Best WordPress Ticketing Plugin for 2026: TicketPayGo vs The Competition

When you're running an event business and using WordPress, choosing the right ticketing plugin can make or break your success. You want something that's easy to use, doesn't eat into your profits with hidden fees, and integrates seamlessly with your existing website. But with dozens of ticketing solutions available, how do you know which one is actually the best fit for your needs?

This comprehensive guide compares the leading WordPress ticketing plugins in 2026, breaking down their features, costs, and real-world performance. By the end, you'll understand exactly which plugin works best for your specific situation.

Why WordPress Ticketing Plugins Matter

Before we dive into comparisons, let's establish why choosing the right ticketing plugin is so critical. Your ticketing system is often the first direct interaction customers have with your event. It needs to be:

• Fast and reliable — Your attendees shouldn't experience checkout friction
• Cost-efficient — Platform fees directly reduce your event revenue
• User-friendly — Both for you (the organizer) and your customers
• Secure — Payment processing and customer data must be protected
• Feature-rich — QR codes, multiple ticket types, and analytics should be standard

WordPress powers 43% of the web, and if you're already invested in a WordPress site, extending that platform with a native ticketing plugin makes logical sense. You avoid the complexity of managing multiple external platforms and maintain full control over your customer data.

Overview of WordPress Ticketing Options

WordPress has a fragmented ticketing ecosystem. Unlike some website builders that offer built-in ticketing, you need to choose from several standalone plugins, each with different strengths. The major categories are:

• Freemium plugins — Low or no upfront cost, but limited features
• Premium plugins — One-time payment or subscription; more features
• SaaS integrations — WordPress plugins that embed external platforms (WeTicket.io, Eventbrite, Universe)

The best choice depends on your event volume, budget, and technical comfort level.

The Missing Piece: Why TicketPayGo Stands Out

If you've researched WordPress ticketing plugins or European ticketing platforms, you've likely encountered strong contenders like WeTicket.io (Netherlands market leader), Tickera, and The Events Calendar Pro. These are all legitimate choices, each with specific strengths for different use cases.

However, if your primary concerns are:

• Fixed monthly pricing with zero per-ticket commissions (no surprise fees eating into profits)
• QR codes + web-based scanning built directly into the plugin (no app download required)
• Apple Wallet integration for mobile-first attendees who expect digital tickets
• European payment methods (Mollie, iDEAL, Bancontact) for organizers outside traditional Stripe regions
• Multi-scanner support (2+ devices checking in attendees simultaneously)
• Setup in under 10 minutes with zero coding knowledge required

...then TicketPayGo addresses a specific gap that broader plugin roundups overlook.

The reason? Most general WordPress plugin comparisons focus on ease of use, feature breadth, and calendar integration. They don't analyze the economic model (fixed vs commission-based pricing) or compare cost efficiency across different event sizes—which is where TicketPayGo's advantage becomes obvious.

This article goes deeper into that gap, showing you not just which plugins exist, but which pricing model actually saves you money depending on your event volume.

Evaluation Criteria: What to Look For

Before comparing specific plugins, here's what matters most:

Comparison Table: WordPress Ticketing Plugins (2026)

*Eventbrite pricing varies by region. Example shown is Netherlands/EU professional plan.

Key Observations

Cost Models: TicketPayGo operates on a monthly subscription (€59 for the standard plan), while WeTicket.io charges per ticket (€0.30), and Tickera/The Events Calendar Pro charge annual fees. Eventbrite and WeTicket.io charge no upfront fee but take commissions from every ticket sold.

Feature Leaders: TicketPayGo, WeTicket.io, Tickera, and The Events Calendar Pro offer the most comprehensive feature sets, including native QR codes and full data ownership.

Apple Wallet Support: This feature is surprisingly rare among WordPress plugins. TicketPayGo and Eventbrite (embedded) are among the few offering native Apple Wallet integration—a critical feature for mobile-first attendees.

