Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Ticketmaster Clone with Adalo

This comprehensive tutorial will walk you through creating a professional event ticketing platform using Adalo's no-code app builder. You'll build a fully functional app with event discovery, ticket purchasing, payment processing, QR code check-in, and organizer management—all without writing a single line of code.

Key Takeaways

• Build a complete event ticketing platform in 2-6 weeks using Adalo's drag-and-drop builder
• Create native iOS and Android apps plus a responsive web platform from a single project
• Implement secure payment processing with Stripe integration for ticket sales
• Enable QR code check-in for seamless event entry
• Launch with geolocation features to help users find events nearby

Understanding the Foundation: What is a No-Code App Builder?

Why Choose No-Code for Event Ticketing?

No-code platforms enable you to build professional applications using visual interfaces instead of traditional programming. Adalo operates on the principle that "if you can make a slide deck, you can make an app"—empowering anyone to bring their event ticketing ideas to life.

For event platforms, this means:

• Visual development: Design your app exactly as it will appear to users
• Rapid prototyping: Test your ticketing concept in days, not months
• Cross-platform publishing: Deploy to iOS, Android, and web simultaneously
• Built-in database: Manage events, tickets, and users without external tools
• No technical debt: Update features without disrupting your users

The platform processes over 20 million data requests daily and maintains 99%+ uptime, making it suitable for production event ticketing applications.

Prerequisites and Initial Setup

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account

1. Visit Adalo.com and click "Get Started"
2. Sign up with your email address
3. Verify your email (check spam folder if needed)
4. Complete the welcome questionnaire about your app goals
5. Choose the free plan to start building

Step 2: Initialize Your Event Platform Project

1. Click "Create New App" from your dashboard
2. Name your project (e.g., "EventHub" or "TicketLocal")
3. Select "Mobile App" for native iOS/Android support
4. Choose "Start from Scratch" or browse app templates
5. Set your brand colors:
   
   • Primary: Professional color for headers (e.g., deep blue)
   • Secondary: Call-to-action color (e.g., vibrant orange)
   • Background: Clean white or light gray

Setting Up Your Event Ticketing Platform Database in Adalo

Step 3: Enhance the Users Collection

1. Click the Database icon in the left sidebar
2. Select the existing "Users" collection
3. Add these properties (click "+ Add Property"):
   
   • Phone Number (Text)
   • Profile Image (Image)
   • User Type (Text) - Values: "Attendee", "Organizer"
   • Organization Name (Text)
   • Bio (Text - Multiline)
   • Location (Location)
   • Email Verified (True/False)

Learn more about databases

Step 4: Create the Events Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Events"
3. Add these properties:
   
   • Event Title (Text)
   • Description (Text - Multiline)
   • Category (Text) - Values: "Music", "Sports", "Arts", "Food & Drink", "Business", "Community"
   • Event Image (Image)
   • Start Date & Time (Date & Time)
   • End Date & Time (Date & Time)
   • Venue Name (Text)
   • Venue Address (Text)
   • Venue Location (Location)
   • Status (Text) - Values: "Draft", "Published", "Cancelled", "Completed"
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Max Capacity (Number)
   • Tags (Text)

Step 5: Build the Tickets Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Tickets"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Ticket Type (Text) - e.g., "General Admission", "VIP", "Early Bird"
   • Price (Number)
   • Quantity Available (Number)
   • Quantity Sold (Number)
   • Sale Start Date (Date & Time)
   • Sale End Date (Date & Time)
   • Description (Text - Multiline)
   • Is Active (True/False)

Step 6: Create the Registrations Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Registrations"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Registration ID (Text - Auto-Generated)
   • Ticket Quantity (Number)
   • Total Amount (Number)
   • Purchase Date (Date & Time - Automatic)
   • Check-In Status (True/False - Default: False)
   • Check-In Time (Date & Time)
   • QR Code (Text)
   • Status (Text) - Values: "Pending", "Confirmed", "Cancelled", "Refunded"

Step 7: Set Up the Payments Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Payments"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Payment ID (Text - Auto-Generated)
   • Amount (Number)
   • Stripe Payment ID (Text)
   • Payment Method (Text)
   • Status (Text) - Values: "Pending", "Completed", "Failed", "Refunded"
   • Created Date (Date & Time - Automatic)

