Attending a live concert is an experience that most people look forward to. The excitement of seeing your favorite band, artist, or orchestra live, feeling the energy of the crowd, and enjoying the music in real time is a thrill that cannot be replicated. However, concert tickets can sometimes come with a hefty price tag, especially for big-name artists or in-demand events. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to find cheap concert tickets that can make the experience more affordable. In this article, we’ll explore the 8 best places to buy cheap concert tickets, giving you a comprehensive guide to securing tickets at the best possible prices.
Why Finding Cheap Concert Tickets Matters
Concert tickets are a significant expense for many music fans, especially for those who attend multiple shows per year. For larger, more popular events, tickets can cost hundreds of dollars, and prices can skyrocket even further for premium seating or VIP packages. For music lovers on a budget, finding cheap concert tickets is essential in making the experience more accessible without breaking the bank.
Fortunately, the advent of online ticket platforms and various ticket resale options has made it easier to find affordable tickets. In this guide, we’ll highlight the best places to shop for cheap concert tickets, outlining the specific features and benefits of each option so that you can make an informed decision based on your needs.
The 8 Best Places to Buy Cheap Concert Tickets
1. Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is one of the most well-known ticket vendors worldwide and is often the official seller for many major concerts and events.
While Ticketmaster’s prices for high-demand events can sometimes be high, there are still ways to find cheaper tickets. The platform regularly offers discounts on certain shows, and many artists have fan club presale opportunities that allow early access to tickets at discounted prices.
Features of Ticketmaster:
Presale Access: Members of specific fan clubs, credit card holders, or those with verified accounts often get access to exclusive presales before the general public.
Verified Resale: Ticketmaster allows users to buy and sell tickets in a safe environment through their Verified Tickets program. This means you can often find tickets at a lower price from sellers looking to offload their tickets.
Discounts & Promotions: Ticketmaster often runs promotions, especially for less popular concerts, where tickets may be offered at a reduced rate.
How to Save:
Sign up for fan clubs or mailing lists for presale information and early ticket access.
Look for special deals, especially for smaller artists or events with less demand.
2. StubHub
StubHub is a popular marketplace for buying and selling event tickets, including concert tickets. As a secondary ticket marketplace, StubHub offers an extensive selection of tickets, often at a range of price points.
While ticket prices can vary depending on demand, you can often find great deals on tickets from sellers who are looking to unload tickets last-minute.
Features of StubHub:
Price Range: StubHub’s marketplace allows sellers to set their own prices, so you can find tickets both above and below face value, depending on demand.
Mobile App: StubHub’s app allows users to quickly buy tickets on the go, providing a convenient option for last-minute ticket purchases.
FanProtect Guarantee: StubHub offers a guarantee that ensures your tickets will be valid and delivered on time or your money back.
How to Save:
Look for “Best Available” tickets, which often offer discounts compared to premium seating.
Use the mobile app for notifications about last-minute price drops.
3. Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is another popular online ticket marketplace where users can find concert tickets from both primary sellers and third-party resellers. Vivid Seats has a large selection of tickets, ranging from popular stadium shows to more intimate concerts at smaller venues.
Features of Vivid Seats:
Wide Variety of Concerts: Vivid Seats offers tickets for a wide array of musical genres, including rock, pop, country, classical, and electronic music.
Vivid Seats Rewards: Vivid Seats has a loyalty program that offers points for every ticket purchase, which can later be redeemed for discounts or rewards.
Price Match Guarantee: Vivid Seats offers a price match guarantee for tickets purchased through their platform, meaning if you find a cheaper ticket elsewhere, they will match the price.
How to Save:
Sign up for their rewards program to earn points on each purchase.
Take advantage of the price match guarantee to ensure you’re getting the best possible deal.
4. SeatGeek
SeatGeek is another ticket marketplace that aggregates listings from various sources to provide concert tickets. Known for its user-friendly interface, SeatGeek allows users to easily compare ticket prices across multiple platforms, which makes finding cheap tickets easier. The platform also provides a “Deal Score” for each ticket, helping users to quickly assess the value of each listing.