Ease of Use: TicketPayGo stands out for its intuitive setup process and built-in web-based QR scanner. Users report installing and configuring their first event in under 10 minutes.

In-Depth Look at TicketPayGo

TicketPayGo is a native WordPress plugin designed specifically for event organizers who want simplicity without sacrificing power. Here's what sets it apart:

Pricing: Predictable Monthly Costs

TicketPayGo offers a tiered pricing model:

The advantage of fixed pricing: You know exactly what you'll pay every month, regardless of how many tickets you sell. This is drastically different from WeTicket.io, which charges €0.30 per ticket, or Eventbrite, which takes 4.0% + €0.99 per ticket (in the Netherlands).

Cost Example: 500-Ticket Event

Let's compare real costs:

Scenario: 500 tickets sold at €50/ticket average

Key insight: If you sell 500 tickets at €50 each, Eventbrite costs you €1,495 in fees—more than 25 times what TicketPayGo costs. WeTicket.io at €150 is better but still 2.5x more expensive than TicketPayGo's fixed rate.

Break-Even Analysis

When does TicketPayGo make sense?

For the standard €59/month plan, compared to WeTicket.io's €0.30 per ticket:

• At 100 tickets/month (€50 avg): WeTicket.io = €30, TicketPayGo = €59 ⚠️ WeTicket.io cheaper by €29
• At 197 tickets/month (€50 avg): WeTicket.io = €59, TicketPayGo = €59 ✅ BREAK-EVEN
• At 200 tickets/month (€50 avg): WeTicket.io = €60, TicketPayGo = €59 ✅ TicketPayGo cheaper by €1
• At 500 tickets/month (€50 avg): WeTicket.io = €150, TicketPayGo = €59 ✅ TicketPayGo cheaper by €91
• At 1,000 tickets/month (€50 avg): WeTicket.io = €300, TicketPayGo = €59 ✅ TicketPayGo cheaper by €241

Compared to Eventbrite (4.0% + €0.99, Netherlands pricing):

• At 100 tickets/month: Eventbrite = €399, TicketPayGo = €59 ✅ €340 savings
• At 500 tickets/month: Eventbrite = €1,495, TicketPayGo = €59 ✅ €1,436 savings
• At 1,000 tickets/month: Eventbrite = €2,990, TicketPayGo = €59 ✅ €2,931 savings

Even at just 200 tickets/month, TicketPayGo's €59/month becomes more economical than WeTicket.io's per-ticket model.

Native QR Code Generation

TicketPayGo generates QR codes natively within WordPress. Every ticket automatically includes a unique QR code that contains the attendee's information. This eliminates:

• Reliance on external QR generation services
• Complex integrations with third-party scanning apps
• Lost time troubleshooting code generation failures

The QR codes are generated instantly when a ticket is purchased, and they're customizable (size, color, position on ticket).

Web-Based QR Scanning (No App Download Required)

Unlike most plugins that require downloading a mobile app, TicketPayGo offers a browser-based scanner. Event staff can use any smartphone with a web browser to scan tickets at the venue. This means:

• No app installation required — Works in any modern web browser
• Works offline — Syncs when reconnected to the internet
• Instant, reliable check-in — Real-time attendance tracking
• Multiple scanners — Depending on plan (2, 4, or 7 active scanners)

Apple Wallet Integration

TicketPayGo automatically generates Apple Wallet-compatible tickets (PKPass format). When customers receive their email confirmation, they can add the ticket directly to their iPhone Wallet. This reduces:

• Lost or forgotten tickets
• Customer support inquiries
• Duplicate ticket fraud

Payment Gateway Flexibility

TicketPayGo supports Stripe, PayPal, and Mollie. Mollie integration is particularly important for European organizers, as it natively supports local payment methods (iDEAL, Bancontact, Giropay, etc.). This is a competitive advantage over Eventbrite, which has limited European payment options.

