Eventworks vs ShowsHappening: which fits your events?
ShowsHappening offers a ticket marketplace in Malta and seat plans for local venues. If you need one 8% fee with card charges included, your own branded shop, offline scanning and season tickets, here’s how the two compare.
Checked on 28 September 2026What ShowsHappening offers
- Selling tickets in Malta since 2013
- Seat plans drawn by their team, with more than 100 venues mapped
- Box office, third-party sellers and affiliate codes
Where Eventworks is different
- 8% all in, against a 10% booking fee with card processing on top
- You choose who pays the fee: fans, you, or a split
- Instant payouts straight into your own account, after standard KYC checks
- Free tickets are always free, with no charge per comp
- Your own branded shop as standard, not an event page on a marketplace
- Scanning on your own phones that works offline, plus turnstiles
- Season tickets, passes and access cards for sport
The facts
Checked on 28 September 2026| ShowsHappening | Eventworks | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket fee | 10% booking fee including VAT (8.47% + 1.53% VAT) | 8% a ticket, with every card charge, bank fee and VAT included |
| Who pays | The ticket buyer; no absorb or split option published | The organiser chooses: pass it on, absorb it or split it |
| Other charges | Card processing on top: Stripe’s fee, or 2% + VAT if ShowsHappening collects; the Pro plan has a term contract | None: no setup fee, no contract, no card or bank charges |
| Payouts | With Stripe, the day after each sale; otherwise one week after the event | Instant, straight into your own account after standard KYC checks; or after each event or weekly |
| Where fans buy | An event page on ShowsHappening.com or embedded on your site; events need approval; white-label on request | The organiser’s own branded shop and widget, and the official Eventworks website |
| Seat maps | Yes, free seat plans drawn by their team | Yes, drawn by our team at no extra cost |
| Free tickets | The first 10% of comps free, then €1 + VAT a comp | Free, always |
| Scanning | Phone scanning, or a €360 pre-loaded scanner phone; offline mode and turnstiles not published | The scanner app on your own phones, working offline, plus turnstiles |
| Season tickets and passes | Memberships and member prices; season tickets not published | Yes: season tickets, passes and access cards |
On the published facts: Eventworks comes out ahead ShowsHappening comes out ahead About the same
Sources: ShowsManager pricing, Ticket sales, Seating plans, Ticket scanning, ShowsHappening tour.
Questions about ShowsHappening and Eventworks
How much does ShowsHappening charge?
Its published booking fee is 10% including VAT (8.47% + 1.53% VAT), charged to the ticket buyer. Card processing comes on top: Stripe’s fee, or 2% + VAT when ShowsHappening collects the money.
Are free tickets free on ShowsHappening?
The first 10% of complimentary tickets are free; after that each comp costs €1 + VAT, according to its pricing page.
When does ShowsHappening pay organisers?
With Stripe, the day after each sale; otherwise one week after the event, to an IBAN.
What does Eventworks charge?
8% of each paid ticket, with every credit card charge, bank fee and VAT included, and no other charges: no setup fee, no monthly fee, no contract. Free tickets are free, and you choose whether fans pay the fee, you absorb it, or you split it.
Can I switch from ShowsHappening to Eventworks?
Yes. We set up your next event with you, including your shop, tickets and door, and import your guest lists and season-ticket holders from a spreadsheet. Organisers who pass standard KYC checks are paid instantly, straight into their own account.
Switching in three steps
- 1
Book a demo with your next event in mind.
- 2
We set up your shop, tickets and door with you, and import your guest lists and season-ticket holders.
- 3
You go live.
Your next event deserves to work.
See Eventworks built around your event on a 30-minute call, or take a demo account for a spin.