Budget Comedy

Cheap Comedy Clubs in Austin, TX

17 budget-friendly comedy venues in Austin — including 8 free open mic nights. All venues below have starting ticket prices under $20 or offer free entry.

8 Free Open Mics9 Shows Under $20
Free Open Mic

Fallout Theater

616 Lavaca St, Austin, TX

4.6 (144 reviews)18+

Fallout Theater is a stand-up comedy club in Austin, Texas. This Austin venue hosts regular open mic nights alongside headliner shows, with tickets from $8-$13. 18+ admission policy. Find show schedules, tickets, and venue details on ComedyClubFinder.

Free Open Mic

ColdTowne Theater

1700 E 2nd St, Austin, TX

4.7 (370 reviews)All ages(512) 814-8696

ColdTowne Theater is Austin's premier long-form improv and sketch comedy training center, now operating as part of the Upright Citizens Brigade family. Located in East Austin at 1700 E 2nd St, the theater runs shows nightly — from house team improv sets to touring stand-up acts — and offers a full conservatory curriculum for aspiring performers. Free parking and a welcoming community vibe make it a local favorite.

Free Open Mic

Rozco's Comedy Club

1805 E 7th St, Austin, TX

4.6 (236 reviews)21+(512) 956-4669

Rozco's Comedy Club is East Austin's newest dedicated stand-up venue, bringing full comedy-club energy to the East 7th Street corridor. Located at 1805 E 7th St, Rozco's books a mix of local Austin headliners and touring regional acts, with shows running Wednesday through Sunday. The club has a full bar, a two-drink minimum, and tickets priced at $10–$25 depending on the act. Open mic nights run regularly — check the website for the current schedule. The room seats approximately 80 guests in a classic comedy-club layout with tiered seating, ensuring good sightlines from every seat. Rozco's is quickly becoming the go-to East Austin spot for locals who want a proper stand-up club experience without the tourist crowds of East 6th Street.

Free Open Mic

Bat City Comedy Club

500 E 4th St, Austin, TX

021+(737) 877-0016

Bat City Comedy Club is a rising stand-up venue operating out of The Reverbery at 500 E 4th St in downtown Austin, Texas. The club runs a packed weekly schedule: Monday through Wednesday feature showcase sets followed by open mic nights at 10pm, Thursday has two showcase sets at 7pm and 9pm, and Friday and Saturday run headline shows at 8pm. Tickets are priced at $10–$20 and the 21+ age policy is enforced. The venue seats approximately 75 guests in a bar-comedy hybrid layout, with full bar service throughout the show. Bat City is notable for its open mic program — one of the most active in Austin — which runs three nights a week and attracts both new and experienced Austin-based comedians. The downtown location puts it within easy walking distance of the Rainey Street and East 6th Street entertainment districts, making it a natural choice for a night that starts with dinner and ends with comedy.

Free Open Mic

The Creek and The Cave

611 E 7th St, Austin, TX

4.6 (668 reviews)21+(737) 222-0852

The Creek and The Cave is a comedy club and bar at 611 E 7th Street in Austin, Texas (zip 78701), located in the Red River Cultural District. The venue runs comedy shows most nights of the week, with tickets priced at $15–$25 — the most affordable dedicated comedy room in Austin. The bar opens at 6pm and a food truck operates until midnight. The Creek and The Cave is 21+ and is the best choice in Austin for locals who want to see live comedy regularly without paying Comedy Mothership prices. The venue is especially strong for discovering Austin-based comics and emerging talent. Open mic nights are held every Sunday at 8pm (free with RSVP, $5 at the door). The club has a 4.6★ Google rating from 668 reviews.

Free Open Mic

Sunset Strip Comedy Club

214 E. 6th Street, Unit C, Austin, TX

4.6 (170 reviews)21+(737) 228-0003

Sunset Strip Comedy Club is a stand-up comedy club in Austin, Texas. This Austin venue hosts regular open mic nights alongside headliner shows. 21+ admission policy. Find show schedules, tickets, and venue details on ComedyClubFinder.

Free Open Mic

Cap City Comedy Club

11506 Century Oaks Terrace, Bldg B Unit 100, Austin, TX

4.4 (2,462 reviews)18+(512) 467-2333

Cap City Comedy Club is Austin's longest-running dedicated stand-up comedy club, located at 11506 Century Oaks Terrace in North Austin (zip 78758). The club books national touring headliners on a weekly basis, with shows Thursday through Sunday. Tickets run $22–$40 and are available online at capcitycomedy.com. The venue is 18+ with a two-item minimum and offers food and alcohol. Cap City is the best choice in Austin for a guaranteed big-name headliner show at a lower price than Comedy Mothership. Open mic nights are held on Tuesdays at 7:30pm. The club has been a cornerstone of the Austin comedy scene since the 1990s, predating the city's recent surge in national attention.

