When it comes to managing registrations, events, and participant communication, choosing the right platform can make or break your organization’s efficiency. Since 2019, a Canadian alternative to Eventbrite has been making its mark on the online ticketing market: Activity Messenger.
This comprehensive comparison will help you understand which platform aligns better with your specific needs, whether you’re running a recreation program, community organization, or planning one-time events.
Customer Service in Canada
Bilingual Platform
| Feature | Activity Messenger | Eventbrite |
| Core Focus | Program registration & participant management | Event ticketing & promotion |
| Target Audience | Recreation programs, studios, camps, clubs | Event organizers, conferences, concerts |
| Registration Type | Recurring programs, sessions, memberships | One-time events, tickets |
| Communication | ✅ Advanced SMS/email automation | ⚠️ Basic email marketing |
| Waivers & Forms | ✅ Digital forms with auto-renewal | ❌ Limited form capabilities |
| Mobile App | ⚠️ Mobile-first design for web | ✅ Native mobile app |
| Event Discovery | ❌ Private registration only | ✅ Public event marketplace |
| Recurring Payments | ✅ Automated membership billing | ❌ Single-purchase focused |
| Reporting | ✅ Program & communication analytics | ✅ Ticket sales & attendee reports |
| Integration | ✅ Stripe, Zoom, Canva, Email & SMS marketing | ✅ Major marketing & CRM tools |
| Pricing Model | 3.9% + $0.30 | 6.4% + $1.29 |
| Setup Complexity | Simple, guided setup | Quick event creation |
| Customer Support | Personalized Canadian support | Self-service + premium support tiers |
| Capterra Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 |
📌 Read More: Activity Messenger is also an alternative to Tututix and can replace your class management, such as JackRabbit, iClassPro and DanceStudioPro.
Both platforms share some fundamental capabilities that make them viable options for registration management:
Both platforms simplify online ticket sales. Attendees can purchase tickets and receive electronic tickets with a QR code for easy access. This QR code can be scanned at the event entrance to facilitate access control. Both platforms also allow tickets to be purchased at the door or online.
Activity Messenger and Eventbrite both offer the option of processing credit card payments. This allows attendees to easily pay for their purchases online, offering a convenient and secure payment experience. A major difference is the much lower transaction fee with Activity Messenger (see below).
Event organizers can customize tickets by adding logos, images, or other relevant information. Activity Messenger even integrates with Canva, allowing you to create professional tickets that reflect your brand.
Both platforms have been designed to be user-friendly and accessible to all, and offer a simple interface for creating, managing and selling tickets online. Whether this is your first event with online ticketing or you’re an expert, you’ll find it easy to navigate both options.
Each platform can collect participant information, manage capacity limits, and provide confirmation emails to registrants. Neither platform requires technical expertise to set up basic registration forms and collect payments from participants.
Both offer analytics and reporting features, though they focus on different metrics relevant to their respective use cases.
💡 Did you know? Activity Messenger also automates ticket purchases via Interac e-transfer for organizers looking to save even more on transaction fees.
| Activity Messenger (Interac) |
Activity Messenger (Credit Card) |
EventBrite (Credit Card) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Processing fees* | 1% | 3.9% + 0.30$ | 6.4% + 1.29$ |
| Payout | Instant | 1-3 days | 5 days |
| Settlement | Automated** | Automated | Automated |
While Eventbrite offers email marketing tools, they’re primarily designed for promoting upcoming events to potential attendees rather than managing ongoing relationships with program participants.
The fundamental difference lies in how each platform approaches registrations:
Activity Messenger is built for organizations that run ongoing programs. Think swim lessons, fitness classes, summer camps, or after-school programs that happen repeatedly with the same participants returning season after season.
Eventbrite is designed for one-time events. Whether it’s a conference, concert, workshop, or networking event, Eventbrite excels when you need to sell tickets to people who may never interact with your organization again.
Activity Messenger treats participants as ongoing community members. The platform tracks attendance, manages family accounts, handles membership renewals, and maintains communication history across multiple programs.
Eventbrite views attendees as customers for specific events. While it can collect attendee data, it doesn’t provide the same level of ongoing relationship management that program-based organizations need.
Eventbrite 2025 Updates:
Activity Messenger 2025 Updates:
📌Read More: How to Cancel an Event and How to Sell Tickets with Seat Assignments
Why choose a Canadian alternative over Eventbrite for ticketing?
Canadian platforms offer better bilingual customization, currency options, local support, and features tailored to Canadian event organizers and attendees.
How do Canadian ticketing platforms compare in terms of fees and pricing?
A Canadian platform like Activity Messenger offers much lower prices than Eventbrite.
How do Canadian ticketing services handle customer data and privacy?
They typically adhere to Canadian privacy laws like PIPEDA, ensuring data security and privacy protection for users.
What are the advantages of using a local Canadian platform for community events?
Canadian Event Ticket platforms store Data in Canada in compliance to Canadian privacy laws and can foster community engagement and local partnerships.
Can Activity Messenger handle one-time events?
Yes, Activity Messenger can manage one-time events, and with new event-specific features such as assigned seating, it ensures a seamless experience for both organizers and attendees.
Does Eventbrite work for recurring programs?
While technically possible, Eventbrite isn’t designed for ongoing program management. You’d need to create separate events for each program session, which becomes cumbersome and expensive.
Can I switch between Activity Messenger and Eventbrite later?
Both platforms allow data export, but switching requires rebuilding your registration forms and communication workflows. Activity Messenger makes it easier to import participant data from other systems.
📌Read More: 6 best online registration platforms
Choose Activity Messenger if you:
Choose Eventbrite if you:
For most recreation programs, community organizations, and membership-based businesses, Activity Messenger provides better value through its automation capabilities, predictable pricing, and program-focused features—all while supporting a Canadian alternative for online registration and ticketing.
💡 Ready to switch to a Canadian alternative to Eventbrite? Schedule a personalized demo to see Activity Messenger in action and get expert guidance tailored to your specific needs.
