Pre-sale & early-access codes
Coming Soon — This article is a stub. We're working on a comprehensive comparison guide to help you choose the right approach for ticket access control.
Two ways to control who can buy tickets
Eventually offers two features that control when and how buyers can access your tickets:
Pre-sales
Pre-sales schedule ticket sales in advance with timing windows. You control when events become visible, when early access begins, and when public on-sale starts. An optional access code protects the early-access window.
Use pre-sales when:
You want to schedule sales timing for multiple events at once (by tag)
You want a "Coming soon" period before tickets are available
You need a general early-access window before public on-sale
Access codes
Access codes hide specific ticket types from public view. Only buyers with the code can see and purchase those tickets. This is useful for member-only pricing, VIP tiers, or private offers within a public event. Each ticket type supports one access code; create separate ticket types if you need additional codes.
Use access codes when:
You want to hide specific ticket types, not entire events
You offer member pricing, VIP tiers, or comp tickets within a public event
Multiple ticket types need different access levels in the same event
Quick comparison
Pre-sales | Access codes | |
|---|---|---|
Scope | All events with a tag | Individual ticket types |
What it controls | Timing windows and early access | Visibility of specific tickets |
Code protection | Optional (for early-access window) | Always required |
Use case | Advance sales with scheduled public on-sale | Hidden pricing tiers or private offers |
Still unsure which approach fits your situation? Both features can be used together—for example, a pre-sale schedule with access-coded VIP tickets within the same events.