Is StubHub Legit? Fees, Safety and Alternatives in 2026
TL;DR (as of July 2026):
StubHub is a long-established, legitimate ticket resale marketplace. Orders are backed by a buyer guarantee. The main question for most people is not whether StubHub is real, but how much the ticket costs after fees. StubHub says there is no set buyer-fee percentage, and fees can vary by ticket price, event, timing, supply and demand. TicketHunter charges 13% all-in (11% platform + 2% processing) to buyers and 0% until 2027 (1% thereafter) to sellers, with fees shown on the listing before checkout.
If you have searched "is StubHub legit," the short answer is yes: it is a real, operational marketplace that has facilitated millions of transactions and provides a buyer guarantee on orders. "Legit" and "good value" are two different questions though. StubHub is legitimate. Whether its all-in cost suits you depends on how its fees stack up against the alternatives. This page sets out how StubHub's fees work, runs price examples at five price points, and compares it fairly with TicketHunter.
How StubHub's fees work
StubHub does not publish one flat percentage that applies to every event. Its own support page says there is no set buyer-fee percentage, and that fees can vary by ticket price, event, timing, supply and demand.
In practice, fees are added at checkout rather than shown on the listing price. When you browse, the price you see is the seller's asking price. A buyer fee is then calculated and applied as you move toward payment, so the final total is higher than the headline figure.
Sellers pay a commission too. When you list and sell a ticket on StubHub, the platform deducts a sell fee from your sale proceeds. The exact fee can vary by event and market.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ordered StubHub UK to refund customers and pay a fine over hidden fees in 2024, making fee transparency a live regulatory issue for ticket resale (gov.uk, 2024).
Payout to sellers generally happens after the event has taken place, with timing varying by market and payment method. There is no price cap on listings, so tickets can be listed above face value.
StubHub vs TicketHunter at a glance
| Feature | StubHub | TicketHunter |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer fee | Variable, no fixed percentage | 13% all-in (11% platform + 2% processing) |
| Buyer fee breakdown | Changes by event, price and demand | 11% platform fee + 2% processing |
| Seller fee | Variable sell fee | 0% until 2027 (1% thereafter) |
| Seller fee from 2027 | Variable | 1% |
| Fee visibility | Usually calculated during checkout | Shown on the listing |
| Price cap | No standard face-value cap | No — sellers set their own price |
| Seller payout | Usually after the event | 7 days after the event |
| Buyer protection | StubHub guarantee | a full refund if the ticket is invalid, not delivered, or materially different from the listing (payments held in escrow until after the event) |
| Payment handling | Marketplace payment flow | Buyer funds held until after the event |
| Best for | Large global inventory | Lower-fee global resale |
StubHub fee position as stated on its support pages (support.stubhub.co.uk, July 2026). TicketHunter fees as published. Always check each platform before transacting.
How much would a buyer pay?
These examples use a 28% illustrative buyer fee for StubHub. StubHub states that its buyer fees do not have a set percentage and can vary by event, ticket price, timing, supply and demand.
| Listed ticket price | StubHub example at 28% buyer fee | TicketHunter at 13% all-in | Buyer saves with TicketHunter |
|---|---|---|---|
| £50 | £64 | £56.50 | £7.50 |
| £100 | £128 | £113 | £15 |
| £300 | £384 | £339 | £45 |
| £500 | £640 | £565 | £75 |
| £1,000 | £1,280 | £1,130 | £150 |
StubHub example uses a 28% illustrative buyer fee. StubHub states that its buyer fees do not have a set percentage and can vary by event, ticket price, timing, supply and demand. TicketHunter figures use its stated 13% all-in buyer fee.
How much does the seller receive?
| Listed ticket price | StubHub seller receives at 15% fee | TicketHunter seller receives until 2027 | Seller keeps more with TicketHunter |
|---|---|---|---|
| £50 | £42.50 | £50 | £7.50 |
| £100 | £85 | £100 | £15 |
| £300 | £255 | £300 | £45 |
| £500 | £425 | £500 | £75 |
| £1,000 | £850 | £1,000 | £150 |
StubHub seller fee shown at 15% is an illustrative commonly reported rate. StubHub's own help pages say the sell fee can vary. TicketHunter seller fees are shown as 0% until 2027, based on TicketHunter's published pricing.
Total fee gap
The fee gap is the difference between what the buyer pays and what the seller receives. The wider the gap, the more goes to the platform rather than to either side.
| Listed ticket price | StubHub total fee gap at 28% buyer + 15% seller | TicketHunter total fee gap at 13% buyer + 0% seller | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| £50 | £21.50 | £6.50 | £15 |
| £100 | £43 | £13 | £30 |
| £300 | £129 | £39 | £90 |
| £500 | £215 | £65 | £150 |
| £1,000 | £430 | £130 | £300 |
On these illustrative rates, a £300 resale creates a £129 gap between what the buyer pays and what the seller receives on StubHub. On TicketHunter, the equivalent gap is £39. The higher the ticket price, the more the fee structure matters.
