Event Tickets Plus is the paid ticketing add-on for The Events Calendar, one of WordPress’s most popular event plugins. It has no per-ticket fees and a loyal user base. But its seating functionality has evolved significantly—and comes with important caveats for venues that need real reserved seating.
This Event Tickets Plus alternative comparison breaks down the differences.
The Short Answer
Event Tickets Plus is a general-purpose ticketing solution. Its seating feature—the “Seating” add-on—is only available in The Events Calendar’s Elite plan. It’s a SaaS tool that connects to your site, and it’s designed primarily for the Block Editor.
Live Event Seating is a standalone plugin with no SaaS dependency. It works with any WordPress editor, integrates natively with WooCommerce, and includes seating as a core feature—not an Elite-tier add-on.
If you need assigned seating without upgrading to Elite, Live Event Seating is the more direct solution.
Pricing Comparison
Seating Feature Comparison
Event Tickets Plus seating is an Elite-tier SaaS add-on
When Event Tickets Plus Makes Sense
- You already use The Events Calendar. If your site is built around TEC, Event Tickets Plus integrates seamlessly.
- You need the full TEC ecosystem. Calendar views, event imports, community submissions—TEC is more than ticketing.
- You’re on the Elite plan. If you’ve already upgraded for other Elite features, seating is included.
- You want a SaaS-managed seating experience. TEC’s Seating uses real-time inventory management through their Seat Builder service.[citation:31]
When Live Event Seating Makes Sense
- You want seating without upgrading to Elite. Live Event Seating includes seating at the Starter tier.
- You use Elementor or another page builder. TEC’s seating is Block Editor only.
- You want a self-hosted solution. No SaaS dependency, no external service connection.
- You want whole-table booking. Built-in for galas and corporate events.
- You need waitlist and seat transfers. Included in Pro.
- You want a simpler stack. One plugin, WooCommerce, done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Seating feature is part of The Events Calendar’s Elite plan. If you only buy Event Tickets Plus, you don’t get seating.
No. The Seating feature is designed for the Block Editor (Gutenberg). If you build with Elementor, you’d need a different solution like Live Event Seating.
Yes. Live Event Seating offers native integration with The Events Calendar. You can manage events in TEC and design seating with our builder.
No. Both are self-hosted WordPress solutions with 0% per-ticket commission. You keep 100% of ticket revenue (minus standard payment processing).
Yes. Live Event Seating Lite is free on WordPress.org. Upgrade to Pro for waitlist, seat transfers, QR check-in, and advanced features.
See How We Compare to Other Platforms
- Live Event Seating vs Eventbrite →
- Live Event Seating vs FooEvents →
- Live Event Seating vs SeatLayer →
- Back to all comparisons →
Ready to Compare for Yourself?
Get Live Event Seating — from $49.99/year →
Or try the free Lite version first.