Ross Wallace curled in a second-half free-kick to earn Preston a hard-fought point at Oakwell.
The winger found the top corner after Anderson de Silva had fouled Jon Parkin on the edge of the penalty area.
Jamie Cureton put Barnsley ahead with a sublime bit of improvisation early on, lobbing the ball into the top corner with the outside of his foot.
De Silva crashed a 35-yard volley on to the bar for the Tykes while Wallace shaved the post with another free-kick.
Barnsley manager Simon Davey:
"We created more chances and were the better side, unfortunately we have come away with just a point.
"It was a great strike by Jamie Cureton and that's why we've brought him here, because he can put those chances away. Hopefully he can keep going.
"The players, considering the amount of matches, showed their fitness levels, and everybody was there for the cause."
Preston manager Alan Irvine:
"It was a fair result and you have to expect pressure when you are away from home.
"I thought their goal was completely against the run of play, but it was a great finish.
"We have a really good record at coming back and we tend to finish games really well. I will always feel we have a chance when it's just 1-0."
Barnsley: Muller, Van Homoet, Foster, Moore, Kozluk (Colace 46), Hassell, Leon (El Haimour 55), De Silva, Campbell-Ryce, Cureton, Macken (Rigters 75).
Subs Not Used: Odejayi, Guedes.
Booked: Van Homoet, Foster, Cureton.
Goals: Cureton 16.
Preston: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St. Ledger, Davidson, Nicholson, Chaplow, McKenna, Wallace, Elliott (Mellor 64), Brown (Parkin 64).
Subs Not Used: Chris Neal, Carter, Nolan.
Booked: Jones.
Goals: Wallace 73.
Att: 13,851
Ref: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).
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