Guide
Event registration software for associations.
General event tools sell tickets well, but they don't know who your members are. Here is what association events need, the three kinds of tools to choose from, and what each costs per ticket.
Updated
What association events need
Member prices without promo codes
Members should see their price when they sign in, not hunt for a code that non-members can share.
Registrations on the member record
So you can see who attends, who doesn’t, and who came to an event before they joined.
CE credits at check-in
For events that carry credits, attendance should add them and issue the certificate, with no spreadsheet afterwards.
Non-members kept as contacts
Every guest is a prospect; their details should land in your database, not stay in a ticketing site.
Check-in from a phone
QR codes or a name search at the door, and walk-ins who can register on the spot.
Cancellations and refunds
A cancellation window members can use themselves, with the refund and the open seat handled for you.
Three kinds of tools
| Option | Good | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Ticketing sites, such as Eventbrite | Quick to set up; free for free events | A per-ticket fee on paid events; no idea who your members are; attendee data lives in another system |
| Conference platforms, such as Cvent or Whova | Built for large conferences: sessions, badges, apps | Priced per event or by quote; usually more than a small association needs; separate from your member records |
| Your membership software’s events | Member prices, records and credits in one place; one login for members | Check how it handles your largest event before you rely on it |
What each ticket costs you
Fees per ticket if your association absorbs them, one ticket per order. Eventbrite's figures are its published service and processing fees; FullRoster's is its all-in card rate on Standard, which covers dues and donations too.
| Ticket price | Eventbrite | FullRoster Standard |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | $3.44 | $1.18 |
| $75 | $6.74 | $2.93 |
| $150 | $11.69 | $5.55 |
Eventbrite: 3.7% + $1.79 service fee per ticket and 2.9% processing per order, from Eventbrite's pricing page, checked November 5, 2026. FullRoster: 3.5% + 30¢ on Standard, 4.5% + 30¢ on Free. Free events are free on both.
Events in FullRoster
Members see their member price when they sign in, with no promo codes. Every event sends a confirmation, a reminder and a thank-you email by default. Check people in from any phone by scanning the QR code in their confirmation or searching their name, and walk-ins can register on their own phone in about a minute. CE credits and a certificate are issued at check-in, and members can cancel within the window you set, with the refund going back to their card automatically.
More: Event registration software for nonprofits · Event registration form template · How to become a CE provider · See events →
Common questions
- What is event registration software?
- Software that publishes an event page, takes registrations and payments, sends confirmations and reminders, and checks people in. For associations, the best fit also knows who your members are.
- What is the best event registration software for associations?
- Usually the events built into your membership software, because it can apply member prices automatically, keep registrations on each member’s record and add CE credits at check-in. Large conferences with many tracks may also need a dedicated conference platform.
- How much does Eventbrite charge?
- Eventbrite's pricing page lists 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket as a service fee, plus 2.9% payment processing per order. Free events are free. You can pass the fees to buyers or absorb them.
- How do members get member pricing automatically?
- Your event system has to know who is a member. When registration runs in your membership software, members sign in and see their price, so there is no promo code to share or forget.
- Do we need separate software for our annual conference?
- Not always. Most association conferences need registration, member pricing, sessions and check-in, which good membership software can handle. Very large events with exhibitors, badges and an event app may justify a conference platform.
About FullRoster. FullRoster is association management software that's free for up to 1,000 active members. Members, dues, events, email, courses and payments in one place, and we move your data over for you. See how it works →
More guides
All guides →Events that know who your members are.
Member prices when they sign in, check-in from any phone, and CE credits at the door. FullRoster is free for up to 1,000 active members.