StartPlaying vs QuestSeat: fees and payments for an existing group

If you already run a paid tabletop group, ask how a platform helps you find players and supports those already at your table. StartPlaying offers a marketplace for finding and booking games. QuestSeat gives paid GMs public host and campaign pages, campaign administration and a private place for players to return, with optional discovery for bookable games.

This comparison is written by QuestSeat. We checked the linked public documentation on 2 November 2026. It compares documented pricing and arrangements, with hypothetical examples. We have not independently tested StartPlaying.

What does each platform charge the GM and the player?

StartPlaying charges the GM 15% of bookings, with its payment guide describing an 85% payout to the GM. It has no subscription, signup or upfront fee. Players pay an additional service fee above the session price; its documentation says this covers card-processing costs and shows the exact amount at checkout. It does not publish a fixed percentage in that guide.

QuestSeat charges a standard GM subscription of USD29 per month. There is no QuestSeat session commission, player platform fee, application fee or markup on Stripe fees. Players pay the published session total. The GM bears the actual Stripe costs on payments processed through QuestSeat.

QuestSeat offers one initial 30-day trial with a card required. The first 100 eligible GMs can receive USD15 per month while continuously subscribed, subject to the published eligibility and recovery conditions. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the trial or billing period; effective cancellation ends that GM’s founder rate. Use the current pricing page to check the offer before subscribing.

Compare the month you actually expect to run

A percentage fee can cost less when bookings are low. A fixed subscription becomes a smaller share of revenue as bookings grow, while payment processing still has to be paid. Compare the same month, currency and session-price total, and keep the GM’s costs separate from any fee charged to players.

These are GM cost examples, not a promise of an all-in saving. They exclude refunds, disputes, currency conversion, tax differences and other tools you may buy. Do not add a second assumed GM processing fee to StartPlaying’s 15% in this comparison: its guide already describes the GM receiving 85%. For QuestSeat, use your applicable Stripe rates and number of transactions to estimate processing.

Then consider where the bookings come from. A marketplace booking that you would not otherwise receive has a different value from an existing player paying for their usual session. Neither product should be treated as a guarantee of filled seats; StartPlaying explicitly says its fee does not guarantee player matches or booking volume.

Can you bring an existing group or offer a free place?

Both products accommodate complimentary players. StartPlaying’s Add Player feature lets a GM add a player without charging them; the player needs a StartPlaying account. For paid participation in games listed on StartPlaying, its rules require payments to go through StartPlaying.

QuestSeat supports a roster containing QuestSeat-collected, externally paid and complimentary places. Existing players can participate without creating a public profile or password. Verified email access and financial consent are still required where the chosen action needs them. External payments are recorded by the GM and remain identified as external; QuestSeat does not verify money it did not process.

What do players return to between sessions?

StartPlaying has private Prep Materials for booked players, including Discord links, virtual-tabletop links and documents. QuestSeat’s private game home gives participants their next date, preparation and table links. Private preparation is therefore something to assess in both products. Check how each fits the way your group already communicates.

Before moving an established campaign, walk through an ordinary week and a changed plan. Can players find the next date and joining instructions? What happens when someone is absent or the GM moves a session? Where do you check what was collected, what was handled elsewhere and what is still uncertain? Those tasks are more useful to test than the length of a feature list.

Which arrangement fits your group?

• Consider StartPlaying if you want its marketplace booking model and prefer a platform cost that varies with paid bookings, without a monthly subscription. Check the games, profiles and booking arrangements for the systems and times you run.
• Consider QuestSeat if managing an existing group, retaining independently arranged payments and giving players a continuing campaign home make the monthly subscription worthwhile. Optional discovery can accompany that existing business; it is not evidence of future bookings.

QuestSeat is for GMs and players aged 18 or older in Australia and the United States. Check current eligibility, pricing and terms before committing. For either platform, judge the fit using your actual roster, expected bookings and payment arrangements. There is no need to assume that the same choice suits every GM.