Step 8: Configure Database Relationships

1. In Events collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Organizer" (A User can organize many Events)
• Add relationship to Tickets: One-to-Many (One Event has many Tickets)

2. In Tickets collection:

• Add relationship to Events: Many-to-One
• Add relationship to Registrations: One-to-Many

3. In Registrations collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Attendee" (Many-to-One)
• Add relationship to Tickets: Many-to-One
• Add relationship to Payments: One-to-One

This relational database structure allows you to track which attendees purchased which tickets for which events, with complete payment history.

Installing Required Components

Step 9: Install the Stripe Payment Component

1. Visit the Adalo Marketplace
2. Search for "Stripe"
3. Click "Install" on the Stripe Payment component
4. You'll need Stripe API keys later (free Stripe account required)

Step 10: Add QR Code Components

1. In Marketplace, search "QR Code"
2. Install "QR Code Generator" component
3. Install "QR Code Scanner" component
4. Return to your app editor

Step 11: Install Maps for Event Discovery

1. Search for "Maps" in the Component Marketplace
2. Install the Maps component
3. Obtain a Google Maps API key (you'll configure this later)

Note: Geolocation features require the Professional plan ($52/month annually) or higher.

Designing the User Interface: Event Listings and Details

Step 12: Build the Welcome Screen

1. Rename the default screen to "Welcome"
2. Add your app logo (Image component)
3. Add headline text: "Find Events You'll Love"
4. Add tagline: "Browse local events and get tickets instantly"
5. Add two buttons:
   
   • "Sign Up" → Link to "Sign Up" screen
   • "Log In" → Link to "Login" screen
6. Add "Browse Events" button → Link to "Event Feed" (for guest browsing)

Step 13: Create the Event Feed Screen

1. Add new screen named "Event Feed"

2. Add Search Bar component at top:

• Placeholder: "Search events..."
• Filter Events collection by title and description

3. Add filter buttons (horizontal scroll):

• "All", "Music", "Sports", "Arts", "Food & Drink", "Business"
• Each filters Events by category

4. Add List component:

• Connect to Events collection
• Filter: Status = "Published" AND Start Date ≥ Today
• Sort by: Start Date (Ascending)

5. Style each event card:

• Image: Event Image (full width)
• Text: Event Title (bold, large)
• Text: Start Date & Time (formatted)
• Text: Venue Name
• Text: Starting price from linked Tickets (formula: Minimum price)
• Badge: "Free" if any ticket price = 0

6. Make card clickable → Navigate to "Event Details" screen

Step 14: Design Event Details Screen

1. Add new screen "Event Details"

2. Add components from top to bottom:

• Image: Selected Event → Event Image (hero)
• Text: Event Title (h1 style)
• Icon + Text: Date and time
• Icon + Text: Venue Name and Address
• Map: Centered on Venue Location (small preview)
• Text: Description (multiline)
• Text: "About the Organizer"
• Image + Text: Organizer profile and bio

3. Add ticket selection section:

• Text: "Select Tickets"
• List: Connected to Selected Event → Tickets
• For each ticket type show:
  
  • Ticket Type name
  • Price
  • Quantity Available - Quantity Sold
  • Stepper (quantity selector: 0-10)

4. Add Button: "Continue to Checkout"

• Only visible if tickets selected
• Navigate to "Checkout" screen

Implementing User Authentication and Profile Management

Step 15: Build Sign Up Flow

1. Create "Sign Up" screen

2. Add Form component connected to Users:

• Email (required)
• Password (required, hidden)
• Full Name (required)
• Phone Number

3. Add Toggle: "I'm an event organizer"

• Sets User Type to "Organizer" or "Attendee"

4. Add Checkbox: "I agree to Terms & Privacy Policy"

• Required before submission

5. Submit button actions:

• Create User account
• Send verification email (set Email Verified = False)
• Navigate to "Profile Setup" screen

Step 16: Create Login Screen

1. Add "Login" screen

2. Add Login Form:

• Email
• Password
• "Forgot Password?" link

3. On successful login:

• Navigate to "Event Feed" for attendees
• Navigate to "Organizer Dashboard" for organizers

