The Best Call for Papers Software in 2026
We researched call for papers software through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings reflect each product’s conference submission workflow, reviewing and scheduling capabilities, value for money, and verified features, helping organizers choose a practical fit for research events.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
Microsoft CMT#1 of 249.4/10A free, full-featured system for managing academic submissions, reviews, rebuttals, and schedules.
Free plan
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Runner-up
Airballoon#2 of 249.2/10A broad web-based conference system covering CFPs, review, event operations, and attendee engagement.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
EasyChair#3 of 249.0/10A broad academic conference workflow with a useful free tier and usage-based upgrades.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 24 tools, best first
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Best forFree, full-featured academic conferences
A free, full-featured system for managing academic submissions, reviews, rebuttals, and schedules.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Microsoft CMT -
Best forEnd-to-end conferences with attendee operations
A broad web-based conference system covering CFPs, review, event operations, and attendee engagement.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Airballoon -
Best forEstablished academic conferences on a budget
A broad academic conference workflow with a useful free tier and usage-based upgrades.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit EasyChair -
Best forOpen, API-driven peer review
A free, open-source choice for configurable scholarly peer review and publishing workflows.
- Blind review
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit OpenReview -
Best forSelf-hosted conferences needing modular pricing
A flexible WordPress-based choice for conferences that need self-hosting and add-on control.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit SimplyConf -
Best forSmall events needing low-cost abstract management
A low-cost web tool covering submissions, review, scheduling, and abstract-book exports.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit MeetingHand -
Best forTechnical conferences needing open-source review depth
A deep academic review workflow with flexible hosting and a free plan.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit HotCRP -
Best forHybrid conferences with broad platform coverage
A broad conference platform covering review, scheduling, registration and hybrid events.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit ConfTool -
Best forLarge abstract-led conferences
A flexible abstract and conference workflow with free access and paid event tiers.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
8.2/10★★★★☆Try Oxford Abstracts -
Best forOpen-source proposal programs with small limits
A capable open-source program workflow with a three-submission free limit.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Fireside -
Best forSmall events focused on abstract workflows
A focused call-for-papers platform with free entry and complete core review workflows.
- Blind review
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit AbstractWiz -
Best forMultilingual paper-focused conferences
A focused, multilingual workflow for managing academic paper conferences.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Lynk -
Best forSpeaker-led events needing strong scheduling
A strong fit for speaker-led events that need CFPs, evaluation, and multi-track scheduling.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Sessionize -
Best forFull-service conferences with large budgets
A full-service conference platform for submissions, programs, registration, and hybrid events.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Fourwaves -
Best forEnterprise hybrid conferences
A connected system for submissions, review, scheduling, registration and hybrid delivery.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Ex Ordo -
Best forManaged abstract programs with rich media
A managed web platform for complex abstract, review and conference-program workflows.
- Schedule builder
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Smart Abstract -
Best forSelf-hosted conferences needing classic workflows
A broad conference workflow with a free self-hosted edition and paid expansion tiers.
- Schedule builder
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit OpenConf -
Best forIEEE-oriented conferences with paid processing
A broad conference workflow for organizers managing submissions, reviews, registration, and programs.
- Blind review
- Schedule builder
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit EDAS -
Best forPrivate multi-conference proposal programs
A structured web platform for managing proposals, reviews, decisions, and conference schedules.
- Schedule builder
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Propozify -
Best forOpen-source speaker and CFP operations
A free, open-source CFP and speaker-operations platform with scheduling and publishing.
- Schedule builder
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit OpenRostrum -
Best forComplex application and grant-style calls
A deep application and review system for complex programs, with quote-based pricing.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Omnipress -
Best forBranded events needing broad logistics
A broad event platform for associations that need CFP workflows plus registration and scheduling.
- Schedule builder
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Paperpod -
Best forPaid abstract programs with attendee features
Paid event software covering submissions, reviews, registration, programs, and attendee updates.
- Schedule builder
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Symposia -
Best forEnterprise speaker programs with AI operations
A broad event-program system for enterprise speaker operations, with sales-led pricing.
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Sessionboard
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Blind review | Submission types | Review stages | Schedule builder | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft CMT | Yes | Free | Yes | Mixed | Custom | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Airballoon | Yes | Yes | Mixed | Custom | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 3 | EasyChair | Yes | $4/unit usage-based | Yes | Mixed | Custom | Yes | 9.0 |
| 4 | OpenReview | Yes | Free | Yes | Mixed | Multi_stage | 8.8 | |
| 5 | SimplyConf | Yes | $139/yr | Yes | Mixed | Custom | Yes | 8.6 |
| 6 | MeetingHand Abstract Management | Yes | $990 one-time | Yes | Mixed | Custom | Yes | 8.5 |
| 7 | HotCRP | Yes | $7.50/unit usage-based | Yes | Mixed | Multi_stage | Yes | 8.4 |
| 8 | ConfTool | Yes | 8.3 | |||||
| 9 | Oxford Abstracts | Yes | $890 one-time | Yes | Abstracts | Multi_stage | Yes | 8.2 |
| 10 | Fireside | Yes | Free | Yes | Mixed | Multi_stage | Yes | 8.1 |
| 11 | AbstractWiz | Yes | $270/unit one-time | Yes | Mixed | Multi_stage | 8.0 | |
| 12 | Lynk | Yes | Yes | Papers | Yes | 7.9 | ||
| 13 | Sessionize | Yes | $499 one-time | 7.8 | ||||
| 14 | Fourwaves | Yes | $899/yr | 7.7 | ||||
| 15 | Ex Ordo | 7.6 | ||||||
| 16 | Smart Abstract | Mixed | Multi_stage | Yes | 7.5 | |||
| 17 | OpenConf | Yes | $600/yr | Mixed | Yes | 7.4 | ||
| 18 | EDAS | No | $6/unit usage-based | Yes | Mixed | Custom | Yes | 7.3 |
| 19 | Propozify | No | Yes | 7.2 | ||||
| 20 | OpenRostrum | Yes | Free | Yes | 7.1 | |||
| 21 | CATALYST | 7.0 | ||||||
| 22 | Paperpod | No | $1,000 one-time | Abstracts | Yes | 6.7 | ||
| 23 | Symposia | No | €900 one-time | No | Abstracts | Yes | 6.6 | |
| 24 | Sessionboard | No | 6.5 |
Head-to-head All 26 comparisons →
- Microsoft CMT vs Airballoon
- Microsoft CMT vs EasyChair
- Microsoft CMT vs OpenReview
- Microsoft CMT vs SimplyConf
- Microsoft CMT vs MeetingHand Abstract Management
- Microsoft CMT vs HotCRP
- Microsoft CMT vs ConfTool
- Airballoon vs EasyChair
- Airballoon vs OpenReview
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How we rank call for papers software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update