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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

SeatGeek vs Vivid Seats | Buy Tickets

SeatGeek 4.9★ · Free to download 65
Winner SeatGeek
Vivid Seats | Buy Tickets 4.7★ · Free to download 55

While both apps face significant criticism regarding customer service and ticket delivery, SeatGeek has a slight edge due to its higher lifetime rating and more frequent positive mentions of ease of use and deals.

Full reviews: SeatGeek · Vivid Seats | Buy Tickets

SeatGeek and Vivid Seats both operate as ticket marketplaces, frequently drawing user complaints about hidden fees, unreliable ticket delivery, and poor customer support. SeatGeek generally receives more positive feedback for its user interface and deal ratings, while Vivid Seats is often cited for its rewards program but struggles with ticket transfer issues and refund policies.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: SeatGeekR3R6R12R14
SeatGeek SeatGeek users appreciate the app's UI, ease of use, and features like seeing the view from seats and deal ratings R14R17. However, some report issues with event filters not working, difficulty navigating back in the app, and problems with ticket transfer R3R6R12.
Vivid Seats | Buy Tickets Vivid Seats users value its rewards program, which offers free or discounted tickets after a certain number of purchases . The app is described as quick and efficient . However, users complain about not being able to see past orders, difficulty with ticket transfers, and the absence of a seat view image .
Ease of Use edge: SeatGeekR14R16R22R26
SeatGeek Many SeatGeek users find the app easy to use, simple, and intuitive for finding and purchasing tickets R14. However, some experience issues with account verification, signing in, and accessing tickets, describing the process as difficult or unusable R16R22R26.
Vivid Seats | Buy Tickets Vivid Seats is generally considered easy and simple to use for purchasing tickets . Despite this, some users report difficulty accessing their purchased tickets within the app or receiving transfer emails .
Reliability & Ticket Delivery tieR1R7R18R24
SeatGeek SeatGeek receives numerous complaints about delayed or undelivered tickets, sometimes just hours before an event or not at all R1R7R18. Users also report receiving fake or duplicate tickets, or tickets for the wrong date or section R1R24R34.
Vivid Seats | Buy Tickets Vivid Seats users frequently report not receiving their tickets, receiving them very late (the night before or day of the event), or having issues with ticket transfers . There are also serious accusations of selling non-official, invalid, or fraudulent tickets .
Price & Value tieR5R8R10R14
SeatGeek SeatGeek is praised by some for cheap tickets and good deals R5R14, but many users complain about outrageous and ridiculous fees, high markups, and overpriced tickets R8R17R20. Some also feel mislead by pricing or experience price jumps at checkout R10R56.
Vivid Seats | Buy Tickets Vivid Seats users mention finding good and cheap prices , with some noting it beat competitors . However, a significant number of reviews highlight issues with overpriced tickets, price changes between browser and app, and different prices for different accounts .
Customer Support & Refunds tieR1R4R9R13
SeatGeek SeatGeek's customer service is a major point of contention, with many users reporting poor or non-existent support, difficulty reaching a human, reliance on AI chatbots, and unhelpful responses R1R4R9R13. Users also complain about issues getting refunds, even for cancelled events or undelivered tickets R9R13.
Vivid Seats | Buy Tickets Vivid Seats also faces widespread criticism for its customer service, with users reporting difficulty reaching live agents, reliance on AI bots, unhelpful responses, and support ending conversations prematurely . The refund policy is a significant concern, with many users stating they were denied refunds even for cancelled events, invalid tickets, or duplicate purchases .
Pick SeatGeek if

You prioritize a clean user interface, deal ratings, and the ability to see seat views before purchasing, and are comfortable with the risk of potential customer service issues R14R17.

Pick Vivid Seats | Buy Tickets if

You value a rewards program that offers discounts or free tickets for frequent use, and find the app generally quick and efficient for purchases .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews, particularly concerning customer service and ticket reliability. The lifetime ratings are high for both, but recent reviews often highlight severe issues, indicating a potential decline in user satisfaction or a vocal minority experiencing significant problems.

Frequently asked

Are tickets purchased through SeatGeek or Vivid Seats reliable?
Both SeatGeek and Vivid Seats have numerous user reports of unreliable ticket delivery, including tickets arriving late (hours before the event), not at all, or being fake, duplicate, or for the wrong seats (R1, R7, R18, R24, , R34, , for SeatGeek; , , , , , for Vivid Seats).
How is customer service for SeatGeek and Vivid Seats?
Customer service for both SeatGeek and Vivid Seats is frequently criticized, with users reporting difficulty reaching live agents, reliance on unhelpful AI chatbots, and problems getting resolutions or refunds for issues like undelivered or invalid tickets (R4, R13, R18, R34, for SeatGeek; , , , for Vivid Seats).
Do SeatGeek and Vivid Seats have hidden fees?
Users for both SeatGeek and Vivid Seats frequently complain about high and outrageous fees, markups, and unexpected price jumps during the purchasing process (R8, R17, R20, R56 for SeatGeek; , , for Vivid Seats).