Free Open Mic

Comedy Mothership

320 E 6th St, Austin, TX

4.3 (1,713 reviews)21+(512) 610-5537

Comedy Mothership is Joe Rogan's comedy club at 320 E 6th Street in Austin, Texas (zip 78701), founded in 2022. The venue operates two theaters: the Fat Man Theatre (larger room, national touring headliners) and the Little Boy Theatre (intimate room, up-and-coming comics). Shows run Wednesday through Saturday, with tickets priced at $30–$60 — book online in advance as weekend shows sell out. Open mic nights are held every Monday at 5:30pm (sign-up in person, lineup posted at 6:15pm). Comedy Mothership is the most high-profile comedy venue in Austin and the room most likely to host surprise celebrity sets from comics like Dave Chappelle, Bert Kreischer, and Tom Segura. The club is 21+ with a two-item minimum. Located in the heart of the East 6th Street entertainment district, walking distance from dozens of bars and restaurants. Paid parking is available in nearby lots; metered street parking is free after 6pm.

$5-$15

ComedySportz Austin

13729 Research Blvd, N Hwy 183 Suite 1350, Austin, TX 78750, Austin, TX

4.9 (55 reviews)All ages(512) 350-0265

ComedySportz is Austin’s longest-running improvised comedy show. Each show is unique, made up on-the-spot from audience suggestions, with a fast-paced, funny and family-friendly format.

$5–$20

The Hideout Theatre

617 Congress Ave, Austin, TX

4.6 (663 reviews)All ages

The Hideout Theatre has been Austin's home for long-form improv since 1999, operating out of a dedicated 99-seat black-box theater at 617 Congress Ave in Downtown Austin. The venue is best known for its flagship show, The Maestro — a long-form improv format in which one performer is chosen by audience vote to direct an entire improvised show. The Hideout runs shows Friday and Saturday nights, with select weeknight performances; check the calendar at hideouttheatre.com for current scheduling. Tickets are priced at $5–$20 and the venue is all-ages, making it one of the most accessible comedy venues in Austin. The Hideout also runs one of Austin's most respected improv training programs, with classes for all skill levels. Alumni of the Hideout training program have gone on to perform at Second City, iO Chicago, and UCB. Located on Congress Avenue, the theater is within walking distance of the Texas State Capitol and dozens of downtown restaurants and bars.

$10–$20

East Austin Comedy Club

2505 E 6th St, Suite D, Austin, TX

4.8 (520 reviews)21+

East Austin Comedy Club is an intimate, speakeasy-style BYOB comedy venue tucked into a suite on East 6th Street in Austin, Texas. Founded to bring affordable, neighborhood-scale stand-up to the East Austin community, the club seats roughly 60 guests in a cozy, low-lit room that feels more like a private party than a traditional comedy club. Shows run most nights of the week, with tickets priced at $10–$20 — one of the best value comedy nights in Austin. The BYOB policy means you bring your own drinks and skip the two-drink minimum entirely. Performers range from Austin-based regulars to touring regional acts. The intimate room size means every seat is a good seat and comics can work the crowd directly. Located at 2505 E 6th St, Suite D, it is walking distance from dozens of East Austin bars and restaurants.

$10–$15

Excused Absence Comedy

1700 E 2nd St, Austin, TX

5 (1 reviews)All ages

Excused Absence Comedy is Austin's premier all-ages improv and sketch comedy program for youth and families, operating out of ColdTowne Theater at 1700 E 2nd St in East Austin. The program runs family-friendly improv shows on Saturday mornings (Story Starts, 11am) and additional performances throughout the week. Tickets are priced at $10–$15 and the venue is all-ages and family-friendly. Excused Absence Comedy is the only Austin comedy program specifically designed for children and families, offering a safe, inclusive, and genuinely funny live comedy experience for audiences of all ages. The program also runs youth improv classes and summer camps, making it a year-round resource for Austin families interested in comedy and performance. Located at 1700 E 2nd St inside ColdTowne Theater, the venue is in the heart of East Austin and easily accessible by car or bike.