Fee visibility
The CMA ordered StubHub UK to refund customers and pay a fine over hidden fees (gov.uk, 2024), so fee transparency is a live issue for ticket resale.
| Question | StubHub | TicketHunter |
|---|---|---|
| Can you browse using the headline ticket price? | Yes | Yes |
| Is the final buyer fee always visible immediately? | Not always, fees can be calculated later in the checkout flow | Yes, the buyer fee is shown on the listing |
| Can the buyer fee vary? | Yes | No, 13% all-in |
| Can the seller fee vary? | Yes | No, 0% until 2027 |
| Is the total cost easy to compare before checkout? | Sometimes harder | Yes |
Where StubHub genuinely wins
A fair comparison has to acknowledge where StubHub is strong:
- Scale and inventory depth. StubHub is one of the largest resale marketplaces in the world, so for major tours, big sporting fixtures and sold-out shows, it often has more listings than smaller platforms.
- Global coverage. It operates across many countries and event categories, which is useful if you are buying for events abroad.
- A buyer guarantee. StubHub backs orders with a guarantee designed to get you valid tickets or a resolution if something goes wrong.
- An established, mature platform. Long operating history, well-developed apps and customer support infrastructure.
- Liquidity for sellers. Because so many buyers use it, listings on popular events can sell quickly.
Where TicketHunter differs
- Fee visibility. On StubHub, the buyer fee is calculated and added as you approach checkout. On TicketHunter, the fee is shown on the listing (13% all-in (11% platform + 2% processing) to buyers, 0% until 2027 (1% thereafter) to sellers), so the figure you see while browsing is closer to the figure you pay.
- Seller economics. StubHub charges a variable sell fee. TicketHunter's seller fee is 0% until 2027 (1% thereafter).
- Coverage model. StubHub is global across broad categories. TicketHunter covers events worldwide across all categories.
- Payout and guarantee. TicketHunter's seller payout timing is 7 days after the event and its buyer protection is a full refund if the ticket is invalid, not delivered, or materially different from the listing (payments held in escrow until after the event).
How to switch from StubHub
- Compare the all-in cost first. Take the event you are buying or selling and check the total on StubHub at checkout, then check the equivalent on TicketHunter where the fee is on the listing.
- For sellers: create a listing on TicketHunter via the sell page, enter your ticket details, and confirm the payout terms.
- For buyers: search the event, review the on-listing price including the buyer fee, and complete checkout.
- Keep your tickets safe until the transfer or delivery method is confirmed by the platform.
See how it works for the full buyer and seller flow, and pricing for the current fee detail.
FAQ
Is StubHub legit?
Yes. StubHub is a real and long-established ticket resale marketplace with buyer protection. The bigger question is whether the final price is good value after fees.
What are StubHub buyer fees?
StubHub says there is no set buyer-fee percentage. Fees can vary by event, ticket price, timing, supply and demand.
What are StubHub seller fees?
StubHub says sellers can list for free, but a sell fee is charged once tickets sell. The exact fee can vary.
Is TicketHunter cheaper than StubHub?
In many like-for-like examples, TicketHunter's 13% all-in buyer fee and 0% seller fee until 2027 can create a lower total fee gap.
Does StubHub show fees before checkout?
The listing shows the seller's asking price. The buyer fee is calculated and added as you move toward payment, so the final total is higher than the headline figure.
Is there a price cap on StubHub?
No. StubHub does not cap listings at face value, so tickets can be listed above face value.
When do StubHub sellers get paid?
Payout to sellers generally happens after the event, with timing varying by market and payment method.
Is TicketHunter a good StubHub alternative?
TicketHunter differs on fee visibility (shown on the listing), seller economics (0% until 2027 (1% thereafter)) and coverage (events worldwide across all categories). Compare the all-in total for your specific event before deciding.
Sources & disclaimer
Trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners. TicketHunter is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with any platform named on this page. Fee figures are illustrative ranges based on each platform's publicly published information as of July 2026 and may change. StubHub states that its fees do not have a set percentage. Always check the platform's own fee page before transacting. Worked examples are illustrative.
Looking for alternatives to both StubHub and viagogo? See our full guide to the best alternatives covering 7 platforms, or check why resale fees are so high.
Compare more platforms: viagogo · Vivid Seats · Ticketmaster Resale · All resale fees compared