> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.memberply.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.memberply.com/events/free-and-paid-event-tickets.md).

# Free and paid event tickets

Choose admission based on how members should book. A free event can use either a direct RSVP or a Shopify product priced at 0.

| Admission option                                      | How members confirm attendance         | Availability control     |
| ----------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| **RSVP only (no product)**                            | Select Going in their member area      | Event RSVP capacity      |
| **Shopify ticket (free or paid)** with a $0 product   | Complete a zero-total Shopify checkout | Shopify ticket inventory |
| **Shopify ticket (free or paid)** with a paid product | Complete payment in Shopify            | Shopify ticket inventory |

## Prepare a ticket product

If you want a product link for your event, first create a dedicated Shopify ticket product. Set its price to **0** for free admission or enter your ticket price for paid admission. Members complete Shopify checkout in either case.

For example, you could create a Shopify product called VIP Styling Night Ticket or Member Workshop Ticket.

You can use Shopify's product inventory settings if you want to limit the number of tickets available.

Use a dedicated event product. Saving a ticketed event disables shipping on its ticket variants, so do not select a product that also ships physical goods.

## Link the product to the event

In the [event editor](/events/create-and-manage-events.md), choose **Shopify ticket (free or paid)** under **Access and ticketing**.

For ticketed events, always select the Shopify product using the product search field. Do not use a manually typed product URL.

The member ticket and guest ticket searches show Shopify products only. Collections cannot be used as event tickets.

Memberply uses the selected Shopify product to detect when a member purchases a ticket. When the member completes checkout for that product, Memberply updates their RSVP for that event to Going.

If the member previously selected Maybe or Not going, their RSVP will be updated to Going after the ticket purchase is recorded.

When you save a ticketed event, Memberply automatically adds the selected ticket product to the Exclusive Product Access list for that membership tier. This helps prevent non-members from accessing or purchasing the ticket product directly.

### Share a free event product link

1. Create a dedicated ticket product in Shopify and set every available ticket variant to **0** for an entirely free event. Publish the product to your Online Store.
2. In the event editor, choose **Shopify ticket (free or paid)** and select that product, then save.
3. Copy the product's storefront URL from Shopify. Share it with members or use it as the event link in your calendar. This provides a link for your existing calendar; Memberply does not create or synchronize calendar entries.
4. Members sign in and complete the $0 ticket checkout. Attendance is confirmed when Memberply processes the completed order, not just when the product page is viewed.

Existing free events remain RSVP-only until you choose a ticket product. Product-linked events use Shopify inventory for ticket limits, including $0 tickets. Saving disables shipping on the selected ticket product's variants, so use a dedicated event product. Product prices remain managed in Shopify; selecting the event type does not change them.

## What members see

Once saved, eligible members will see the event in the members area.

RSVP-only events show RSVP buttons for Going, Maybe, and Not going.

If an RSVP-only event is full, members who are not already Going will not see Going. If waitlist is enabled, they will see Join waitlist.

Free and paid ticketed events show a **Get ticket** button in both Shopify customer accounts and the Memberply member dashboard. Members are told to complete checkout to be marked as Going, while Maybe and Not going remain available.

## Guest tickets

The member's ticket and the guest's ticket are configured separately. A free member event can have paid guests, and a paid member event can offer a complimentary guest. See [Plus One guest bookings](/events/plus-one-guest-bookings.md).

Ticket inventory and RSVP capacity are different controls. See [Capacity, RSVPs and waitlists](/events/capacity-rsvps-and-waitlists.md) before setting attendance limits.