Platform Comparison

Why Organizers Choose
Cigar & Bourbon Tickets

The lowest fees, the most powerful tools, and features the other platforms simply don't offer.

CBT
89/89
Every feature
Eventbrite
41/89
Missing 48
Luma
6/89
Missing 83
Sparxo
13/89
Missing 76
Where CBT Outshines

What you only get with Cigar & Bourbon Tickets

Recurring memberships

Sell monthly or annual memberships with scannable digital member cards — no other platform offers this.

Venue bookings & reservations

Take table, lounge, and room reservations right alongside your event tickets.

Built-in loyalty & rewards

Points, tiers, and member perks that keep your community coming back.

Flexible ticket upgrades

Attendees pay only the difference to upgrade — even from free tickets and on reserved-seating events.

Eventbrite blocks both

QR-code payment, zero hardware

Take card payments by having guests scan a code from your phone — no readers to buy.

Eventbrite: No

Lowest fees, no subscription

Keep more of every sale — no monthly plan and no per-event upsell to unlock features.

AI for cigar & bourbon culture

An assistant, event copy, and booking agreements tuned specifically to your world.

Ambassador program

Recruit promoters and pay commissions automatically — not just shareable tracking links.

Eventbrite: links only
Everything Eventbrite does — Tap to Pay, Apple Wallet, reserved seating, a native app, a discovery marketplace — plus everything above that they don't.
Feature
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Pricing & Fees
4 features
Service Fee ? The percentage + flat fee charged per paid ticket sold
CBT 3.4% + $0.99
Eventbrite 3.7% + $1.79
Luma Free (no ticketing)
Sparxo $1–$5.99
Organizers Keep 100% ? Fees are paid by the attendee on top of the ticket price — organizer gets the full amount
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma N/A
Sparxo
Monthly Subscription ? Whether the platform charges organizers a recurring monthly fee to use the service
CBT None
Eventbrite $15–$100/mo
Luma None
Sparxo None
Instant Payouts to Organizer ? Ticket revenue goes directly to your connected payment account — no waiting period
CBT
Eventbrite Instant (+3% fee)
Luma N/A
Sparxo
Ticketing & Sales
23 features
Guest List Management ? View and manage your full attendee list with names, emails, and check-in status
CBT
Eventbrite Basic
Luma
Sparxo Basic
Downloadable PDF Tickets ? Attendees receive a branded PDF ticket with QR code they can print or save
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Donation Tickets ? Accept flexible-amount donations with fundraising goals and a progress bar on the event page
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Auto-Apply Group Discounts ? Automatically reduce the per-ticket price when attendees buy in bulk — no code needed
CBT
Eventbrite Workaround
Luma
Sparxo
Hidden / Access Code Tickets ? Tickets that only appear when the buyer enters a secret access code — perfect for presales
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Scheduled Ticket Sales ? Set tickets to automatically go on sale at a future date and time with a countdown timer
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
BOGO Deals (No Promo Code) ? Ticket-level Buy One Get One — companion ticket auto-added at checkout with no promo code needed. Free, flat discount, or percentage off with pool limits and optional badge
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Multi-Day / Festival Passes ? A single ticket that's valid across multiple event dates with per-day check-in tracking
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Private / Invite-Only Events ? Events hidden from public search — only accessible via a private tokenized link
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Auto-Apply Promo Links ? Share a URL with a promo code baked in — discount applies automatically at checkout
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Eventbrite Event Import ? Import your existing events from Eventbrite with one click — all details transfer over
CBT
Eventbrite N/A
Luma
Sparxo
Reserved Seating / Seat Maps ? Interactive drag-and-drop seat map builder with 10 layout templates — attendees pick their seat
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Whole-Table Purchasing ? Sell an entire table as a single ticket — all seats assigned to one buyer's group
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Access Window (Time-Gated Entry) ? Restrict check-in to a specific time window per ticket type — perfect for staggered entry
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Designated Driver Tickets ? Special ticket type that flags the attendee as a designated driver — visible to check-in staff