Features of SeatGeek:
Deal Score: SeatGeek provides a numerical rating that helps users gauge whether a ticket is priced fairly.
Wide Range of Sellers: SeatGeek aggregates listings from a variety of sources, including ticket sellers and individual resellers.
Mobile App: SeatGeek’s app allows users to purchase tickets quickly and provides a convenient way to track concerts, concerts, and venues.
How to Save:
Use the Deal Score to identify tickets that offer the best value.
Look for ticket listings with lower Deal Scores, as they may be priced below face value.
5. Ticketfly
Ticketfly is another solid option for finding cheap concert tickets, especially for smaller concerts and independent venues.
Ticketfly’s focus is on providing a platform for independent events and concerts, which often means lower prices compared to major events or arena shows.
Features of Ticketfly:
Focus on Indie Events: Ticketfly often sells tickets for smaller, independent concerts that may be harder to find on larger ticketing platforms.
No Extra Fees: One of the most attractive features of Ticketfly is that it doesn’t charge the same hefty service fees as many other ticket platforms, often making it more affordable.
Partnerships with Local Venues: Ticketfly has established relationships with many independent venues, which often results in better prices for local events.
How to Save:
Keep an eye on local, indie events that typically offer lower-priced tickets.
Buy tickets directly through the venue’s site, which often uses Ticketfly as its platform.
6. Bandsintown
Bandsintown is primarily a concert discovery platform, but it also provides users with the ability to buy tickets for their favorite concerts.
Bandsintown often lists lower-priced tickets for local shows and smaller venues, where tickets tend to be more affordable than for large-scale events.
Features of Bandsintown:
Personalized Recommendations: Bandsintown sends notifications for concerts based on your music preferences and previously attended events.
Integrated Ticketing: Bandsintown allows users to buy tickets directly from their platform or link to external ticket vendors for purchase.
Wide Range of Events: While focused on concerts, Bandsintown also offers tickets for music festivals, club shows, and local gigs.
How to Save:
Set up personalized alerts for cheap tickets for your favorite artists.
Use the integrated ticket purchasing options to avoid extra fees from third-party sellers.
7. Goldstar
Goldstar is a unique platform that focuses on providing discounted tickets for a variety of events, including concerts, theater productions, comedy shows, and more. Goldstar offers a “members-only” pricing structure, where users can get access to discounted tickets if they sign up for a free membership.
Features of Goldstar:
Discounted Tickets: Goldstar offers discounts for events in many cities, especially for concerts in smaller venues or regional shows.
Membership Perks: By becoming a member, users can access special offers, exclusive discounts, and deals that are not available to the general public.
Event Variety: In addition to concerts, Goldstar offers discounts for theater performances, comedy events, and more.
How to Save:
Become a Goldstar member to gain access to discounted tickets and special offers.
Browse the website for last-minute deals and discounted tickets.
8. Eventbrite
Eventbrite is a ticketing platform known for listing tickets for all types of events, including concerts, festivals, and small local performances.
Eventbrite allows users to purchase tickets directly from event organizers, which can often result in lower prices compared to third-party resale sites.
Features of Eventbrite:
Direct Access to Event Organizers: Many local and independent concerts list their tickets directly on Eventbrite, allowing for cheaper pricing.
Ticket Variety: From large festivals to intimate club performances, Eventbrite offers a broad spectrum of concert options.
Last-Minute Deals: Eventbrite often has last-minute tickets available at a discount for events happening soon.
How to Save:
Look for last-minute ticket deals for concerts happening soon.
Buy tickets early to avoid service fees or price hikes.
Conclusion
Finding cheap concert tickets doesn’t have to be difficult. With the rise of various online platforms, music lovers now have more options than ever for securing tickets at affordable prices. From large-scale marketplaces like Ticketmaster and StubHub to smaller platforms like Bandsintown and Ticketfly, each offers unique opportunities to purchase tickets at discounted rates.
