LAST UPDATED ON NOV. 19, 2024 AT 7:23 AM | 4 MINUTE READ
Who has the cheapest fees for NFL tickets?
The straightforward answer is, in alphabetical order:
- Captain Ticket
- SeatGeek
- Ticket Finder
- TicketIQ
- TickPick
Of the 10 ticket sites that we regularly monitor, these 5 have zero added service fees. Not to digress, but while service fees are a main pain point among fans, it’s not the end all be all. In other words, lower fees do not always mean the lowest-priced NFL tickets. In fact, there are fulfillment fees, delivery fees, and even fee fees. Alright, the last one isn’t real, but I couldn’t resist.
Anyway, back to…
The dreaded service fees
What are service fees?
In particular to the secondary ticket market, it’s a variable amount that is tacked on to the ticket’s list price.
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Why is it regarded with such dread?
- Its justification is mysterious and is often disguised in doublespeak.
- Service fees vary greatly from site to site, ranging from as little as 4% to as much as 53%.
What that “Service Fee” tacked onto your ticket is actually for.
So, who has the cheapest fees for NFL tickets?
To enumerate, here are the 5 ticket sites that charge a service fee, from highest to lowest:
Site | Service Fee |
---|---|
StubHub | 53% |
Vivid Seats | 32% |
Ticket Liquidator | 31% |
Ticket City | 28% |
FeeFree Ticket | 4% |
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So what?!
So, this:
While service fees are indicative, here are three reasons why they are not the most important factor:
- Additional fees – As previously mentioned, service fees don’t include charges such as the occasional sales tax, or delivery fee. Some sites will charge for “delivery” even for mobile tickets. Furthermore, StubHub piles on an additional $5.95 for what it refers to as a “fulfillment fee”.
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- Workaround – In other words, some ticket brokers incorporate their fees into the base prices. These sites will then advertise that they have no service fees. Interestingly, there is the case of FeeFree Ticket, which ironically includes a 3.8% charge for certain transactions.
- Bottom line – Ultimately, it boils down to which site offers the most savings, regardless of the fees involved. In other words, lowest service fees do not necessarily equate to lowest overall prices, and there are two websites that exemplify this concept perfectly:
- FeeFree Ticket. In spite of its name & minimal service fee, it had the 4th-highest median price in 2024.
- Ticket Finder. No apparent service fees, yet its median ticket price was 3rd-highest.
Henceforth, here’s how our ten NFL ticket sites rank according to final price, lowest to highest:
- TickPick
- TicketIQ
- Vivid Seats
- Captain Ticket
- Ticket City
- SeatGeek
- FeeFree Ticket
- Ticket Finder
- StubHub
- Ticket Liquidator
Summary
- Service fees can add as much as 53% to your final ticket price. As a result, you could be paying up to $81 more per ticket.
- “NFL tickets no service fee” is inconsequential. Sites with higher service fees can still be cheaper.
- In the end, it’s about who has the cheapest NFL tickets. There are sites with service fees that cost less than some that charge zero fees.