The Best Event Abstract Management Software in 2026
We researched event abstract management software through official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core abstract workflow, value for money, and verified features for collecting, reviewing, editing, and publishing conference submissions.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
Congressio#1 of 299.4/10A full conference workflow with a useful free plan and scalable paid tiers.
Free plan · 14-day trial
-
Runner-up
Sciencesconf#2 of 299.2/10A focused free option for scientific abstract, poster, and peer-review workflows.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Microsoft CMT#3 of 299.1/10A free academic conference system with unusually deep submission, review, and scheduling workflows.
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 29 tools, best first
-
Best forEnd-to-end conferences needing deep workflows
A full conference workflow with a useful free plan and scalable paid tiers.
- Author revisions
- Poster handling
- Scoring tools
Free plan · 14-day trial Our Congressio verdict → Visit CongressioFor vendors Sponsor this spot · #1 · $149/mo →9.4/10★★★★★Visit Congressio -
Best forFree abstract and poster review programs
A focused free option for scientific abstract, poster, and peer-review workflows.
- Author revisions
- Poster handling
- Scoring tools
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Sciencesconf -
Best forAcademic conferences wanting a free platform
A free academic conference system with unusually deep submission, review, and scheduling workflows.
- Blind review
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Microsoft CMT -
Best forResearchers needing proven low-cost review management
A flexible academic event workflow with a free entry plan and usage-based paid tiers.
- Blind review
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit EasyChair -
Best forLarge events needing unlimited abstract submissions
A broad abstract workflow with unlimited submissions and conference planning tools.
- Blind review
8.9/10★★★★☆Try Oxford Abstracts -
Best forBudget-conscious teams wanting self-hosting
A low-cost WordPress option for submissions, review workflows, scheduling, and payments.
- Blind review
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit SimplyConf -
Best forOrganizations wanting open-source event infrastructure
A free, open-source event platform covering abstracts, registration, ticketing, and check-in.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Indico -
Best forOpen peer-review communities and research venues
A free, open-source review workflow for research venues and peer-review communities.
- Blind review
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit OpenReview -
Best forComplex conferences with tracks and hybrid delivery
A connected workflow for complex academic conferences, from submissions to proceedings.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Ex Ordo -
Best forTechnical paper-review teams needing self-hosting
A paper-focused review system with self-hosting, open-source access, and detailed workflows.
- Blind review
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit HotCRP -
Best forTeams wanting broad submission types and automation
A broad event workflow covering submissions, review, decisions, registration, and AI summaries.
- Author revisions
- Poster handling
- Scoring tools
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit PeerSubmit -
Best forMulti-track conferences needing broad event operations
A broad event operations suite for multi-track conferences, with free access for eligible events.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit ConfTool -
Best forIEEE-oriented conferences needing proceedings support
A strong fit for IEEE-oriented conferences that need configurable review and proceedings workflows.
- Blind review
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit EDAS -
Best forSmall events wanting simple abstract management
A focused, low-cost option for small academic events with straightforward review workflows.
- Blind review
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit AbstractWiz -
Best forMultilingual paper-review programs
A free web platform for multilingual paper submission, review and conference programmes.
- Blind review
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Lynk -
Best forResearch events needing hierarchical review workflows
A configurable choice for research events with structured, multi-stage review workflows.
- Author revisions
- Poster handling
- Scoring tools
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Softconf -
Best forComplex programs needing detailed review controls
A flexible choice for complex academic programs that need controlled review and scheduling.
- Author revisions
- Poster handling
- Scoring tools
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Linklings -
Best forSelf-hosted conferences needing one-time licensing
A self-hosted conference workflow with free and one-time-license editions.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit OpenConf -
Best forEvent teams combining abstracts with attendee operations
Fourwaves combines abstract review, registration, scheduling, and attendee operations.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Fourwaves -
Best forOrganizations needing publishing and compliance workflows
A comprehensive web platform for scholarly events that extends from submissions to publication.
- Author revisions
- Scoring tools
- Publishing tools
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit AMS -
Best forSpeaker-led programs needing modern agenda tools
A broad event-program workspace for submissions, speakers, agendas, and content.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Sessionboard -
Best forFull-service events where abstracts are one module
A broad event suite with abstract workflows for teams running complex professional events.