4. Add social login options (optional):

• "Continue with Google"
• "Continue with Apple"

Step 17: Build User Profile Screen

1. Create "My Profile" screen

2. Add editable fields:

• Profile Image (Image Picker)
• Full Name
• Email (read-only)
• Phone Number
• Bio (for organizers)
• Location

3. Add sections:

• "My Tickets": List of user's Registrations (filter: Status = "Confirmed")
• "Past Events": Completed events attended
• "Saved Events": Favorited events (requires Favorites collection)

4. Add "Update Profile" button

5. Add "Log Out" button

Adding Core Features: Ticket Selection and Purchase Flow

Step 18: Create the Checkout Screen

1. Add new screen "Checkout"

2. Display order summary:

• List: Selected tickets with quantities
• Text: Subtotal (formula: Sum of ticket prices × quantities)
• Text: Service fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
• Text: Total Amount (bold, large)

3. Add attendee information form:

• Full Name (pre-filled from logged-in user)
• Email
• Phone Number

4. Add Button: "Proceed to Payment"

• Navigate to "Payment" screen

Step 19: Integrate Stripe Payment Processing

1. Create "Payment" screen

2. Add Stripe Payment component:

• Amount: Checkout → Total Amount
• Currency: USD (or your currency)
• Customer Email: Logged In User → Email
• Description: Event Title + Ticket Details

3. Configure Stripe keys:

• Get test keys from Stripe Dashboard
• Add to component settings (Settings → Integrations → Stripe)

4. On successful payment:

• Create Registration record (link to User, Ticket, Event)
• Generate unique QR Code (Registration ID)
• Create Payment record with Stripe Payment ID
• Update Tickets → Quantity Sold (+1)
• Send confirmation email
• Navigate to "Order Confirmation" screen

5. On failed payment:

• Show error message
• Log to Payments with Status = "Failed"
• Offer retry option

Step 20: Build Order Confirmation Screen

1. Create "Order Confirmation" screen

2. Display success message:

• ✓ Icon
• "Payment Successful!"
• "Your tickets have been sent to [email]"

3. Show ticket details:

• Event name and date
• Ticket types and quantities
• Total amount paid
• Order number (Registration ID)

4. Add QR Code Generator:

• Generate code from Registration ID
• Make it prominent for scanning

5. Add action buttons:

• "View My Tickets" → Navigate to profile
• "Add to Calendar" → Calendar integration
• "Share Event" → Share sheet

Integrating Location Services and External Data for Events

Step 21: Enable Geolocation for Event Discovery

1. In "Event Feed" screen, add location toggle:

• Button: "Events Near Me"
• Requests location permission

2. Add Map component (toggle view):

• Show all events as pins
• Filter by distance from current location
• Cluster nearby events

3. Add distance filter dropdown:

• 5 miles
• 10 miles
• 25 miles
• 50 miles

4. Update Event list to show distance:

• Formula: Calculate distance between User Location and Venue Location
• Display: "2.3 miles away"

Note: This requires Professional plan ($52/month annually) for geolocation features.

Step 22: Add External Event Data (Optional)

For integrating event data from external sources:

1. Set up Airtable or Xano as external database

2. Configure External Collection in Adalo:

• Database → External Collections → Add
• Enter API credentials
• Map fields to Events collection structure

3. Use Zapier to sync events:

• Trigger: New event in external source
• Action: Create event in Adalo

This allows you to aggregate events from multiple platforms or manage large event catalogs.

