Free event ticketing: platforms that really charge nothing
Safara One team ·
Running a free community event, a launch or an open class? You still want a guest list, a cap on numbers and a quick way to check people in — but you shouldn't pay for it. Here's which platforms are free for free events, what the catches are, and how to get the most out of free tickets.
Which platforms charge nothing for free events?
From each platform's published pricing, checked October 2026:
| Platform | Free events |
|---|---|
| Safara One | Free, no limits |
| Eventbrite | No fees for free events |
| Luma | No platform fee |
| Humanitix | No fees for free events |
| Ticket Tailor | Free for up to 5,000 free tickets a year |
| Tito | Free events are free |
| Zeffy | Free — nonprofits only |
The good news: every major platform lets you run free events without fees. The differences show up in the limits and in what happens when you want to add a paid ticket later.
The catches to look for
- Yearly caps. Ticket Tailor is free for up to 5,000 free tickets a year; beyond that you need to talk to them about pricing.
- Who can sign up. Zeffy is entirely free, but only for nonprofits.
- Paid add-ons. Some platforms are free to publish on but charge for marketing tools or subscriptions — Eventbrite Pro, for example, is a paid plan for email marketing.
- What happens when you go paid. If your free event grows into a paid one, the platform's paid-ticket fees apply. It's worth picking a platform whose paid pricing you'd be happy with too.
How to run a free event people actually turn up to
Free tickets are easy to claim and easy to forget. A few things help:
- Set a capacity. A limited number of spots makes a ticket feel worth keeping — and protects you from a crowded room.
- Send a reminder. A short message to ticket holders the day before brings more people through the door.
- Use real tickets, not just an RSVP list. A QR ticket by email feels like a commitment, and lets you check people in quickly at the door.
- Offer a paid option alongside the free one. A "supporter" ticket or a paid workshop add-on lets people who want to contribute do so, without putting off anyone else.
- Keep private events private. For members-only or invite-only events, use a password-protected event page rather than a public listing.
Free events on Safara One
Free events on Safara One cost nothing for you or your guests — no fees, no yearly cap. You get an event page, QR tickets by email, check-in from your phone's camera, a guest list, capacity limits per ticket type, and a message to everyone who has a ticket. Public events can be listed on Discover, or you can make an event password-protected. If you add a paid ticket later, the buyer pays the booking fee and you keep 100% of the ticket price.
Questions
Is Eventbrite free for free events?
Eventbrite's Canadian pricing page says there are no fees for free events. Paid tickets carry 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket, plus 2.9% payment processing per order.
Do free tickets need a QR code?
They don't have to, but QR tickets make check-in faster and give you an accurate count of who came — useful for planning your next event.
Can I mix free and paid tickets in one event?
Yes. On Safara One an event can have several ticket types — free and paid — and only the paid ones carry a booking fee.