30 March 2026 · 3 min · Wesley Veldeman
Selling tickets without commission: percentage fees vs a fixed fee per ticket
Percentage commission quietly punishes higher-priced tickets and bigger events. Here's how a fixed fee per ticket compares, with worked examples you can check yourself.
The two ways platforms charge you
Almost every ticketing platform charges in one of two ways:
- A percentage commission — a slice of every ticket's price, often plus a small fixed amount. Something like "6% + €0.50 per ticket".
- A fixed fee per ticket — the same flat amount regardless of the ticket's price. ClearTix works this way: a fixed fee per ticket, never a percentage.
These sound similar on a cheap ticket. On anything more expensive, they diverge fast — and not in your favour if you're on a percentage.
Why percentage commission hurts
A percentage fee scales with your success. Sell more, charge more, and the platform's cut grows in lockstep — even though delivering a €60 ticket costs them no more than delivering a €15 one. You're effectively paying the platform a commission for your own pricing decisions.
It also makes budgeting harder. You can't state your platform cost as a clean number until you know your exact sales mix, because every price tier carries a different absolute fee.
A worked example
Let's price out 400 tickets and compare a typical 6% + €0.50 commission against ClearTix's fixed fee.
At €20 per ticket (€8,000 in sales):
| Model | Per ticket | 400 tickets |
|---|---|---|
| 6% + €0.50 | €1.70 | €680 |
| ClearTix Studio (€0.25 + €29/mo) | €0.25 | €129 total |
At €45 per ticket (€18,000 in sales):
| Model | Per ticket | 400 tickets |
|---|---|---|
| 6% + €0.50 | €3.20 | €1,280 |
| ClearTix Studio (€0.25 + €29/mo) | €0.25 | €129 total |
Notice what happens. The commission model nearly doubled — from €680 to €1,280 — purely because your tickets got more expensive. The fixed-fee model didn't move, because issuing the ticket is the same work whatever it costs. The pricier and busier your event, the bigger the gap.
Both tables use the Studio plan, because at 400 tickets its lower per-ticket fee wins: on the free plan (€0.39 a ticket, no monthly fee) the same 400 tickets would cost €156 against Studio's €129 all-in. The free plan is there for smaller events — up to three events a month, with no revenue limit.
"But who pays the fee?"
You can absorb the fixed fee yourself or pass it on to the buyer at checkout — that's your call. Either way, a fixed fee is honest with your audience: a clear, small amount per ticket rather than a percentage that quietly inflates the price of your best seats.
The other half: who holds your money
Commission isn't the only cost. Many platforms also sit on your revenue and pay out days after the event. ClearTix doesn't touch your money at all — payments flow through your own Mollie or Stripe account, straight to you, usually within 24 to 72 hours. iDEAL, Bancontact, Visa and Mastercard are all supported at checkout.
So the full ClearTix cost is just a fixed fee per ticket plus your own payment provider's transaction cost — no commission, no platform skim, no waiting for your cash.
See it for your event
Run your own numbers: take your ticket price and expected sales, and compare a percentage commission against a flat €0.39 (free plan) or €0.25 (Studio). Our pricing page lays out the plans, and if you're coming from another platform, our Eventbrite alternative and Weeztix alternative comparisons show how much commission really adds up.
Information about third parties (Mollie, Stripe) is indicative, may change, and is based on their public information as checked in June 2026. Always verify current pricing and terms at the source: Mollie, Stripe.
Frequently asked questions
- Is ClearTix really commission-free?
- Yes. ClearTix charges a fixed fee per ticket, not a percentage of the ticket price. Whether your ticket costs €10 or €60, you pay the same fixed amount per ticket sold: €0.39 on the free plan or €0.25 on Studio. The regular payment processing by Mollie or Stripe is separate from that.
- What is the difference between a fixed fee and a commission?
- A commission is a percentage of the ticket price (often plus a small fixed amount), so you pay more as your ticket gets more expensive. A fixed fee is always the same amount per ticket, regardless of the price. At average to high ticket prices you usually keep more with a fixed fee.
- When is a percentage model cheaper after all?
- Only in one exception: if you sell very cheap tickets (think €3 or €4) in very small numbers, a pure percentage model without a fixed component can sometimes work out cheaper. As soon as your ticket prices are normal and you sell in real numbers, a fixed fee wins.
- Does ClearTix hold my ticket money?
- No. You connect your own Mollie or Stripe account, so the revenue from every sale goes straight to you, usually within 24 to 72 hours. ClearTix does not pool your money, so it doesn't pay it out weeks after the event either.
- How do I calculate what I save without commission?
- Compare two sums. Percentage model: (price × percentage) + fixed amount, times your number of tickets. ClearTix: number of tickets × €0.39 (free) or × €0.25 (Studio, plus €29 a month). Fill in your expected ticket price and number and you see right away which model is cheaper for you.