Building Organizer Features

Step 23: Create Organizer Dashboard

1. Add "Organizer Dashboard" screen (only visible to User Type = "Organizer")

2. Add statistics section:

• Total events created
• Upcoming events count
• Total tickets sold
• Total revenue (formula: Sum of related Payments)

3. Add List of organizer's events:

• Filter: Organizer = Logged In User
• Sort: Start Date (Descending)
• Show: Title, Date, Tickets Sold, Revenue

4. Add "+ Create Event" floating button

• Navigate to "Create Event" screen

Step 24: Build Create Event Form

1. Create "Create Event" screen

2. Add Form connected to Events:

• Event Title (required)
• Description (multiline, required)
• Category (dropdown, required)
• Event Image (Image Picker)
• Start Date & Time (Date/Time picker)
• End Date & Time
• Venue Name
• Venue Address (with autocomplete)
• Venue Location (auto-filled from address)
• Max Capacity

3. Set auto-fill values:

• Organizer = Logged In User
• Status = "Draft"
• Created Date = Now

4. Submit button:

• Create Event
• Navigate to "Add Tickets" screen

Step 25: Create Ticket Configuration Screen

1. Add "Add Tickets" screen

2. For each ticket tier, add form:

• Ticket Type (e.g., "General Admission")
• Price (number input, allow 0 for free)
• Quantity Available
• Sale Start Date (default: now)
• Sale End Date (default: event start)
• Description

3. Add "+ Add Another Ticket Type" button

4. Submit creates Ticket records linked to event

5. Navigate to "Event Preview" screen

Step 26: Build QR Code Check-In Screen

1. Create "Check-In" screen for organizers

2. Add event selector:

• Dropdown of organizer's events
• Filter: Status = "Published" AND Date = Today

3. Add QR Code Scanner component:

• On scan: Find Registration by QR Code value
• If found and Check-In Status = False:
  
  • Update Check-In Status = True
  • Set Check-In Time = Now
  • Show success message (name, ticket type)
  • Play success sound
• If already checked in:
  
  • Show warning: "Already checked in at [time]"
• If not found:
  
  • Show error: "Invalid ticket"

4. Display check-in stats:

• Total tickets sold
• Checked in count
• Remaining

Publishing Your Ticketmaster-like App to Multiple Platforms

Step 27: Prepare for Web Publishing

1. Go to Settings → Publishing → Web App

2. Configure domain:

• Free: yourapp.adalo.com
• Custom domain (included in Starter plan)

3. Set favicon and browser title

4. Add meta description for SEO

5. Click "Publish Web App"

6. Wait for SSL certificate (automatic, 10-15 minutes)

Your responsive web app is now live and works on all screen sizes.

Step 28: Publish to iOS App Store

1. Create Apple Developer account ($99/year)

2. In Adalo: Settings → Publishing → iOS

3. Configure app details:

• App name
• Bundle ID (com.yourcompany.eventapp)
• Version (1.0.0)
• Upload app icon (1024×1024)
• Upload screenshots (required sizes)

4. Add required information:

• Privacy Policy URL
• Support URL
• App description

5. Click "Build iOS App"

6. Wait 15-30 minutes for build

7. Download .ipa file

8. Upload to App Store Connect

9. Submit for review (typically 24-48 hours)

Step 29: Deploy to Google Play Store

1. Create Google Play developer account ($25 one-time)
2. In Adalo: Settings → Publishing → Android
3. Configure similar details as iOS
4. Generate .aab file (15-20 minutes)
5. Upload to Google Play Console
6. Complete store listing
7. Submit for review (up to 7 days)

Learn more about the publishing process.

Scaling Your Event App and Future Enhancements with Adalo

Step 30: Add Advanced Search and Filters

1. Install search component from Marketplace

2. Add filters:

• Date range picker
• Price range slider
• Category multi-select
• Venue type

3. Add sorting options:

• Relevance
• Date (soonest first)
• Distance (closest first)
• Price (low to high)

Step 31: Implement Automated Email Notifications

1. Connect Zapier to your app

2. Create automation workflows:

• New registration → Send ticket confirmation
• 24 hours before event → Send reminder
• Event cancelled → Notify attendees
• Organizer new sale → Send alert

3. For transactional emails:

• Integrate SendGrid or Mailchimp
• Design branded email templates
• Include QR code in ticket emails

Step 32: Add Social Features

1. Create Reviews collection:

• Rating (1-5 stars)
• Comment
• Event relationship
• User relationship

2. Add "Share Event" functionality:

• Generate shareable link
• Social media preview cards
• "Invite Friends" feature

3. Build event recommendations:

• Based on past attendance
• Based on location
• Based on category preferences

Step 33: Connect Analytics and Reporting

1. For organizers, add analytics dashboard:

• Ticket sales over time (chart component from Marketplace)
• Revenue by ticket type
• Geographic distribution of attendees
• Traffic sources

2. Export capabilities:

• Attendee lists (CSV)
• Sales reports
• Check-in records

Why Adalo is the Right Platform for Your Event Ticketing App

Building an event ticketing platform requires balancing powerful features with ease of use. Adalo excels in this space by providing production-ready capabilities without the complexity of traditional development.

