TickPick vs StubHub: Which Ticket Site Is Actually Cheaper in 2026?

TickPick vs StubHub at a Glance

TickPick is a ticket resale marketplace built on a no-buyer-service-fee model. Its help center says buyers pay more than the listed price only for sales tax in some locations, local pickup or FedEx delivery. Sellers pay TickPick a commission when their tickets sell: 15% for standard sellers, who receive 85% of the sale price.

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.

The big takeaways: TickPick does not charge buyers service fees and instead charges sellers a commission. StubHub's newsroom says its displayed prices already include its mandatory fees. Either way, the number that settles which site is cheaper is the final price for the same seats. The guarantees cover similar ground, but they pay out differently when an event is canceled. If you also want to weigh either site against another mainstream competitor, see our StubHub vs SeatGeek comparison and our StubHub vs Vivid Seats comparison.

Fees, Pricing, and What You Actually Pay at Checkout

On fees, the two sites take different approaches. TickPick charges buyers no service fees; its help center says you pay more than the listed price only for sales tax in some locations, local pickup ($5) or FedEx delivery ($10.99 for two-day, $15.99 for next-day). StubHub charges buyers a service fee and a fulfillment fee. 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.

StubHub's help center says its buyer 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.

Who Actually Has Lower Fees, TickPick or StubHub?

Neither site is cheaper on every listing. TickPick removes buyer service fees but charges sellers a commission, and sellers set their own asking prices. StubHub's newsroom says its displayed prices already include its mandatory fees. So the same seats can cost less on either site, depending on the listing. Compare the final price, including tax, for the same section, row and quantity before you buy.

If you are comparing prices for a game or concert, add TicketX to the comparison. TicketX lists tickets with no hidden fees.

One more change applies across U.S. ticket sites. Since May 12, 2025, an FTC rule has required sellers of live-event tickets, including resale marketplaces, to show the total price, including required fees, whenever they show a price. Taxes, the cost of shipping physical tickets and optional extras can still be added later. In April 2026, the FTC announced a $10 million settlement with StubHub, paid out as refunds to consumers. The FTC alleged that in numerous instances through at least May 14, 2025, StubHub's first three price screens did not show the total price; StubHub neither admitted nor denied the allegations. StubHub now says in its newsroom that the prices it displays include all mandatory fees.

How TickPick's Fee Model Actually Works

From the buyer side, TickPick's model is simple: it charges buyers no service fees and makes its money from sellers instead. Standard sellers pay a 15% commission and receive 85% of the sale price. What can still raise your total is sales tax, which TickPick's help center says applies to events in 15 jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C., and Canada, and delivery: $5 for listings set for local pickup, and $10.99 (two-day) or $15.99 (next-day) for listings shipped by FedEx. Optional ticket insurance through XCover is billed separately from TickPick.

This has two practical consequences. First, according to TickPick's help center, the listed price is what you pay unless sales tax applies or the listing is set for local pickup or FedEx delivery. Second, the commission comes out of the seller's proceeds, and sellers set their own prices, so listing prices for the same seats can differ between TickPick and StubHub. Compare the final checkout total for the exact listing on each site before you buy.

For TicketX, the comparison point is simple: 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.

Inventory and Search Experience

Which site has the seats you want depends on the event. Availability changes as sellers list and sell tickets, so the reliable check is to search both sites for the same event and compare the same section, row and quantity.

For events outside the U.S., keep in mind how StubHub is organized. StubHub Holdings sells internationally under its viagogo brand, and in the U.K. and most other countries outside the U.S. and Canada, the StubHub brand is licensed to a separate company, which runs sites such as stubhub.co.uk. This guide describes StubHub's U.S. fees and guarantee.

The two sites also differ in their price tools. Under TickPick's BestPrice Guarantee and the conditions in its user agreement, if you find the same event, date, section, row and quantity for less on another ticket marketplace (comparing that site's checkout price, including fees but not tax) and submit a claim with a timestamped screenshot within 2 hours of your order, TickPick gives you 110% of the difference as TickPick credit, not cash, up to $200 per claim. The credit expires after 365 days, and TickPick can exclude prices from professional ticket resellers and others, including member, loyalty and coupon prices and prices that require a login or code. On StubHub, the service fee can vary by browsing session, as described above, so compare final prices rather than assuming everyone sees the same fee.

