You don't have to hand a monopoly a cut of your show. Here's who to use instead — for fans and for artists.
industry
Short answer
Fairer options exist. For fans and independent shows: DICE (all-in prices, face-value waitlist), Eventbrite (easy self-serve), Seated (artist-direct, keeps your fan data), face-value resale via TicketSwap and Twickets, and low/no-fee DIY tools like Ticket Tailor and Zeffy. One trap to know: TicketWeb, marketed to independents, is owned by Live Nation/Ticketmaster.
The fee is the small cost. The fan data the big platforms keep is the real one — sell direct and it's yours.
The fan-first benchmark: DICE
DICE is the one to know. It shows all-in pricing — the price you see includes fees, no nasty surprise at checkout — and runs a Waitlist for sold-out shows: if someone can't go, their ticket is released back to the next fan in line *at face value*, instead of feeding scalpers. It's mobile-first, strong on discovery, and best suited to clubs, festivals, and mid-size independent venues. (DICE was acquired by the events company Fever in 2025; the fan-first model continues.)
The easy self-serve: Eventbrite
For a one-off show, a club night, or a community event, Eventbrite lets you list and sell in minutes with no sales team. Fees vary by region and are often passed to the buyer; it's not always the cheapest for low-priced tickets, but it's frictionless and everyone knows how to use it.
Own your audience: Seated & direct sales
The most powerful move is selling *direct*. Seated sells through the artist's own site and — crucially — returns fan data to the artist, which the big platforms keep. For DIY shows, low- and no-fee tools like Ticket Tailor and Zeffy (or a simple checkout on your own site) keep costs near zero and put every buyer's email in your hands.
> The fee is the small cost. The fan data the big platforms keep is the real one — sell direct and it's yours.
Ethical resale: face value only
When plans change, fans shouldn't be forced into a scalper's market. TicketSwap (which caps resale at 20% above face value) and Twickets (face value or less) let fans re-sell to other fans fairly. New laws are pushing the same direction — the UK announced plans to cap resale near face value, and Ontario pressured platforms to delist above-face-value listings.
Know who owns what
Not every "alternative" is independent. AXS is owned by AEG (Live Nation's main rival); See Tickets is now owned by ticketing giant CTS Eventim; and TicketWeb — pitched squarely at small venues — is owned by Live Nation/Ticketmaster. None of that makes them unusable, but if the point is to route around the monopoly, it helps to know the map. Backing all of this is the U.S. FTC all-in pricing rule (effective May 2025), which now requires fees shown upfront across platforms.
Our shortlist for independent shows
If you're an independent or diaspora artist putting on your own shows, start here: DICE for ticketed club and festival dates, Seated or a direct checkout when you want to own the fan relationship, and face-value resale so your fans are never gouged in your name. That's a stack that respects the audience and keeps the money — and the data — where it belongs. Pair it with How to Tour Independently and you've got the whole live playbook.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to Ticketmaster?
Fan- and artist-friendly options include DICE (all-in pricing and a face-value waitlist), Eventbrite (self-serve for smaller shows), Seated (artist-direct sales that return fan data), face-value resale platforms like TicketSwap and Twickets, and low- or no-fee DIY tools like Ticket Tailor and Zeffy. Note that TicketWeb, though pitched at independents, is owned by Live Nation/Ticketmaster.
Is DICE better than Ticketmaster?
For fans and independent shows, many prefer DICE because it shows all-in prices with no surprise fees at checkout and runs a waitlist that returns sold-out tickets at face value instead of pushing fans to scalpers. It's strongest for clubs, festivals, and mid-size independent venues rather than arenas.
How can I sell tickets to my own show without high fees?
Use a low- or no-fee DIY platform (such as Ticket Tailor or Zeffy) or sell directly through your own site with a simple payment processor. Selling direct keeps fees down and, crucially, lets you keep the fan data — email addresses and phone numbers you can use for the next show.
What is face-value ticket resale?
Face-value resale lets fans who can't attend sell their tickets to other fans at or near the original price, instead of at a scalper's markup. Platforms like TicketSwap (which caps resale at 20% above face value) and Twickets are built for this, and some new laws now push resale toward face value.
Ticketmaster alternatives · DICE · fair ticketing · sell tickets to your show · face value resale · independent artists