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Custom Check-in Window per Ticket ? Set different check-in start times for each ticket type at the same event
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Waitlist When Sold Out ? Attendees join a waitlist when tickets sell out — automatically notified via email if seats become available
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Walk-up Purchase Linking ? Door sales automatically attach to the buyer's account when they sign up later — past purchases appear in their order history
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Sponsorship & Vendor Booth Sales ? Sell sponsorship slots and vendor booths as ticketable products with branded confirmation emails, contracts, and welcome packets auto-attached
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Ticket Transfers ? Attendees can transfer their ticket to someone else with a new QR code — original ticket is voided
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Ticket Upgrades (Pay the Difference) ? Attendees move up to a higher tier and pay only the price difference — works even on free tickets and reserved-seating events, where Eventbrite blocks it
CBT
Eventbrite Limited
Luma
Sparxo Manual
Early Bird Pricing ? Set a discounted price with an auto-expiration date — price reverts to full automatically. Best-discount-wins at checkout
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Per-Event FAQ Builder ? Add and manage FAQ questions per event — displayed on the event page with expand/collapse accordion
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Digital Wallet & Mobile Payments
9 features
Apple Wallet Event Tickets ? Add tickets to Apple Wallet on iPhone — auto-updates with event time, venue, and live event details. Works offline at the door
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Apple Wallet Membership Cards ? Members add their digital membership card to Apple Wallet for instant access at the door — no app to open, just tap
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Google Wallet Event Tickets ? Add tickets to Google Wallet on Android — instant access with offline QR code, event details, and live updates
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Google Wallet Membership Cards ? Membership cards saved to Google Wallet for fast member identification and door access
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Tap to Pay (NFC) ? Accept contactless credit and debit card payments directly on your phone using the CBT Organizer app — no card reader needed, no setup required
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
QR Code Payment (No Hardware) ? Generate a payment QR code on your screen — customer scans it and pays with their own phone. Zero hardware required, works on any device
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Card Reader Support (Stripe Terminal) ? Plug-in or Bluetooth card readers (Stripe Reader M2, WisePOS E) for traditional swipe, dip, and tap payments at the door
CBT
Eventbrite At Cost
Luma
Sparxo
Native Mobile Organizer App ? Dedicated organizer app for selling tickets, scanning guests, managing events, and accepting Tap to Pay — Android live, iOS coming
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Door Management PWA ? Mobile-optimized web app for event-day operations — sell tickets, scan QR codes, manage bookings, and check in members from any phone or tablet
CBT
Eventbrite App Only
Luma
Sparxo
Memberships & Subscriptions
8 features
Recurring Memberships ? Sell monthly, quarterly, or annual membership plans with automatic recurring billing
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Private / Public Plans ? Choose whether membership plans are listed publicly or only available via private invite links
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Installment Payment Plans ? Let members pay for annual plans in monthly installments instead of all at once
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Flexible Billing Cycles ? Offer weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual billing — you choose
CBT Monthly to Annual
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Digital Guest Passes ? Members can bring guests using a limited pool of digital guest passes that you control
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Digital Membership Cards with QR ? Members get a mobile-friendly digital card with QR code for quick venue check-in
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Member Check-in Tracking ? Track every visit with QR-based check-ins — see visit counts and history per member
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Member Discounts on Events ? Active members automatically get a discount on your events at checkout
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo

