The difference is simple:
- A presale allows certain eligible fans to purchase tickets before the general public.
- An onsale (sometimes called a public sale) is when tickets become available to everyone.
Many events offer one or more presales before the public onsale begins, but not every event includes a presale.
What is a presale?
A presale is an early ticket sale that gives eligible fans access to tickets before they become available to the general public.
Presale access may be offered through:
- Fan clubs
- Season ticket memberships
- Venue memberships
- Credit card programs
- Email subscriber programs
- Other event-specific promotions
Presales are often popular with fans hoping to access tickets earlier and explore available seating options before demand increases.
What is an onsale?
An onsale is the point when tickets become available to the general public.
Once the onsale begins, anyone can typically purchase available tickets without needing special access, membership, or a presale code.
Depending on the event, tickets may be available through the event organizer, box office, venue, ticketing provider, or authorized marketplace partners.
Do all events have presales?
No. Some events go directly to a public onsale without offering any presale opportunities.
Other events may have multiple presales leading up to the public onsale date.
Presale schedules are determined by the event organizer and can vary significantly from one event to another.
Can tickets appear on SeatGeek before the onsale?
Sometimes, yes.
Ticket sellers may gain access to inventory through presales, season ticket memberships, venue relationships, promotional allocations, or other legitimate channels before the public onsale begins.
Because of this, tickets may sometimes be available on SeatGeek before the general public can purchase tickets directly through the public onsale.
Availability before a public onsale does not necessarily mean tickets were listed improperly or before they existed.
Quick comparison
| Presale |
Onsale |
| Occurs before the public sale |
Available to the general public |
| May require a code, membership, or eligibility |
Typically open to everyone |
| May have limited access groups |
No special access usually required |
Learn more