Viagogo review: checking the resale marketplace
Viagogo is a ticket resale marketplace: Viagogo doesn't sell the tickets — individuals and third-party sellers set their own prices. This model calls for more caution than primary ticketing, because prices often run above face value and conditions vary from one listing to the next. In this review we set out what you absolutely must check before buying, and why an official ticketing service remains preferable when one is available.
Trust signals
- Possible access to sold-out or high-demand events
- Large catalogue of international events
- Established and widely known marketplace
- Centralised online buying process
Points to check
- The price can run well above the ticket's face value
- The fees added at the payment stage
- Prices are set by third-party sellers, not by the platform
- The validity and exact ticket type (named, restrictions)
- The organiser's conditions, which may limit resale
- The policy if the event is cancelled, postponed or the ticket isn't received
Reliability: what the resale model changes
The reliability of a marketplace isn't measured like that of a primary ticketing service. Here, the platform connects buyers and sellers, but it's the sellers who set the price and, in part, the conditions. The main point of attention is ticket validity: depending on the event and the organiser's rules, a resold ticket may be subject to restrictions. Prefer official ticketing when it's open.
Price and fees: watch the real total
On a resale marketplace, the price can climb well above face value, especially for sold-out events. On top of that, fees are usually visible at the payment stage. Before you confirm, look at the all-in total and compare it with the ticket's original value when you know it: the gap can be significant.
Our reading of the signals (indicative)
Ticket delivery and validity
Delivery depends on the seller and the ticket format. The critical point remains validity: a named ticket, or one subject to the organiser's rules, can cause problems at the gate if it was resold outside the intended framework. Before buying, check the ticket type, any restrictions and what's provided for if the ticket isn't received or isn't valid.
Who Viagogo is for
Viagogo may appeal to those who absolutely want access to a sold-out event and accept paying above face value. For most purchases, an official primary ticketing service — or a platform with transparent positioning on fees — offers a better security-to-price ratio. Keep resale for situations where no other option is available, after reading the conditions carefully.
FAQ
- Is Viagogo a scam?
- Viagogo is a legal resale marketplace, not a scam in itself. The risk comes from the model: prices are set by third-party sellers, often run above face value, and conditions vary. Check the final price, the fees and the ticket's validity, and prefer official ticketing when it exists.
- Why are prices on Viagogo so high?
- Because third-party sellers set the prices, not the platform. For high-demand or sold-out events, the price can run well above face value, with fees visible at the payment stage on top.
- Will a ticket bought on Viagogo be accepted at the gate?
- It depends on the event and the organiser's rules. Some tickets are named or subject to resale restrictions, which can cause problems at the gate. Check the ticket type and the conditions before you buy.
- Is it better to buy on Viagogo or an official ticketing service?
- When an official primary ticketing service is open for your event, it's generally safer and cheaper, because you're buying at source. Keep resale for cases where no other option is available.