Magnetiq: a better Eventbrite alternative
for curated event experiences

2. Data ownership: Yours — Not theirs

When you use a platform like Eventbrite, your guest list may not be entirely yours. According to their terms, Eventbrite has the right to use attendee data for their own purposes — including marketing future events or suggesting other experiences. That can be a concern, especially for brands running private, high-profile, or press-sensitive gatherings.

With Magnetiq, it’s different. Your guest data stays yours. We’re fully GDPR-compliant, and we don’t use — or even access — your attendees’ information for any reason beyond powering your event. That includes RSVPs, preferences, seating info, and even check-in activity. Everything is managed securely under your control.

3. Adding attendees:
Building your list vs Processing an order

In Eventbrite, adding guests manually is possible — but it’s treated as an exception. You go through a process designed to replicate a ticket purchase: choosing an “order type,” assigning a ticket, filling out a payment form, and confirming the registration. You can only do it one guest at a time, and each entry is logged as a kind of internal sale.

Magnetiq treats attendees as people you’re inviting. You can add them manually, import in bulk from Excel, or pick contacts from your Magnetiq database if they’ve attended past events. It’s fast, clean, and designed for real-world guest management, not transaction tracking.

And when your event requires it, you can also set up a public registration form — still without forcing a ticket or transaction model. Whether your list is curated or open, Magnetiq keeps the focus on the guest, not the order.

4. RSVP tracking: Built-in logic vs a Button label

In Eventbrite, “RSVP” is mostly a label — one of several options you can use for a call-to-action button in an email campaign. It links to your event’s registration page, but there’s no built-in RSVP logic. Responses are treated as completed ticket orders, and there’s no way to follow up based on actual attendance intent.

Magnetiq treats RSVP as a core concept, not a workaround. Each guest has a clear status — invited, confirmed, declined, no response. You can create custom RSVP forms and set up confirmation flows that match your tone of voice. You can also filter, segment, and follow up based on engagement — for instance, by sending a reminder campaign to guests who opened your email but didn’t reply.

RSVP in Magnetiq isn’t just about recording a response. It’s about creating a personalized and respectful experience around attendance — one that adapts to each guest’s timing, status, and importance.

5. Guest management:
Relationship tracking vs Names on a list

On Eventbrite, your guest list is essentially a list of ticket holders. You can collect custom form responses, export basic reports, and tag attendees with filters — but the model is designed around transactions, not relationships.

Magnetiq takes a fundamentally different approach. Every guest is a profile you can enrich, track, and engage across multiple events — whether they’re a VIP, a journalist, a client, or a guest of a partner. You can group them by company or role, store preferences (like dietary needs or gifting status), and use that data to personalize their experience.

Over time, you’re not just managing events — you’re building a connected, searchable contact network that reflects your brand’s ecosystem.

6. Seating plans: Assigning seats vs Selling them

In Eventbrite, seating charts exist to help you sell seats. Guests browse a venue map, choose their spot, and complete their purchase. It’s a smooth system — but it’s built for self-service ticketing, not curated guest placement.

Magnetiq works differently. It’s designed for events where you assign seats — not sell them. Whether you’re organizing a gala dinner, a fashion show, or a leadership roundtable, you can visually place guests at tables or rows, tag them by company or role, and adjust seatings collaboratively with your team.

In Magnetiq, the seating plan isn’t just a layout — it’s part of your guest strategy. You can coordinate pairings, ensure protocol is respected, and update placements even minutes before check-in. Every decision is driven by what makes the event better, not what’s available to buy.

7. Digital passes:
Custom-branded wallet passes vs standard Eventbrite files

In Eventbrite, Apple and Google Wallet passes — and PDF tickets — are always branded with the Eventbrite logo and follow a fixed layout. You can’t control the design, and guests are more likely to see Eventbrite than your brand.

With Magnetiq, you can create beautifully branded passes for both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, complete with your event’s visual identity — custom banner, background color or image. You can also choose whether to include information like the seat number or access status. You decide what appears, and when.

8. Email campaigns:
Personalized messaging vs One-size-fits-all

Eventbrite’s email campaigns are designed to promote active events. You can select a single call-to-action button — such as “RSVP,” “Buy tickets,” or “Register” — and link it to your Eventbrite event page or another Eventbrite URL. External links, custom flows, or additional types of guest content aren’t supported. You also can’t select recipients — each email campaign is sent to your entire list of attendees.

Magnetiq gives you complete control — over both content and audience. You can create multiple campaigns, each one targeted to a specific segment of guests, fine-tuning your messaging for different roles, languages, or levels of access within the same event.

You also have full freedom over the content: you can add calls to action that link wherever you like, use your own HTML for fully custom layouts, and insert dynamic fields like {{SEAT_NUMBER}} to deliver personalized information — such as a guest’s assigned table or seat.

9. QR codes: More than entry — enable perks and access

In Eventbrite, QR codes are used for a single purpose: validating ticket entry. Guests present their code at the door, it’s scanned, and that’s it — access granted.

With Magnetiq, QR codes unlock much more. Each guest receives a unique, profile-based QR code that can be used not just for entry, but also for on-site perks, gift pickup, area access, or check-ins across multiple sessions.

This makes QR codes a powerful tool for delivering a personalized, secure experience, not just a way to get through the door.

10. Multi-session events: Smart guest sync vs Fragmented registration

Eventbrite allows you to create recurring events or events with multiple dates and times — but the model is centered around selling tickets for each instance. You can either set up a single event with multiple ticket types or create identical recurring events. In both cases, each “session” is treated as a separate, standalone ticketed moment. Guest data isn’t shared across them, and there’s no built-in way to sync guest lists or statuses between sessions.

Magnetiq works differently. It’s built to manage cohesive, multi-part guest experiences — like conferences with workshops, gala dinners followed by after-parties, or any event where guests attend across multiple time slots, days, or venues.

With Magnetiq, guest lists can be kept independent — or synced one-way or bidirectionally — and access rules, RSVP statuses, and special passes can be applied across the whole event. Each guest can use the same QR code to check in at all sessions, simplifying operations and ensuring a smoother guest journey.

11. Pricing model: Transparent plans vs Hidden costs

Eventbrite’s basic plan is free — but only if your tickets are free too. As soon as you start charging for attendance, Eventbrite applies fees per ticket sold. And while free plans might seem appealing, it’s important to note that Eventbrite’s business model also benefits from collecting and analyzing your event and attendee data. That’s how they power their discovery features, ticket recommendations, and broader platform growth.

Magnetiq takes a different approach. We don’t monetize your guest data — because your guest list is yours, not ours. Our pricing is transparent and fixed. Whether you’re organizing a 50-person private dinner or a multi-day press event, you know what you’re paying upfront — and what you’re getting in return.