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Eventact -
Best forFree conferences wanting basic paper workflows
A free, focused workflow for conferences managing papers, reviews, programs, and registration.
- Scoring tools
- Publishing tools
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Brownbag -
Best forCongress organizers needing abstract-to-book workflows
A broad web platform for managing abstracts, event operations, payments, and publishing.
- Publishing tools
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Congirus -
Best forOrganizations managing complex application programs
A structured choice for complex application programs, with less focus on event abstracts.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit Omnipress -
Best forAbstract programs needing poster and slide handling
A focused web platform for abstract review, selection, communication, and publication workflows.
- Poster handling
- Publishing tools
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forMembership organizations adding conference administration
A broad association platform whose conference administration is stronger than its abstract focus.
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit joyn -
Best forHigh-budget multilingual abstract programs
A broad scientific congress platform, priced for complex, high-budget abstract programs.
- Scoring tools
- Publishing tools
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Symposio -
Best forGrant-style application management
A strong grant workflow platform that also supports abstract programs.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit OpenWater
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Blind review | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Congressio | Yes | $490/yr | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Sciencesconf | Yes | Free | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | Microsoft CMT | Yes | Free | Yes | 9.1 |
| 4 | EasyChair | Yes | $4/unit usage-based | Yes | 9.0 |
| 5 | Oxford Abstracts | Yes | $890 one-time | Yes | 8.9 |
| 6 | SimplyConf | Yes | $139/yr | Yes | 8.8 |
| 7 | Indico | Yes | Free | 8.7 | |
| 8 | OpenReview | Yes | Free | Yes | 8.6 |
| 9 | Ex Ordo | 8.5 | |||
| 10 | HotCRP | Yes | $7.50/unit usage-based | Yes | 8.4 |
| 11 | PeerSubmit | No | $100/unit/yr | Yes | 8.3 |
| 12 | ConfTool | Yes | 8.2 | ||
| 13 | EDAS | No | $6/unit usage-based | Yes | 8.1 |
| 14 | AbstractWiz | Yes | $270/unit one-time | Yes | 8.0 |
| 15 | Lynk | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 16 | START Conference Manager | No | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 17 | Linklings | Yes | 7.7 | ||
| 18 | OpenConf | Yes | $600/yr | 7.6 | |
| 19 | Fourwaves | Yes | $899/yr | 7.5 | |
| 20 | AMS (Article Management System) | No | $299/yr | Yes | 7.4 |
| 21 | Sessionboard | No | 7.3 | ||
| 22 | Eventact | No | $210/mo | 7.1 | |
| 23 | Brownbag | Yes | $1,000 one-time | 7.0 | |
| 24 | Congirus | 6.9 | |||
| 25 | CATALYST | 6.8 | |||
| 26 | Floq Abstract Management | No | €1,900 one-time | 6.6 | |
| 27 | joyn | 6.5 | |||
| 28 | Symposio | No | 6.4 | ||
| 29 | OpenWater Grant Management | 6.3 |
Head-to-head All 21 comparisons →
- Congressio vs Sciencesconf
- Congressio vs Microsoft CMT
- Congressio vs EasyChair
- Congressio vs Oxford Abstracts
- Congressio vs SimplyConf
- Congressio vs Indico
- Congressio vs OpenReview
- Sciencesconf vs Microsoft CMT
- Sciencesconf vs EasyChair
Explore other topics All topics →
- AI Tools 303 directories · 8,269 tools ranked AI Writing Tools · AI Video Generators · Text-to-Speech Software
- Web Hosting & Domains 275 directories · 6,107 tools ranked Shared Web Hosting · Managed Cloud Hosting · Dedicated Server Hosting
- Productivity 157 directories · 4,948 tools ranked Note-Taking Apps · Calendar Apps · Project Management Software
- Marketing 135 directories · 3,977 tools ranked SEO Tools · Influencer Marketing Platforms · Email Marketing Software
- Sales & CRM 152 directories · 4,161 tools ranked Real Estate CRM Software · CRM Software · Proposal Software
- Customer Service 55 directories · 1,547 tools ranked Chatbot Builders · Knowledge Base Software · Call Center Software
How we rank event abstract management 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