Gametime Guarantee Covers

The Gametime Guarantee has five parts: a Lowest Price Guarantee, Event Cancellation Protection, Job Loss Assurance, On-Time Ticket Delivery and a Seller Guarantee. Gametime says all sales are final except for cancellations, claims are reviewed case by case, and it can limit compensation and the number of claims per year.

• Late or missing tickets: Gametime guarantees delivery before the event starts. If tickets don't arrive, it looks for comparable replacements, and if none are available, you get a 110% Gametime credit or a full refund.

• Problems at the venue: Contact Gametime right away if a ticket is rejected. Reports made after the event can take up to 14 days to investigate, and late contact can make a replacement or refund harder. If the seller was at fault and no replacement is available, Gametime's terms limit its liability to a full refund to your original payment method (cash or Gametime credit).

• Canceled events: If an event is canceled and not rescheduled, you get an automatic full refund to your original payment method, on average within 5 to 7 business days. A postponed event is not treated as canceled, even without a new date.

• Rescheduled events: If the venue accepts your tickets for the new date, they stay valid and aren't refunded.

• Job Loss Assurance: If you prove a job loss with state or federal unemployment documents and file at least 72 hours before the event, Gametime refunds the purchase price; it decides whether a claim is valid.

Gametime says it can change the guarantee at any time, so check the current policy before you buy.

What StubHub's FanProtect Covers

StubHub's FanProtect Guarantee covers tickets that arrive in time for the event, tickets that are valid for entry, the seats you ordered or comparable ones, and a refund or credit when an event is canceled and not rescheduled. It is included by default at no extra cost and funded by StubHub's fees, but listings explicitly marked as not covered are excluded, and resale-restricted tickets are covered only if you are denied entry at the venue and can show proof.

• Late or missing tickets: If tickets don't arrive in time, StubHub, at its discretion, provides comparable or better replacement tickets at no extra cost, a full refund including fees and delivery, or a credit.

• Problems at the venue: If you can't get in with your tickets, StubHub, at its discretion, looks for replacement tickets or gives a full refund including fees and delivery. You need to report it within 7 days after the event, or by the deadline StubHub gives, and provide the documents it asks for.

• Canceled events: StubHub's help center says you receive a credit worth 120% of what you paid in your StubHub Wallet by default (valid for one year), and you can instead request a cash refund to your original payment method. StubHub's terms let it choose a full refund or a credit, unless the law requires a refund.

• Rescheduled events: There is no refund while tickets stay valid for the new date. StubHub arranges replacement tickets or a full refund only if you need new tickets to get in.

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 Buyers (Within 24 to 48 Hours)

If you are deciding close to the event, Gametime markets itself for that moment, and its Includes Fees prices are on by default. Check StubHub too, and confirm how and when the tickets will be delivered before you pay.

Early Planners and Sold-Out Big Events

For seats bought weeks out, or for a sold-out playoff game or major concert, compare both sites and others. Sellers set the prices, and Gametime itself says prices can drop in a lot of cases, but not always, so waiting may not save you money.

First-Time Resale Buyers

For a first purchase on the resale market, compare the final price, including tax, for the same seats on each site, and read how each guarantee handles cancellations before you pay.

Price-First Comparison Shoppers

If price comes first for you, scan both sites. Compare the final price, including tax, for the same section, row and quantity.

Add TicketX to the comparison while you are at it. It lists tickets with no hidden fees.

Bottom Line: Which Wins, and Where TicketX Fits In

The honest read on Gametime vs StubHub in 2026: neither publishes a buyer fee rate, so neither is cheaper every time. Both have a named buyer guarantee, and they differ most on canceled events: Gametime refunds automatically, while StubHub's help center says the default is a 120% credit, with a cash refund on request.

Quick Verdict by Scenario

For last-minute buying: start with Gametime, which markets itself for that moment, and check StubHub too. If you would rather get an automatic refund for a canceled event: Gametime. If you would rather get a credit worth more than what you paid, StubHub's help center describes a 120% credit, though its terms let it choose a refund or a credit. For price-first shoppers: compare the final totals.

How TicketX Sits Beside Both

TicketX lists verified tickets with no hidden fees. Its Buyer Guarantee covers tickets that are fake or invalid or don't arrive in time, and events that are canceled and not rescheduled. Depending on the case, TicketX sends replacement tickets or refunds you. First-time buyers can apply a limited-time promo code to their purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gametime a trusted place to buy tickets?

Gametime backs purchases with the Gametime Guarantee, which includes on-time delivery, event cancellation protection and a seller guarantee. Like any resale marketplace, prices and listings vary, so compare the final price before you buy. For a deeper look, see our breakdown of whether Gametime is legit.

Why is Gametime cheaper than StubHub?

Gametime isn't always cheaper. Neither site publishes a fee rate, sellers set the prices, and the same seats can cost less on either site. Compare the final price, including tax, for the same section, row and quantity.

What is the most trusted concert ticket site?

There is no single answer. Gametime, StubHub and TicketX each have a named buyer guarantee, and the details differ. The best choice is the one whose guarantee and final price fit your event.

Is it risky to buy tickets from StubHub?

Any open marketplace can have problem listings, and StubHub is no exception. If you can't get in with your tickets, StubHub, at its discretion, looks for replacement tickets or gives a full refund including fees and delivery. You need to report it within 7 days after the event, or by the deadline StubHub gives, and provide the documents it asks for. Listings explicitly marked as not covered are excluded.

Can you buy tickets last minute on Gametime and StubHub?

Yes. Gametime markets itself as a site for last-minute tickets, and you can check StubHub close to the event too. Before you pay, confirm how and when the tickets will be delivered.

Which has lower fees, Gametime or StubHub?

Neither publishes a fee rate. Gametime's help center doesn't list its fee types or rates, and StubHub's help center says its fees have no fixed rate. Compare the final price, including tax, for the event you want, since sellers set the listing prices.