Givebutter makes it easy to scan tickets on the day of your event. No one wants to wait outside, so we designed a check-in experience that's smooth as butter. Use our app to scan tickets or check guests in from your dashboard.
Every attendee is emailed a PDF ticket after purchase (except tickets for Digital events), which they can print or display on their phone. Attendees can also add their ticket to Apple Wallet and show it at the door straight from their phone. Tickets have two unique identifiers on them:
QR code – A code that can be scanned using a smartphone camera.
Ticket number – A numerical code made up of a letter and numbers that you can use to quickly look up and verify tickets.
Once a guest is checked in, the status in the tickets tab changes to a green checkmark.
Learn the ropes with Givebutter Academy! 🎥 Our free educational video courses are designed to help you succeed on our platform and make the most of our features. Using the mobile app for live events →
Check-in details 🎟️
When you check in a guest, whether by scanning their QR code or looking up their ticket manually, the app shows that ticket's details so you have everything you need at the door. Seated guests can be pointed straight to their table, and any information you collected with custom fields is easily accessible to keep things moving.
Ticket number
Check-in status
Attendee name
Table and seat assignment, for events with event seating arrangements
Auction registration status, for events with an auction
Paddle number, for events doing a paddle raise (editable)
Per-ticket custom field responses collected at checkout
Event details
Ticket type
Scan tickets with the app 📷
Before you can scan tickets on the Givebutter app, you'll need to download it first! Download the Givebutter app for iOS or Android. Only account users with Admin or Mobile Access roles can use the app. All mobile users (full or limited access) can scan tickets and check guests in.
The ticket scanner uses your mobile device's camera to scan the QR code on a donor's ticket.
Select the campaign the event is on, then click the ticket icon at the bottom of the screen. Select Scan Tickets at the top of the screen, and the ticket scanner will open.
You can also click the blue + button from your Campaigns page and tap the scan icon (grids) at the top of the screen.
With the scanner open, click the flashlight icon to turn on your light if you're scanning tickets in the dark, or sound icon to enable/disable sound confirmation.
Point the camera at the QR code on a ticket. The ticket will be checked in!
When you use the ticket scanner for the first time, the app may request permission to use your mobile device's camera. Once permission is granted, you can use the ticket scanner - you won't be asked again.
Manual ticket check in ✏️
If you can't scan the QR code on a ticket, or a guest didn't bring their ticket, you can look them up and check them in manually.
Select the campaign the event is on, then click the ticket icon at the bottom of the screen to open the Tickets page.
Scroll or use the search bar to locate the ticket. You can search by ticket holder name, email address, phone number, or ticket number (ie. A0001), and use the filter at the top of the list to show only tickets that haven't been checked in.
Ticket holder and contact/donor information sometimes differ, for example, if a contact purchases a ticket for someone else. You must search for the ticket holder's information, not the billing information entered at checkout.
Click on the ticket, then click Check in at the bottom of the page.
To undo a check-in, click on the ticket and click Mark absent. This won't revoke or refund the ticket.
Check in guests from your dashboard 💻
While using the app is the fastest way to scan handheld tickets, you can also check guests in from your dashboard.
Click on the relevant campaign in your dashboard.
Click on the Event tab at the top of the page, then click on the Attendees sub-tab on the left side of the page.
Use the search bar to find the ticket by ticket holder name, email address, ticket number (e.g., A0001), or ticket type (e.g., VIP ticket). Once located, click the Check in button under the Status column.
You can click it again to undo the check-in, which will not revoke or refund the ticket.
You can also check in attendees from your Transactions > Tickets page, including all tickets sold across all campaigns.
FAQ 🤔
What if a donor forgets their ticket or doesn't have it on their phone?
Don't worry – you can search attendees by name, email, or phone number to check them in manually via the app or on your Givebutter dashboard.
I'm getting the error message: "Ticket Already Redeemed on:"
If a QR code is scanned after a guest has been checked in, it will produce an error message. This can happen if a guest purchases multiple tickets and accidentally presents the same one for multiple people in their party. A quick reference to your tickets tab will confirm how many tickets were purchased and allow you to complete the check-in quickly.
Can I scan tickets from my desktop or laptop computer?
You can't scan tickets using your computer, but you can still check guests in using the desktop site! On the relevant campaign, click on the Event tab, then click on the Attendees sub-tab. Locate the ticket you want to check in and click the Check in button. If you want to scan tickets, you'll need to use the app.
Can multiple people scan tickets at once, using different devices?
Yes! You can have many people scanning tickets simultaneously on different devices. Please note that you may need to refresh Givebutter to check the number of scanned tickets. Checked-in tickets may not update in real time as they are scanned.
Can I see where a guest is seated when I check them in?
Yes! If your event uses seating arrangements, each guest's table and seat appear in their check-in details, whether you scan their ticket or look it up manually.
Is there a report showing how many tickets each person/admin checked in?
Yes – the Tickets export includes columns for:
Checked in by – email address of the user who scanned the ticket
Check-in type – method used (manual or scan)
Check-in source – Givebutter access source (dashboard or mobile)
Check-in date – date and time the ticket was checked in
Who will receive a PDF ticket via email?
Guests who purchase tickets for Hybrid or In-Person events will receive emailed tickets with QR codes. Guests with tickets for Digital events will not receive a PDF ticket with a QR code.