Tool profile
pretix: cost, fit and limits
pretix is an event ticketing system from pretix GmbH that sells tickets online, controls access at the door and runs point-of-sale, offered as a hosted service or as software that an organization installs on its own servers.
What to know first
pretix hosted charges 2.5% of the ticket price excluding taxes, never more than 15 EUR per ticket, with no monthly fee and unlimited users. The first 500 free tickets a year cost nothing, then free tickets cost 0.50 EUR each. Separate apps cover scanning, a cash register, a kiosk and exhibitor lead scanning. The service is sold to businesses and similar entities, not consumers.
pretix at a glance
| Maker | pretix GmbH, Germany |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | 2.5% of the ticket price excluding taxes, capped at 15 EUR per ticket, plus payment provider fees |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Event Ticketing Platforms in 2026, rank 3 of 13 |
| Website | pretix.eu |
Who pretix is best for
Conference organizers
The per-ticket cap of 15 EUR keeps the fee flat on expensive passes, and exhibitor lead scanning at 25 EUR per exhibitor supports trade-show formats with sponsor booths.
Teams that want self-hosting
pretix offers a choice between its hosted service and an installation you run yourself, which is useful for organizations that want strict control over servers and stored attendee data.
Multi-staff box offices
Unlimited users with email and phone support suit organizations where many volunteers and staff need access at different times, since no per-seat fee grows with the team.
pretix plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Hosted (SaaS) | 2.5% of ticket price excluding taxes, max 15 EUR per ticket | Shop, access control and point-of-sale software, unlimited users, email and phone support, and no monthly fees on the hosted service. |
| Free ticket distribution | 0.50 EUR per free ticket | The first 500 free tickets per calendar year carry no fee, and the free quota rises with each paid ticket the organizer sells. |
| Add-on modules | Lead scanning 25 EUR per exhibitor; e-invoicing 0.20 EUR per invoice | pretixLEAD exhibitor lead scanning plus Peppol, Italy and Portugal e-invoicing modules, billed only when an organizer uses them. |
Checked November 2026.
What pretix does
- pretixSCAN
- An access control app validates tickets at entrances, which covers door staff without third-party hardware subscriptions and keeps check-in tied to the same shop data.
- pretixPOS
- A cash register app sells tickets and merchandise on site, so on-site sales and online sales end up in one attendee list and one set of reports for the event.
- pretixKIOSK
- A ticket vending machine app is listed as a separate product for self-service sales at venues or attractions that want buyers to serve themselves without staff at a counter.
- pretixLEAD
- Exhibitors scan visitor badges for lead capture at 25 EUR per exhibitor, a fit for fairs and conferences where sponsors want contact details from the people they meet.
- E-invoicing
- Peppol invoicing and Italy or Portugal e-invoicing are sold at 0.20 EUR per invoice for organizers who must issue formal electronic invoices to business customers.
How pretix handles your data
The pricing page says hosted versions run on a redundant server cluster with off-site backups, without naming a data center location. The pages we opened stated no certification, no retention period and no position on training AI models with customer data, so the vendor's policy was not checked for this. The imprint names pretix GmbH in Germany. Self-hosting moves data storage entirely under your own control, with updates and security handled by your team.
Where pretix falls short in practice
- Businesses only. The terms limit services to businesses and similar entities, so a private person running a one-off event cannot sign up as a consumer and may need an association or company.
- Billing at month end. Hosted fees are invoiced at month end and paid by SEPA debit, credit card or bank transfer, so cash flow differs from platforms that deduct fees from each sale.
- No AI feature stated. The pages we opened name no AI capability, so a buyer who wants AI copy, AI ad tools or AI agents inside the ticketing product should look at other platforms.
Works with
Alternatives to pretix
pretix: common questions
How much does pretix hosted cost?
As of November 2026 the hosted service takes 2.5% of the ticket price excluding taxes, never more than 15 EUR per ticket, plus payment provider fees. There is no monthly fee. Free tickets cost nothing for the first 500 a year, then 0.50 EUR each.
Can I run pretix on my own server?
The pretix pages describe a choice between the hosted service and self-hosted or on-premise installation. The self-hosted price was not on the pricing page we read, so ask pretix what support and licensing terms apply before planning a deployment on your own infrastructure.
Does pretix limit the number of users?
The hosted plan lists unlimited users, with email and phone support. That helps events with many volunteers or box office staff, since no per-seat charge applies to the account and new team members can be added without changing the bill.
Is pretix available to individuals?
The pricing page says services are available only to businesses and similar entities, not to consumers. A hobbyist organizer should check whether their association, club or small company qualifies before registering, because the terms exclude purely private use of the hosted service.
What payment providers does pretix work with?
The pages we opened name PayPal, Stripe and Mollie, plus Peppol for e-invoicing. Payment provider fees are billed on top of the pretix fee, so add them to your cost estimate for every paid ticket and compare the totals with other platforms.