A practical tip: run the same search on more than one marketplace, including TicketX, before you buy. Prices for comparable seats can differ from site to site.

For most buyers, the practical approach is this: open both sites on the same event, sort by price, and check the top few listings on each side at the final checkout screen.

TicketX lists tickets with no hidden fees, and first-time buyers can save an extra 10% with a promo code at checkout.

Buyer Protection and Safety

Both companies offer a named buyer guarantee, and the main areas they cover are similar.

TickPick's BuyerTrust Guarantee (marketed as the 100% BuyerTrust Guarantee) covers four areas: authentic tickets that are valid for entry, delivery in time for the event, a refund or credit if the event is canceled, and comparable or better replacement tickets in an emergency. If an event is canceled, TickPick's canceled-event FAQ says you will receive a refund, while its terms say that for an event canceled and not rescheduled, TickPick decides whether to give you a full refund or a credit for what you paid, unless the law requires a refund. Another FAQ says that if a playoff game doesn't take place, you get a full refund. TickPick says it can change or end the guarantee without notice.

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. 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, which is issued within 10 business days. StubHub's terms leave the choice between a full refund and a credit to StubHub.

Where the two differ is in the details:

• Canceled events: StubHub's help center says the default is a 120% credit, with a cash refund on request. TickPick's BuyerTrust Guarantee says a refund or a credit, although its canceled-event FAQ says you will receive a refund. Both companies' terms let them choose between a full refund and a credit, unless the law requires a refund.

• Late tickets: TickPick says that if you contact it within 5 days of the expected delivery date, it will get you tickets in time for the event. 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: TickPick asks you to call right away if a ticket is rejected and to contact it within 5 days after the event. StubHub asks you to report the problem within 7 days after the event, or by the deadline it gives, and to provide the documents it requests.

• Postponed events: Neither site refunds tickets that remain valid for the new date. StubHub arranges replacement tickets or a full refund only if you need new tickets to get in.

Either way, buying through a marketplace with a written guarantee gives you a defined process to follow if something goes wrong.

If you are selling instead of buying, TickPick's model puts its fees on you. Standard TickPick sellers pay a 15% commission and receive 85% of the sale price. StubHub's help center says its seller fees have no fixed rate and that sellers are usually paid within 8 business days after the event.

When to Use TickPick, When to Use StubHub

Use TickPick when:

• You want to avoid buyer service fees, and the TickPick listing has the lowest final price for the seats you want.

• You want a price check after you buy: TickPick's BestPrice Guarantee gives 110% of the difference in TickPick credit if you find the same seats for less on another ticket marketplace and file a claim within 2 hours of ordering (up to $200 per claim; TickPick can exclude prices from professional ticket resellers and others).

• You are selling and want a published commission rate: 15% for standard sellers.

Use StubHub when:

• The StubHub listing has the lowest final price for the seats you want.

• You would rather receive a credit worth more than what you paid if an event is canceled: StubHub's help center says canceled events default to a 120% credit (valid for one year), with a cash refund available on request.

Use TicketX when:

• You want verified tickets with no hidden fees.

• You are a first-time buyer and want to take 10% off with a TicketX promo code.

• You want a Buyer Guarantee that 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.

If you want to compare either site against Ticketmaster directly, see our StubHub vs Ticketmaster comparison and our Vivid Seats vs Ticketmaster comparison.

Quick Decision Guide

A short guide for buyers who do not want to read the full table:

• First-time resale buyer: Compare the final price, including tax, for the same seats on TickPick, StubHub and TicketX. If you have a promo code for a first order, apply it before you compare.

• Repeat buyer with no loyalty preference: Check both sites every time. Neither one is cheapest on every listing.