$15–$35

The Velveeta Room

521 e 6th Street, Austin, TX

4.5 (223 reviews)18+(512) 766-8358

The longest-running comedy club in Austin. Tucked into an intimate space on 6th Street in the heart of downtown, we showcase a killer mix of veteran headliners and rising stars.

$15–$30

The Green Room

13201 Pond Springs Rd, Suite 105A, Austin, TX

4.8 (98 reviews)21+(512) 258-6423

The Green Room is North Austin's only dedicated comedy speakeasy, located inside the Mr. Nice Guys cocktail lounge at 13201 Pond Springs Rd in the Arboretum area. The intimate back-room venue seats approximately 50 guests and specializes in an upscale, cocktail-forward comedy experience — think craft cocktails, dim lighting, and a curated lineup of Austin's best stand-up comedians. Shows run on select nights; check the website for the current schedule. Tickets are priced at $15–$30 and the 21+ age policy is strictly enforced. The Green Room fills a gap in North Austin's entertainment landscape, offering residents of the Domain, Arboretum, and Northwest Hills neighborhoods a local comedy option without the drive to East Austin or Downtown. The venue is known for its intimate atmosphere and the quality of its lineups, which often feature Austin headliners and touring regional acts.

$15

Black Rabbit Comedy ATX

411 Brazos St, Suite 100B, Austin, TX

4.8 (141 reviews)21+

Black Rabbit Comedy ATX is Austin's only BYOB underground comedy club, operating out of a basement space at 411 Brazos St in Downtown Austin. The club leans into its speakeasy identity — low ceilings, exposed brick, dim lighting, and a tight 60-seat capacity that creates an unusually intimate atmosphere for downtown comedy. Shows run Thursday through Saturday, with tickets priced at $15 per person and available on Eventbrite. The BYOB policy means no drink minimum and no bar tab — bring your own drinks and enjoy the show. Black Rabbit books a rotating lineup of Austin-based comedians and occasional touring acts, with a focus on emerging talent and alternative comedy styles. Its downtown location makes it an easy add-on to a night out in the 6th Street or Rainey Street entertainment districts.

$20–$40

Vulcan Gas Company

418 E 6th St, Austin, TX

3.5 (573 reviews)

Vulcan Gas Company is a stand-up comedy club in Austin, Texas. This Austin venue features local and touring comedians. Find show schedules, tickets, and venue details on ComedyClubFinder.

$20–$35

Esther's Follies

525 E 6th St, Austin, TX

4.8 (1,948 reviews)All ages(512) 320-0198

Esther's Follies is Austin's longest-running comedy show and one of the most distinctive live entertainment experiences in Texas. Founded in 1977 by Michael Shelton and Shannon Sedwick on East 6th Street, the show blends stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, magic, and sharp political satire into a two-hour variety revue that has been running continuously for nearly 50 years. The venue seats approximately 200 guests in a traditional theater layout, with a large stage, professional lighting, and a full bar. Shows run Thursday through Saturday, with tickets priced at $20–$35 and available online in advance. The show is all-ages and family-friendly, making it one of the few Austin comedy venues suitable for mixed-age groups. Esther's Follies has hosted and launched the careers of numerous Austin comedy legends, and the show's satirical commentary on Texas politics and pop culture has made it a cultural institution. Located at 525 E 6th Street, it is in the heart of the East 6th Street entertainment district.

Tips for Seeing Comedy on a Budget in Austin

Go on Weeknights

Tuesday through Thursday shows are almost always cheaper than weekend performances. Some clubs offer $5–$10 weeknight specials.

Try Open Mic Nights

Open mic nights are free or under $5 and are a great way to discover new comedians. Many future headliners got their start at local open mics.

Check for Promo Codes

Many clubs offer discount codes through their email lists or social media. Follow your favorite Austin venues on Instagram for flash deals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there free comedy shows in Austin?
Yes — Austin has 8 open mic nights that are free or very low cost. Open mic nights let you watch new and developing comedians for little to no charge. Check each venue's website for the current schedule.
How cheap are comedy clubs in Austin?
Budget comedy in Austin ranges from free (open mic nights) to around $20 for local showcases. Headliner shows at major clubs typically cost $25–$50. The venues on this page all have starting ticket prices at or below $20, or offer free open mic nights.
What is the cheapest way to see comedy in Austin?
The cheapest way to see comedy in Austin is to attend an open mic night — most are free or under $5. Weeknight shows are also cheaper than weekend performances. Some clubs offer discounted tickets for early-bird purchases or student IDs.