WooCommerce Integration

If you sell merchandise, pass upgrades, or early-bird packages alongside tickets, TicketPayGo integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce. You can manage everything—events and products—from a single WordPress dashboard.

Full Data Ownership

Your attendee data stays in your WordPress database. You can export attendee lists, email addresses, and purchase history at any time. This is critical for:

• GDPR compliance — You own the data, not the vendor
• Future marketing campaigns — Email your past attendees directly
• Repeat event organizer insights — Track customer lifetime value
• Platform independence — Move away from the plugin if needed

How to Choose the Right Plugin for Your Situation

Choose TicketPayGo if:

• You want predictable, fixed monthly costs (no commission surprises)
• You sell 200+ tickets per month (where fixed pricing beats commission models)
• You prioritize data ownership and GDPR compliance
• You need Apple Wallet and QR code support out-of-the-box
• You sell other products via WooCommerce
• You want straightforward, low-friction setup
• You're based in Europe and need Mollie/iDEAL support
• You need multiple simultaneous scanners

Choose WeTicket.io if:

• You sell fewer than 197 tickets per month
• You prefer Dutch/European platform leadership
• You don't need Apple Wallet support
• You want a standalone platform without WordPress integration

Choose Tickera if:

• You want the lowest annual cost for very low-volume events
• You need one-time payment (annual license) vs recurring subscriptions
• You have technical staff available for advanced configuration

Choose The Events Calendar Pro if:

• You need a lightweight calendar-first solution
• You want tight integration with event discovery/listing
• You prefer visual event browsing over direct ticket purchasing

Choose Eventbrite (Embedded) if:

• You want built-in event marketplace visibility
• You expect high-volume traffic and need Eventbrite's promotional reach
• You're willing to pay 4.0% commission for discoverability

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is there a per-ticket fee with TicketPayGo?
A: No. TicketPayGo charges a fixed monthly subscription only. You keep 100% of your ticket revenue (after payment processor fees like Stripe's ~1.4% + €0.25).

Q: Can I use multiple payment methods with TicketPayGo?
A: Yes. TicketPayGo supports Stripe, PayPal, and Mollie simultaneously. Customers can choose their preferred method at checkout.

Q: Is TicketPayGo GDPR compliant?
A: Yes. All customer data is stored in your WordPress database (which you control). TicketPayGo does not sell or share attendee information.

Q: What if I need to refund a ticket?
A: TicketPayGo supports full and partial refunds directly from the dashboard. Refunded amounts are returned to the original payment method.

Q: Can I sell tickets at different price tiers?
A: Yes. TicketPayGo supports unlimited ticket types with different prices, including early-bird discounts, group rates, and VIP tiers.

Q: How many active scanners does each plan include?
A: Free (1), TicketPayGo Standard (2), TicketPayGo Multi (4), TicketPayGo Venue (7). Additional scanners cost €20/month each.

Q: Does TicketPayGo work with multisite WordPress installations?
A: Yes. TicketPayGo supports WordPress multisite, allowing you to manage multiple events across different network sites.

Q: What kind of support is available?
A: TicketPayGo offers email support, comprehensive documentation, and a knowledge base. Premium plans include priority support.

Conclusion

Choosing a ticketing plugin is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a WordPress event organizer. The right plugin should offer predictable costs, modern features, and full control over your customer data.

TicketPayGo stands out in 2026 as the best WordPress ticketing plugin for most organizers because it combines a fixed monthly fee (with high-volume events, this is dramatically cheaper than commission-based platforms), native Apple Wallet and QR code support, and complete data ownership—all without the complexity of managing an external platform.

For organizers selling more than 200 tickets per month, TicketPayGo's cost advantage over WeTicket.io and Eventbrite alone justifies the switch. Add in better data control and feature parity, and the choice becomes clear.

Ready to get started? Install TicketPayGo now or Download it for free via Wordpress.org.