• International event buyer: In the U.K. and most other countries outside the U.S. and Canada, StubHub-branded sites are run by a separate company, so the fees and guarantee in this guide may not apply. Check who runs the site before you buy.

• Premium-ticket buyer ($500+ per seat): Price differences add up in dollars on expensive seats, so compare the final price on each site and check how each guarantee handles cancellations.

• Last-minute buyer: Check both sites at once, and confirm how and when the tickets will be delivered before you pay.

The Bottom Line - TickPick vs StubHub in 2026

Both TickPick and StubHub are resale marketplaces with named buyer guarantees. The differences come down to how fees are charged, how each handles cancellations and problems, and which site has the right seat at the right price for your event.

If we had to sum it up for the average U.S. concert or sports buyer in 2026: TickPick does not charge buyers service fees, and StubHub's newsroom says its displayed prices already include its mandatory fees, so neither wins on price every time. StubHub fits better if you want a 120% credit as the default for canceled events. TickPick fits better if you want its BestPrice Guarantee as a backstop after you buy.

One last point before you decide: do not let a small fee gap drive the entire decision. The seat you want most, in the section you want, on the date you want, matters more than a small price difference on either side. Both sites offer a named buyer guarantee, so pick the one with the best final price for that seat.

There is also a third option to check. TicketX lists tickets with no hidden fees, and first-time buyers can take 10% off with a promo code. For premium tickets like a U.S. Open Tennis night session, it is worth adding a third site to the comparison.

Ready to buy? Use the latest promo code for 10% off your first purchase — no hidden fees, verified tickets, and the TicketX Buyer Guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are short, direct answers to questions buyers often ask when weighing TickPick against StubHub for the first time, based on each platform's current policies.

Is It Safe to Buy Concert Tickets from TickPick?

TickPick backs purchases with its BuyerTrust Guarantee, which covers authentic tickets that are valid for entry, delivery in time for the event, a refund or credit if the event is canceled, and comparable or better replacement tickets in an emergency. If a ticket is rejected at the venue, call TickPick right away: it looks for replacement tickets and, once it confirms with the venue that the ticket was invalid, refunds the full ticket price, including delivery. You need to contact TickPick within 5 days after the event.

Is TickPick 100% Reliable?

No marketplace is 100% reliable, because tickets come from individual sellers and problems can happen. What TickPick offers is the BuyerTrust Guarantee, which covers authentic and valid tickets, on-time delivery, a refund or credit for canceled events, and emergency replacement. For those scenarios, you have a defined remedy. TickPick says it can change or end the guarantee without notice, so check the current terms before a big purchase.

Are Tickets Guaranteed on TickPick?

Yes, within the limits of its BuyerTrust Guarantee: authentic tickets that are valid for entry, delivery in time for the event, a refund or credit for canceled events, and comparable or better replacement tickets in an emergency. For canceled events, TickPick's canceled-event FAQ says you will receive a refund, while its terms say TickPick decides whether to give a full refund or a credit for what you paid, unless the law requires a refund.

Are There Fake Listings on StubHub?

Any open marketplace can have problem listings, and StubHub is no exception. If a ticket doesn't get you in, StubHub's FanProtect Guarantee says StubHub, at its discretion, will look for replacement tickets or give a full refund, including fees and delivery. You need to report the problem within 7 days after the event, or by the deadline StubHub gives, and provide the documents it asks for.

Which Has Lower Fees, TickPick or StubHub?

TickPick charges buyers no service fees, while StubHub charges a service fee and a fulfillment fee with no fixed rate. But StubHub says in its newsroom that the prices it displays include all mandatory fees, and TickPick charges standard sellers a 15% commission. So the site with lower fees is not always the site with the lower price. Compare the final price for the same seats, including tax.

Does TickPick Have the Same Inventory as StubHub?

Not necessarily. Availability depends on the event and on which sellers list where, so search both sites for the same event and compare the same section, row and quantity. Also keep in mind that in the U.K. and most other countries outside the U.S. and Canada, StubHub-branded sites are run by a separate company.