Is StubHub legit?

The short answer

Yes, StubHub is a legitimate company. It has operated since 2000, processes millions of ticket orders a year, and is owned by viagogo, another large international ticket marketplace. It is a real business with a published buyer guarantee, not a scam operation.

That said, 'legit company' and 'risk-free purchase' are not the same thing. StubHub is a pure resale marketplace: the tickets are listed and priced by third-party sellers, and most of the problems buyers report come from that model — seller cancellations, speculative listings, and prices well above face value — rather than from StubHub itself disappearing with your money.

How StubHub works

StubHub connects people who already hold tickets with people who want them. Sellers list their seats, set their own asking price, and are paid after the event takes place. StubHub facilitates the transaction, handles the ticket transfer (usually a mobile transfer or electronic delivery), and takes a cut from both sides of the deal.

Unlike Ticketmaster or a venue box office, StubHub does not sell primary tickets at face value. Almost everything on the platform is resale, which means prices float with demand: a sold-out playoff game can list at several times face value, while a weeknight show with soft demand can drop below face value in the final days.

The FanProtect guarantee

StubHub's buyer protection is called FanProtect. In plain terms, it promises that your tickets will be valid and arrive in time for the event, and that if they are not — for example a seller fails to deliver or the tickets are rejected at the gate — StubHub will provide comparable or better replacement tickets or a refund.

The guarantee is the main reason buying through StubHub is safer than buying from a stranger on social media: the risk sits with the marketplace, not with you. Read the current terms on StubHub's own site before a large purchase, because the details (what counts as 'comparable', how refunds are issued) are set by StubHub and can change.

• Valid tickets delivered in time for the event, or replacement/refund.
• Full refund when an event is cancelled and not rescheduled.
• Seller payment is withheld until after the event, which discourages fraud.

Fees and pricing

StubHub charges service fees on top of the seller's asking price, and the exact amounts vary by event and region. Depending on where you buy, fees may be folded into the displayed price or added at checkout — so always judge a listing by the final all-in total on the payment screen, not the headline number in search results.

Because sellers set prices, two seats side by side can be listed at very different prices. Sorting by price and comparing a few sections before checkout is usually worth a minute of your time.

Real risks to know about

The most common StubHub complaints are not about fake tickets — they are about sellers. A seller can accept your order and later fail to deliver, especially for high-demand events where prices climbed after you bought. FanProtect covers you with a replacement or refund in that case, but a refund does not always replace the experience if prices have since doubled.

Also watch for 'speculative' listings: some professional sellers list seats they do not yet hold, betting they can source them cheaper later. These usually work out, but when they do not, you find out close to event day. Buying earlier, choosing listings with immediate delivery, and keeping your order confirmation gives you the most room to react if something goes wrong.

• Seller non-delivery on hot events — covered by FanProtect, but stressful.
• Speculative listings from sellers who do not yet hold the tickets.
• Prices above face value driven by demand, not by StubHub.
• Delivery that arrives close to event day for some mobile transfers.

Tips for buying on StubHub

Compare the all-in price — after fees — against the venue box office and at least one other verified marketplace before paying. For events that are not sold out, the primary seller is often cheaper. For sold-out events, check whether waiting helps: resale prices frequently soften in the final week when supply outlasts demand.

When your tickets arrive by mobile transfer, accept the transfer immediately and confirm the seats appear in your own account. Do not wait until you are standing at the gate to test them.

Where TicketsGarage fits in

TicketsGarage is a ticket discovery service, not a marketplace and not a seller. We help you find events, artists, venues and cities, then link you out to partner checkout pages where the actual purchase happens. We may earn an affiliate commission when you book through a partner link, at no extra cost to you.

Use us to compare what is on and where to buy it. Whichever checkout you end up on — a primary seller or a resale marketplace like StubHub — confirm the final price, fees, delivery method and guarantee terms on that seller's own page before you pay.

Frequently asked questions