Vivid Seats vs StubHub: How Do They Compare?

Short answer: Vivid Seats and StubHub do the same basic job. Both are resale marketplaces where independent sellers set the price, and neither is the official seller for a concert. Both publish a buyer guarantee covering tickets that arrive late or do not get you in, and both refund in some form when a show is cancelled and not rescheduled. Which one is lower for your show depends on the individual listings, so compare the same seats at the full order total on both.

Vivid Seats vs StubHub at a glance

These are the terms each company publishes at the time of writing. The version shown at checkout is the one that governs your order.

Two marketplaces, the same kind of listing

Because both are resale marketplaces, a Vivid Seats listing and a StubHub listing for the same show are the same kind of product: a ticket someone already holds, offered at a price they chose. Vivid Seats says its prices are set independently by resellers, move with supply and demand, and can be above or below face value. StubHub describes the same model and adds two seller rules: no listing tickets the seller does not own, and no payment to the seller until after the event.

Vivid Seats says every seller has to apply and be approved before listing, and marks its longest-standing sellers with a ribbon icon.

You may well see similar seats on both at different prices. That gap is a difference between two listings, each priced by its own seller, not proof that one marketplace is always lower.

Is Vivid Seats cheaper than StubHub?

There is no consistent answer. Each listing is priced by its own seller, and the order can flip between listings and over a single day.

Fee display is more comparable than it used to be. In the US, both must include mandatory fees in the upfront price (the fees guide covers the rule). Vivid Seats says it uses all-in pricing once you start shopping.

A like-for-like check:

• Same date, venue and event name.
• Same section, row, quantity and ticket type.
• The final order total in the same currency, including taxes and delivery.
• The listed delivery method and timing.

Buyer protection

Vivid Seats' Buyer Guarantee promises a secure transaction, delivery before the event, and valid, authentic tickets.

StubHub's FanProtect Guarantee promises tickets that arrive in time and get you in, a comparable replacement or your money back if something goes wrong, and a refund if the event is cancelled and not rescheduled. StubHub says it tries to get you into the event first, with a refund as the backstop, and that FanProtect is part of every order rather than an add-on. It does not cover a change of plans, a postponed event or your travel costs.

If a ticket fails at the gate on either site, record what happened, such as a photo or a screenshot, and contact the marketplace the same day.

Cancelled and postponed shows

• Cancelled and not rescheduled: StubHub refunds. Vivid Seats compensates with a refund or store credit of the purchase price, including delivery fees but less possible restocking fees, at its discretion.
• Postponed or rescheduled: both say your tickets remain valid for the new date. Vivid Seats adds that when the original ticket seller reissues tickets with new barcodes, it delivers the replacements to you.

If you cannot make a new date, both marketplaces let you list the ticket for resale. See what to do if a concert is postponed or cancelled.

Delivery

On both sites, delivery depends on how the venue issues tickets. Vivid Seats emails an estimated delivery date once your order is confirmed, and an electronic transfer may mean accepting the tickets in another company's app. StubHub's on-time promise covers mobile transfers, PDFs and shipped tickets.

Check which StubHub site you're on

StubHub's support site says stubhub.com and stubhub.ca are StubHub North America, while the StubHub sites in the UK, Ireland, much of Europe and Mexico belong to StubHub International, a separately owned business with its own accounts. If you are buying for a show outside the US or Canada, read the terms of the StubHub site the listing is on. On TourTicketCompare, every StubHub button is a StubHub International link that opens a stubhub.ie event page, including for US shows, so the StubHub terms that apply to an order placed from this site are StubHub International's.

Which should you use?

• Before either: check whether face-value tickets are still available from the official seller named by the artist or venue.
• For resale: open the same date on both, match the seats and quantity, and compare the full order totals and delivery.
• If the totals are close: choose on delivery timing and the terms you are more comfortable with.

FAQ

Is Vivid Seats the same as StubHub?

No. They are separate companies running separate resale marketplaces, each with its own sellers, fees and buyer guarantee.

Which is cheaper, Vivid Seats or StubHub?

Neither, consistently. Prices are set by individual sellers on each site, so compare matching seats at the final order total at the same time.

Why do similar seats cost different amounts on each site?

Each listing is priced by its own seller, and the two sites charge their own fees. Compare the final order totals for matching seats rather than the first price shown.

Do Vivid Seats and StubHub guarantee my tickets?

Both publish a buyer guarantee covering on-time delivery and valid tickets. StubHub offers a comparable replacement or refund if something goes wrong; read Vivid Seats' full guarantee terms for its remedies.

What happens if my show is postponed?

On both sites your tickets stay valid for the new date. A postponement is not a refund case under FanProtect, and Vivid Seats compensates only for events cancelled and not rescheduled.

Does TourTicketCompare sell Vivid Seats or StubHub tickets?

No. The site links to providers and explains how they differ; the order is between you and the marketplace.

Related guides

• Vivid Seats vs Ticketmaster
• Ticketmaster vs StubHub
• How resale ticket pricing works
• How to avoid ticket scams

More on Vivid Seats and StubHub

• Ticketmaster, SeatGeek & Vivid Seats: How to Compare Tickets
• SeatGeek vs StubHub: How Do They Compare?
• Vivid Seats vs SeatGeek: What Is the Difference?
• Is Vivid Seats legit, and is it safe to buy from?
• How do Vivid Seats promo codes and fees work?