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] SeatGeek 3/5 · US 🤔On the fence… ticket transfer??🤦🏽‍♂️: So we’ve been in a concert/event ticket purchasing spree for the summer. She bought the tickets and tried to share them with us the family… everyone is registered for the app yet when we attempt to claim the tickets nothing shows up… we have gone through the app and contacted support AI chatbot, still same : no tickets showing up. Very frustrating! Also, ther
  2. [R6] SeatGeek 3/5 · US Event filter doesn’t work: Picking a location and dates to filter events does not work. I see random dates of events. The website works exactly like it should. It also shows events from cities I looked for in the past.
  3. [R12] SeatGeek 3/5 · US Hard time just checking out a spot: It won’t let me go back when I check out a musical and decide I want to look at a different one or place or time.
  4. [R14] SeatGeek 5/5 · US Great App: So many great deals on the Seat Geek app from concerts to broadway shows. I love this app and the simplicity and ease of using it!
  5. [R16] SeatGeek 1/5 · US Verification process is a joke: Verification process is a joke. Pure garbage
  6. [R22] SeatGeek 1/5 · US App doesn’t work: App stopped working for me out of no where. Says I’m a bot. Haven’t changed anything in my network. Time to cut them loose.
  7. [R26] SeatGeek 1/5 · US Unusable: Literally cannot use the app. Got tickets for an event. Seat Geek emails me and says I need to download the app, I CANNOT access my tickets any other way. That’s incredibly annoying (everyone else lets me add to apple wallet) but fine, I download the app. I go to sign in (which just opens an in-app browser window, it’s not actually. In the app). I hit sign in with link. They email me a l
  8. [R1] SeatGeek 1/5 · US A pure scam: It says the tickets arrive 24 hours before show. but we got ours 2 hours before the show, and it was the wrong date. On top of this while the tickets were selling out, we were put on a long hold and instead of replacing our tickers the agent said that the support team is backed up, Like thats our fault. By the time they finally decided to replace our tickets there was none left. We wa
  9. [R7] SeatGeek 1/5 · US The app is easy to use but why would you want to?!: Like the header says the app is technically easy to use but with the hassle using seat geek came with I’ll actually never purchase tickets with them again. It was bad enough that I wouldn’t receive my tickets till a day before the concert after purchasing them 6 months in advance but then to not have the tickets delivered at all after I have book
  10. [R18] SeatGeek 1/5 · US Don’t use: There’s never anyway to talk to a real person without the ai bot telling you over and over there’s a technical issue. Additionally, buying tickets on the same night as your friends for the same concert but they all get their tickets instantly and you don’t and have to gamble if they ever get sent and the support is not helpful in anyway.
  11. [R24] SeatGeek 1/5 · US FAKE TICKETS: Seat geak sells fake banana ball tickets on July 4th midland TX
  12. [R5] SeatGeek 5/5 · US Best Tickets: I love getting tickets for so cheap and if something happens to my tickets seat geek hooks it up with better seats to the event true story
  13. [R8] SeatGeek 4/5 · US Outrageous Fees !: My go to for tickets But, Fees are outrageous !!
  14. [R10] SeatGeek 1/5 · US Scammy deceptive settings: Used to love seetgeek but now all they want to do is rip you off and mislead you. So hard to find accurate info. Really disappointed how spammy SeatGeek has become. Congrats.
  15. [R4] SeatGeek 1/5 · US No customer service: Spouse bought tickets transferred them to me. Made me sign up for an account when I clicked on the link. Ticket wasn’t there. Tried to contact CS, got AI instead. Said it would forward info to CS. 4 days later no response. Ask for a phone number, it refused to connect me. Just said I’d hear back by email. They have poor customer service. And they seem to be ok wasting my time.
  16. [R9] SeatGeek 3/5 · US Scam (update): Received a refund. Still a bumpy experience and had to go through multiple hoops to get contact info to their Philippine support center. Will not use SG again. In fact, StubHub, SeatGeek and Ticketmaster all suck.
  17. [R13] SeatGeek 1/5 · US Worst customer service: Tickets didn’t work and had to buy more on site. They said they would get back to me but never did. Tired three times for refund. 🤬🤬🤬
  18. [R34] SeatGeek 1/5 · US Scam: They sell duplicate tickets so you gotta be first to get your tickets scanned or you will be denied entry due to tickets already been scanned. And the customer service help is all AI generated not a human and you won’t be able to speak with a human about a refund or anything else. I would stay far far away from this app
  19. [R17] SeatGeek 5/5 · US Fees: The fees are ridiculous. The mark up shouldn’t be as much as it is. I do like that you can see you view from your seats before you buy them.
  20. [R20] SeatGeek 2/5 · US Fee city: Useful app for finding access to events you want, silly capitalist greed adding service fee
  21. [R56] SeatGeek 1/5 · US Algorithm Price Abusive: Had to buy 4 tickets in total. 2 seats in one location at one price, 2 seats in another location at a different price, but not much different. Once I completed the purchase of the first 2 tickets, and went to buy the other 2 tickets, the price jumped 10%.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store