At checkout you'll see a delivery method, and it decides how your tickets reach you and how you get in. Most tickets today are mobile, but a few other types still exist. Here's what each one means so there are no surprises on event day.
Mobile tickets
By far the most common. A barcode or QR code lives on your phone — in a wallet app or the venue's app — and staff scan it from your screen at the gate. Nothing to print, and mobile delivery typically has no delivery charge.
Mobile transfer
A specific kind of mobile delivery where the seller transfers the tickets into your own account or wallet app, rather than sending a barcode directly. You accept the transfer and the tickets are yours. (Sending them onward to your group works the same way — see how to transfer tickets.)
E-ticket / PDF
An electronic ticket delivered as a PDF you can display on your phone or print at home. Each PDF has its own barcode. If your event uses PDFs, keep the file handy and, if you like, print a backup in case your phone battery runs low.
Will-call / box-office pickup
For some events you collect tickets at the venue's will-call window, usually with a photo ID and your order details. Give yourself extra time before the event, since will-call lines can build up right before doors.
Shipped (physical) tickets
A small and shrinking share of tickets are physical hard stock that ships to you. Because shipping has a real cost, this is the one delivery type that can carry a delivery charge — most tickets are mobile and avoid it entirely.
Which will I get, and when?
The delivery method is set by the event and shown on your order. Some mobile tickets arrive right after purchase; others are released closer to the event date as an anti-fraud measure — that's normal, and they're guaranteed to arrive in time. More on timing in how mobile ticket delivery works.