Skiddle vs Fatsoma —
Fee Comparison 2026
Both popular with UK nightlife promoters. Here's how their fees and features compare.
Side-by-Side Fee Comparison
Skiddle and Fatsoma are both popular with UK nightlife and student event promoters, but their fee structures are quite different. Skiddle charges 10% + 25p per ticket while Fatsoma charges 5% + 49p per ticket. Fatsoma has the lower percentage but a higher fixed fee, which means the savings increase as ticket prices go up. Here's the full breakdown.
| Ticket Price | Skiddle Fee | Fan Pays (Skiddle) | Fatsoma Fee | Fan Pays (Fatsoma) | Tickts Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £5 | £0.75 | £5.75 | £0.74 | £5.74 | £0 |
| £10 | £1.25 | £11.25 | £0.99 | £10.99 | £0 |
| £15 | £1.75 | £16.75 | £1.24 | £16.24 | £0 |
| £25 | £2.75 | £27.75 | £1.74 | £26.74 | £0 |
| £50 | £5.25 | £55.25 | £2.99 | £52.99 | £0 |
| Tickts | £0 | £50 | £0 | £50 | £0 |
At lower price points (under £10), the two platforms are almost identical in cost. But as ticket prices increase, the gap widens significantly because Skiddle's 10% rate scales much faster than Fatsoma's 5%.
At Scale: 500 Tickets at £15
Nightlife events often sell hundreds of tickets at lower price points. Here's what 500 tickets at £15 each looks like on both platforms:
- Skiddle — Fans pay £16.75 each, adding £875 in total booking fees across all 500 tickets.
- Fatsoma — Fans pay £16.24 each, adding £620 in total booking fees across all 500 tickets.
- Tickts — Fans pay £15 each. Total fees: £0.
Even between Skiddle and Fatsoma, the £255 difference matters for promoters running regular weekly or fortnightly events. Over a year of 40 events, that difference compounds to over £10,000 in extra fees on Skiddle versus Fatsoma — and over £35,000 versus Tickts.
At Higher Prices: 300 Tickets at £50
For bigger events like day festivals or special one-off shows:
- Skiddle — £1,575 in total fees (300 × £5.25)
- Fatsoma — £897 in total fees (300 × £2.99)
- Tickts — £0 in total fees
The higher the ticket price, the worse Skiddle looks compared to Fatsoma. And both look expensive next to a zero-fee option.
Feature Comparison
Skiddle and Fatsoma target similar audiences but offer different strengths. Here's how they compare on the features that matter most to nightlife and events promoters in the UK.
| Feature | Skiddle | Fatsoma |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | 10% + 25p per ticket | 5% + 49p per ticket |
| Discovery Marketplace | Large — strong nightlife audience | Smaller — student-focused audience |
| Promotion Network | Skiddle Promotion Network (SPN) | Student ambassador programme |
| Fan Data Access | Names & emails exportable | Names & emails exportable |
| Mobile Tickets | App, PDF, Apple Wallet | PDF & mobile web |
| Event Page Branding | Moderate customisation | Good customisation |
| Payout Speed | 3-5 days post-event | ~3 days post-event |
| Best For | Club nights, festivals, nightlife | Student events, university nights |
When to Choose Skiddle
Skiddle is the better choice if event discovery and nightlife audience reach are your priorities. Skiddle's marketplace is one of the largest nightlife event listings in the UK, with millions of visitors browsing for club nights, festivals, and live music. Their Skiddle Promotion Network (SPN) gives promoters access to a network of affiliates who actively push ticket sales for a commission.
The trade-off is cost. At 10% + 25p per ticket, Skiddle is one of the more expensive self-service platforms in the UK. For established promoters with their own marketing channels, the discovery benefit may not justify the premium. But for newer promoters who need help reaching an audience, Skiddle's marketplace can drive meaningful organic sales.
When to Choose Fatsoma
Fatsoma is the clear winner for student events and university nightlife. The platform was built with student unions and campus promoters in mind, and many UK universities use Fatsoma as their primary ticketing partner. Fatsoma's lower fee structure (5% + 49p) also makes it significantly cheaper than Skiddle, especially for tickets priced above £10.
Fatsoma's ambassador programme helps promoters tap into student networks for grassroots ticket sales. The platform also gives organisers good control over event page branding and attendee data. The main downside is a smaller discovery marketplace — Fatsoma doesn't drive as much organic traffic as Skiddle, so you'll need your own marketing channels.
The Verdict
Fatsoma is cheaper at every price point and better for student events. Skiddle offers stronger nightlife discovery but charges double the percentage. Both take a meaningful cut — 5-10% — from every ticket sold.
If you want to keep fees at zero for both you and your fans, Tickts charges £0. No percentage, no per-ticket fee. The price you set is the price fans pay. It works for nightlife, student events, festivals, and everything in between.
Skiddle vs Fatsoma FAQ
Fatsoma is cheaper at every price point. Fatsoma charges 5% + 49p per ticket, while Skiddle charges 10% + 25p. On a £15 ticket, Fatsoma's fee is £1.24 versus Skiddle's £1.75. On a £50 ticket, the gap widens to £2.99 versus £5.25. Tickts charges £0 at any price point.
Skiddle has a stronger reputation for club nights thanks to its dedicated nightlife marketplace and Skiddle Promotion Network. Fans actively browse Skiddle to discover club events in their area. Fatsoma is popular with student night promoters specifically. For pure nightlife discovery beyond the student market, Skiddle has the edge — but at a higher cost.
Fatsoma is the clear winner for student events. The platform was built with university promoters and student unions in mind, and many SU events use Fatsoma as their primary ticketing partner. Fatsoma's lower fees and student-specific ambassador programme make it the natural choice for campus events.
Yes, both do. Skiddle has a well-known event discovery marketplace where fans search by location, genre, and date — it's one of the largest nightlife event listings in the UK. Fatsoma also has event listings but with a smaller, more student-focused audience. Skiddle's discovery features are significantly stronger for general nightlife events.
Yes, neither platform requires exclusivity. You can list the same event on both Skiddle and Fatsoma, as well as other platforms like Eventbrite or Tickts. Just be mindful of managing ticket inventory across multiple platforms to avoid overselling.
Both platforms provide access to buyer names and email addresses, and both allow you to export attendee lists for your own marketing. Fatsoma gives organisers slightly more control over attendee communication. Neither is as restrictive as DICE, which limits data access significantly.
Skiddle typically pays out within 3-5 business days after the event. Fatsoma is slightly faster, generally within 3 business days post-event. Tickts uses direct Stripe payments, so funds reach your account within 2-3 business days of each individual sale — no waiting until after the event.
Yes. Tickts charges zero booking fees — no percentage, no per-ticket charge, no hidden costs. It's a UK-based platform that works for nightlife events, student events, and any other event type. See our full free ticketing platforms guide for more options.
Switch to Tickts — 0% fees
Your attendees pay the ticket price. You keep 100%. No booking fees, no commission.
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