The platform's built-in relational database handles the complex relationships between events, tickets, registrations, and payments seamlessly. Unlike spreadsheet-based tools, you can manage thousands of events with 99%+ uptime suitable for commercial use.

Payment processing integration is straightforward—the Stripe component connects in minutes, allowing you to collect ticket payments securely without handling sensitive card data. You keep control of your revenue stream, avoiding significant platform fees charged by established ticketing services.

For validation and growth, Adalo's responsive design means you can launch on web first, then expand to native mobile apps when ready—all from the same project. Apps created with Adalo have registered more than two million end-user accounts, demonstrating the platform's scalability.

The Component Marketplace extends functionality as you grow. Need email marketing? Connect Zapier. Scaling beyond Adalo's database? Integrate Xano. Want calendar integration? Add the component. This ecosystem approach means you're never locked into limitations—you can enhance your platform progressively.

Most importantly, Adalo enables you to own your platform completely. Unlike using Eventbrite or similar services, you control the user experience, own the attendee data, and can customize every aspect to match your brand. For event organizers tired of platform fees and restrictions, or entrepreneurs wanting to enter the ticketing space, Adalo provides the tools to compete without the 6-12 month development timelines of custom builds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really build a complex app like Ticketmaster without any coding experience?

Yes. Adalo's visual builder operates on the principle that anyone who can create a presentation can build an app. The drag-and-drop interface handles all technical complexity behind the scenes. For event ticketing specifically, you'll find pre-built components for payments, QR codes, and maps that work out of the box. Expect to invest 2-6 weeks of part-time work to launch a functional platform, with the first working prototype possible in just days.

What are the typical costs associated with publishing an app built with Adalo to app stores?

Beyond Adalo's subscription, you'll need an Apple Developer account at $99/year and a Google Play account at $25 one-time. For web deployment, a custom domain runs $10-45/year. Stripe payment processing charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, but there are no platform transaction fees from Adalo. Budget approximately $500-700 for the first year including all accounts and basic plan.

How does Adalo handle user data and privacy for an event ticketing application?

Adalo provides HTTPS encryption for all data in transit and manages automatic backups. Payment data never touches your Adalo database—it's processed directly by Stripe, which is PCI DSS compliant. You'll need to provide your own privacy policy (required for app store approval) and handle GDPR compliance requirements like data export and user deletion requests. Adalo gives you tools to implement these, but legal compliance remains your responsibility as the app owner.

Can I integrate custom design elements and branding into my Adalo event app?

Absolutely. Adalo supports custom branding including your logo, color scheme, and font choices throughout the app. You can upload custom icons, images, and create branded ticket designs. The platform uses a "what you see is what you get" editor, so your design appears exactly as you build it. For more advanced customization, the Component Marketplace offers UI kits and design templates you can modify to match your brand guidelines.

What kind of support is available if I get stuck while building my app?

Adalo offers tiered support based on your plan. The free tier includes access to the community forum and help documentation. Paid plans starting at $45/month include email support with 24-48 hour response times. The Team plan ($200/month when billed monthly, or $160/month annually) provides priority support. Additionally, you can hire certified Adalo Experts from the marketplace for setup help, with rates typically ranging $50-150/hour. The App Academy offers free tutorials and courses specifically for event and booking apps.

Is it possible to manage event creators and their events within an Adalo app?

Yes, the user type system allows you to create distinct experiences for attendees versus organizers. Organizers get access to dashboards showing their events, ticket sales, revenue, and attendee management. You can implement approval workflows where you review events before they go live, create commission structures for marketplace models, and provide analytics to organizers. The relational database links users to their created events, making it straightforward to filter and display only relevant data to each organizer while maintaining a unified platform.