The Only Platform with Built-in Memberships

Recurring revenue, member check-ins, and exclusive discounts — no other ticketing platform offers this.

Start Hosting Events →
Loyalty & Rewards
6 features
5-Tier Rewards Program ? Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond tiers — fully customizable names, spend thresholds, discount percentages, and tier-specific perks
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Auto-Enroll via Phone Number ? Customers automatically enrolled when purchasing with their phone — no separate signup form, no app to download, no friction
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Best-Discount-Wins Logic ? Tier discount competes with early-bird, membership, and coupon discounts at checkout — customer always gets the lowest price they qualify for
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Tier-Upgrade Notifications ? Branded congratulations emails when members reach a new tier with stats, discount, and perks; SMS notifications when Twilio is connected
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Sync Existing Customers ? One-click button imports all past orders and retroactively enrolls customers + awards earned points based on lifetime spend
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Member-Facing Rewards Dashboard ? Members see their tier badge, points balance, total spend, visit count, progress to next tier, perks, and full transaction history at My Account → My Rewards
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Venue Bookings & Reservations
6 features
Venue Reservation System ? Accept online bookings for lounges, private rooms, and event spaces with customizable time slots and pricing
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Walk-in Booking Management ? Staff can create walk-in bookings at the door via the PWA — assign spaces, collect payment, and track guests in real time
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Space Availability Calendar ? Configure available time slots per space with customizable durations, pricing, and capacity — calendar view in dashboard
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
AI Booking Agreement Generator ? AI writes a professional booking agreement based on your cancellation policy, deposit terms, and space type — supports merge tags that auto-fill on each booking
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Booking Check-in via Mobile Scanner ? Check in venue bookings from the PWA Door Management app — adjust headcount on arrival, log staff activity, track no-shows
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Seat Map Integration with Spaces ? Link bookable spaces to seat maps for reserved seating within booked sections — Seat Map Reports show booking and revenue stats per space
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Marketing & Growth
15 features
Built-in Email Campaigns ? Design and send email blasts to your attendees and members directly from the dashboard
CBT
Eventbrite Paid
Luma
Sparxo Basic
SMS / Text Blasts ? Send text messages to your attendees and members about upcoming events or updates
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Mailchimp Integration ? Sync your contacts to Mailchimp for advanced email marketing with DKIM authentication
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Ambassador Program ? Give promoters unique referral links and track commissions on every ticket they sell
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Organizer Profile Pages ? A branded public storefront showing all your events, about info, and follower count
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Event Discovery / Marketplace ? Your events appear in a searchable marketplace where customers browse by city and category
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Promoted Event Placements ? Pin your event to the top of city pages, homepage carousel, or featured spots for more visibility
CBT From $20
Eventbrite $5+/day
Luma
Sparxo
Social Media Auto-Posting ? Automatically share your event to Facebook and Instagram the moment you publish it
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
AI Event Descriptions ? AI writes your event description tuned for cigar and bourbon culture — choose Luxury, Casual, or Energetic tone
CBT
Eventbrite Basic
Luma
Sparxo
AI Event Planning Assistant ? A personal AI assistant that knows your event history, sales data, and platform features — helps with pricing strategy, marketing plans, and event planning
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Co-Promoted Events ? Invite partner organizers to co-host — event shows on both profiles and splits visibility
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Association Fee Discounts ? Verified association members automatically get reduced platform fees on their events
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Top Organizer Badges ? Recognition badges that highlight top-performing organizers across their profile and event listings — builds attendee trust
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Short Links ? Custom branded short URLs (cigartix.com, bourbontix.com, whiskytix.com) for easy event sharing and marketing
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Custom Event Page Templates ? Choose from professionally designed event page layouts — Classic, Hero Banner, or Immersive full-bleed
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma 1 Style
Sparxo
Organizer Tools
15 features
Full Organizer Dashboard ? A complete business hub with sales, orders, analytics, and event management — all in one place
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Revenue & Sales Reports ? Charts and breakdowns of your revenue, sales trends, and ticket performance over time
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Customer Analytics Dashboard ? See top spenders, repeat vs one-time buyers, growth trends, and check-in rates across all events
CBT
Eventbrite Basic
Luma
Sparxo
Unified Customer List ? One view of every customer — ticket buyers, members, and guest pass visitors merged with spend and activity data
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Attendee Info Editing ? Attendees can update their own name and details — organizers can view and manage from the dashboard
CBT
Eventbrite Limited
Luma
Sparxo Basic
Follower System ? Attendees can follow your organizer page to get notified when you publish new events
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Ad Performance Tracking ? See real-time views, clicks, and engagement on your promoted event placements
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
5-Step Event Creation Wizard ? Guided event setup: Basics → Description → Tickets → Customize → Review — never miss a critical detail
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Pre-Publish Checklist ? Automated checks for missing images, descriptions, categories, and ticket dates — fix issues before going live
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Embeddable Ticket Widget ? Add a ticket purchase button to your own website — customers buy without leaving your site
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Professional Invoicing ? Send branded invoices with Stripe payment links for services, sponsorships, or custom orders
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Multi-User Staff Roles ? Add team members as Manager, Check-in, or Finance staff — each with their own permissions
CBT
Eventbrite Teams
Luma
Sparxo Basic
Brand Color Customization ? Set custom brand colors per event or at the organizer level — applied to tickets, pages, and widgets
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
AI Support Chatbot ? An AI assistant trained on cigar and bourbon culture that helps attendees and organizers 24/7
CBT
Eventbrite Basic
Luma
Sparxo
Real-time Mobile Dashboard ? View live sales, check-in rates, and ticket breakdowns from your phone during events
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo Basic
Community & Engagement
3 features
Event Reviews & Ratings ? Attendees can leave star ratings and reviews after events — builds social proof for future events
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Event Photo Wall ? Shared photo gallery on each event page where attendees and organizers upload photos during and after the event
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo
Organizer Profile Photo Gallery ? Showcase past-event photos on your storefront/profile page — aggregates organizer uploads and photos from attendees across all your events
CBT
Eventbrite
Luma
Sparxo

Real Cost on a $50 Ticket

How much attendees pay, and how much organizers actually keep.

Cigar & Bourbon Tickets
Attendee pays$54.74
Organizer keeps$50.00
Eventbrite
Attendee pays$55.20
Organizer keeps$50.00
Luma (Free Plan)
Attendee pays$50.00
Organizer keeps$45.75
Sparxo
Attendee pays$57.74
Organizer keeps$50.00

Your Attendees Deserve Lower Fees

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