Wristbands vs Tickets for Events: Which Makes More Sense?

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to event planning, but one thing that often gets overlooked until it’s too late is whether to go with wristbands vs tickets for events. We’re here to help you make the right decision in advance so your event goes off without a hitch.

Tickets have been the go-to for most types of events for a long time. It’s easy to see why - they’re way cheaper. But was the #1 provider of custom wristbands online, we’ve actually seen a shift over the years. More and more events are choosing to pay more for wristbands as a form of access. The benefits are clear:

• Faster entry and re-entry control
• Clear visual identification for staff and security
• Better crowd flow for multi-day or large events
• Marketing potential with certain wristband styles

We’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of wristbands and tickets for event control below to help you feel confident choosing one or the other. 

Quick Comparison of Wristbands vs Tickets for Events

Why Most Events Rely on Tickets

Most events start with tickets because they’re familiar, flexible, and easy to sell ahead of time. Attendees buy online or at the door, receive a paper ticket, PDF, QR code, or mobile pass, and present it at entry for scanning or manual checking. 

This is a smart option for seated shows, festivals with tiered access, or one-time entry. You’ll find tickets in quite a few forms: printed paper tickets, digital tickets stored on a phone, scannable QR codes, or will-call lists tied to an ID. The pros and cons are more or less the same across these different formats:

Benefits

• Familiar process that attendees already understand
• Easy to sell in advance through online platforms
• Works well for tiered pricing, assigned seating, and timed entry
• Simple to track sales, attendance numbers, and revenue
• No physical item required beyond entry

Considerations

• Slower entry when every ticket needs to be scanned or checked
• Awkward re-entry unless rules or scanning systems are tightly managed
• Paper tickets and screenshots can be shared if controls aren’t strict
• Higher staffing needs at gates during peak arrival times

Why Use Wristbands for Events Instead?

So if tickets work so well, why bother with something new, like wristbands? They flip the access model on its head, for the better. Instead of checking a ticket every time someone moves through a space, you verify once at entry and handle everything else with a quick visual check.

In other words, these simplify multi-day events or those types of events where patrons come and go. Staff can see access levels instantly once a wristband is on - no phones out, no paper to juggle, and no frustrating rescans slowing lines down. That’s why you’ll see these used at festivals, clubs, water parks, conferences, and multi-day events.

There are quite a few different wristband materials and styles to choose from, too. We mostly see custom vinyl wristbands and custom tyvek wristbands used for events because they’re really affordable and practical. But there are also more upscale silicone styles. You can choose between debossed vs embossed wristbands, too.

Color-coding, numbering, and closures make it easy to separate GA, VIP, staff, vendors, and re-entry privileges at a glance. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of event wristbands:

Benefits

• Faster entry and smoother crowd flow after initial check-in
• Easy re-entry without rescanning or stamp systems
• Clear visual access control for staff and security
• Harder to share or pass around once applied
• Works well for multi-day and open-layout venues

Considerations

• Adds a physical item cost per attendee
• Requires on-site wristbanding at entry
• Less useful for seated or one-time-entry-only events

Wristbands vs Tickets for Events: Side-by-Side Comparison

Tickets and wristbands both control access, but in different ways - and those slight nuances matter if you want to pull off the best event possible, be it a multi-day festival or a networking conference. 

Ultimately, choosing between wristbands vs tickets for events comes down to these variables. 

Speed and Efficiency at Entry Points

Tickets work well when entry is simple and one-directional. Scan, tear, or check, then move on. That’s fine for theaters, seated venues, or short events with staggered arrivals. Things slow down when everyone shows up at once, though, because every ticket still needs an individual check. Bottlenecks build up fast.

You’ll see the same type of bottlenecks with wristbands, for what it’s worth. But there’s an important caveat here - there’s only a bottleneck at the FIRST checkpoint. Once a band is on the attendee’s wrist, they can quickly move through checkpoints. Your staff will be able to wave people through with a quick glance instead of stopping every person.

Security and Fraud Prevention

Unwarranted access is always a real concern with events. Digital tickets with live scanning do a good job of stopping duplicates, but paper tickets and screenshots still leave room for sharing if controls aren’t tight. That’s where wristbands have an edge.

Tamper-resistant closures and numbering make sharing wristbands impractical. Security never has to guess, because access is visible immediately. Wristbands aren’t foolproof, but they do eliminate a lot of the human error that comes with repeated ticket checks.

Re-Entry and All-Day Access Management

This is one of the most important factors to consider in choosing between wristbands vs tickets for events. Will your guests be leaving and returning? If so, wristbands have the obvious edge.

Someone can leave and return without resetting the system once they have a wristband on. This is ideal for festivals, conferences, water parks, and open-layout venues.

In contrast, ticket systems might struggle a little bit when it comes to re-entry and all-day access management. You either rescan, stamp hands, or rely on staff memory, all of which slow things down and create inconsistencies. It works, but it takes coordination.

Cost and Operational Overhead

Another really important consideration between tickets vs wristbands for event control - the budget side of things. 

Tickets usually look cheaper upfront, especially digital ones. There’s no physical item cost, and platforms handle sales and reporting. The hidden cost shows up in staffing - more scanners, more staff at gates, and more time spent managing lines.

Wristbands might cost a bit more per attendee, but it’s a small price to pay when you consider how much they reduce labor needs inside the venue. Fewer repeated checks and faster movement can offset that cost, especially for multi-day or high-traffic events.

You’re paying a slight premium for a better guest experience, too. Speaking of which…

Attendee Experience and Convenience

Tickets feel familiar and effortless. People are used to buying them on their phone and flashing a screen at entry. The downside is having to stop-and-start once inside, and navigating re-entry.

Wristbands feel easier once they’re on. No phones out, pockets to dig through, or rescans. Some attendees don’t love wearing them, especially rigid styles, but that’s why choosing the right wristband type matters. We’re here to help with that. 

Design the Perfect Event Wristbands at the Lowest Prices Online!

CustomLanyard.net makes it easy to design event wristbands that look right, work smoothly, and stay affordable - even at high quantities. You can choose from vinyl, Tyvek, fabric, or silicone, dial in colors and numbering, and see clear proofs before anything goes to print.

You’ll enjoy a seamless design and ordering experience, complete with a free digital proof before you place your order - so you can checkout with peace of mind. We price-match, have no MOQs, and offer fast turnaround times as well. With world-class customer service from A to Z, you can’t ask for a whole lot more! 

We also make some really great alternatives to wristbands for events, like the best custom lanyards for events. From custom ID cards to custom plastic wristbands, this is your one-stop shop. Get started today and see why more than a million customers chose CustomLanyard.net!

Final Words on Wristbands vs Tickets for Events

There you have it - everything you need to know about choosing between wristbands and tickets for your event. It usually comes down to how your event actually runs once people arrive. 

This wristbands vs tickets for events comparison shows that tickets work well for simple entry, but wristbands make movement, re-entry, and on-site control far easier to manage. They’re the better choice when speed, visibility, and all-day (or multi-day) access.

So, put the finishing touches on your event by designing wristbands at CustomLanyard.net, starting as low as a few cents per wristband. We can get you what you need in time for your event if you reach out. 

From custom debossed wristbands to Tyvek styles for events, this is your one-stop shop for custom wristbands online. You can learn more about how to make wristbands for your event or just connect with our customer service team for one-on-one support. Get started today!