The Best Manuscript Submission Software in 2026
We researched manuscript submission software using vendors’ official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings focus on how well each product handles author intake and editorial routing, value for money, and features verified in those sources. This guide covers software for managing journal and conference submissions.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
EasyChair#1 of 329.3/10A web-based conference system spanning submissions, review, scheduling, and proceedings.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
Microsoft CMT#2 of 329.1/10A free conference workflow spanning submissions, peer review, and presentation planning.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
OpenReview#3 of 329.0/10A free, configurable review workflow for conferences, journals, workshops, and symposia.
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 32 tools, best first
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Best forEstablished conferences managing the full submission cycle
A web-based conference system spanning submissions, review, scheduling, and proceedings.
9.3/10★★★★★Visit EasyChair -
Best forConferences needing a free, full-featured workflow
A free conference workflow spanning submissions, peer review, and presentation planning.
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Microsoft CMT -
Best forVenues needing configurable, open peer review
A free, configurable review workflow for conferences, journals, workshops, and symposia.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit OpenReview -
Best forJournals wanting free, end-to-end publishing workflows
A free, open-source system for managing journal submissions through publication.
- ORCID integration
- Conference submissions
- Multi-journal management
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forResearch events needing free multi-stage review
A free web platform for scientific events with configurable submissions and multi-stage review.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Sciencesconf -
Best forJournals seeking a supported paid peer-review platform
A journal-focused peer-review system with configurable workflows and annual plus per-submission fees.
- ORCID integration
- Conference submissions
- Multi-journal management
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Scholastica -
Best forConferences needing deployment and event management
Submission and peer review connect with scheduling, registration and event tools.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit ConfTool -
Best forIEEE-oriented conferences processing papers
A conference workflow system with configurable peer review and IEEE proceedings support.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit EDAS -
Best forLarge or hybrid conferences with varied submissions
A connected submission, review, scheduling and delivery system for scholarly conferences.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Ex Ordo -
Best forConferences wanting submissions plus attendee tools
Fourwaves combines manuscript workflows with registration, scheduling, and attendee tools.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Fourwaves -
Best forAbstract-led events needing multi-stage review
A free-to-start platform for abstract review, decisions, and conference scheduling.
8.2/10★★★★☆Try Oxford Abstracts -
Best forSmall conferences needing free submission and review
Free web-based conference software for submission, blind review and proceedings workflows.
- Conference submissions
- Automated email notices
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit PaperDesk -
Best forInstitutions self-hosting events and submissions
A self-hosted event system with abstract and paper review workflows.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Indico -
Best forTeams wanting self-hosting and basic conference review
Self-hosted conference workflows, with a free edition and paid options for added capabilities.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit OpenConf -
Best forSmall events testing abstract review at no cost
A free starting point for small events managing abstract and paper reviews.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit AbstractWiz -
Best forEvents needing a configurable review process
A configurable submission-to-event workflow, with a free plan and paid capacity tiers.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Congressio -
Best forTechnical conferences seeking open-source review control
A configurable review system for conferences that want open-source or hosted deployment.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit HotCRP -
Best forSmall paper events needing free blind review
A free web workflow for paper events, from submission through review and scheduling.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Lynk -
Best forBudget-conscious conferences needing review and scheduling
Conference submission, review, scheduling, and registration in one web platform.
- Conference submissions
- Automated email notices
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Confairo -
Best forSmall teams managing academic events on WordPress
A modular conference workflow for teams that want WordPress-based submissions and review.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit SimplyConf -
Best forPaper events needing revisions and publication outputs
A cloud system for scholarly review and publication, with annual plans starting at $299.
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit AMS -
Best forJournals needing configurable editorial workflows
Configurable journal workflows with reviewer tools, reporting and research-integrity integrations.
- ORCID integration
- Multi-journal management
- Configurable intake forms
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forOpen-source journal teams needing publishing tools
A configurable journal workflow from submission through peer review and publication.
- ORCID integration
- Multi-journal management
- Configurable intake forms
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Janeway -
Best forPublishers building configurable multi-group workflows
Kotahi combines configurable manuscript workflows with publishing and multi-group hosting.
- Conference submissions
- Configurable intake forms
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Kotahi -
Best forEvent teams needing submissions alongside event operations
Abstract review and submissions are part of a wider event operations platform.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Eventact -
Best forScientific conferences managing abstracts and posters
A configurable abstract-review workflow for conferences managing submissions, decisions, and event content.
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Morressier -
Best forCongress organizers needing abstract and workshop tools
Abstract review sits within a broader toolkit for running academic congresses.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit Congirus -
Best forTeams requiring self-hosted, configurable conference review
Configurable conference review with cloud or self-hosted deployment and quote-based licensing.
6.3/10★★★☆☆Contact Softconf -
Best forFree conference organizers wanting review and programming
A free conference workflow for submissions, reviewer scoring, and program building.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Brownbag -
Best forJournals needing tailored editorial and production workflows
A journal-focused suite spanning peer review, manuscript transfers, production tracking and billing.
- Multi-journal management
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit eJournalPress -
Best forJournals needing structured manuscript intake
A journal workflow for structured submissions, editorial decisions, revisions, and production tracking.
- Multi-journal management
- Automated email notices
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit site -
Best forSmall journals managing submissions and reviews
A configurable journal workflow system with reviewer tracking, reminders, and statistics.
- Configurable intake forms
- Automated email notices
5.9/10★★★☆☆Visit vitJournals
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EasyChair | Yes | $4/unit usage-based | 9.3 |
| 2 | Microsoft CMT | Yes | Free | 9.1 |
| 3 | OpenReview | Yes | Free | 9.0 |
| 4 | Open Journal Systems | Yes | Free | 8.9 |
| 5 | Sciencesconf | Yes | Free | 8.8 |
| 6 | Scholastica | No | $500/unit/yr | 8.7 |
| 7 | ConfTool | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 8 | EDAS | No | $6/unit usage-based | 8.5 |
| 9 | Ex Ordo | 8.4 | ||
| 10 | Fourwaves | Yes | $899/yr | 8.3 |
| 11 | Oxford Abstracts | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 12 | PaperDesk | Yes | Free | 8.1 |
| 13 | Indico | Yes | Free | 8.0 |
| 14 | OpenConf | Yes | $600/yr | 7.9 |
| 15 | AbstractWiz | Yes | $270/unit one-time | 7.8 |
| 16 | Congressio | Yes | $490/yr | 7.7 |
| 17 | HotCRP | Yes | $7.50/unit usage-based | 7.6 |
| 18 | Lynk | Yes | 7.5 | |
| 19 | Confairo | Yes | ₹1,999/unit one-time | 7.4 |
| 20 | SimplyConf | Yes | 7.3 | |
| 21 | AMS (Article Management System) | No | $299/yr | 7.2 |
| 22 | Manuscript Manager | No | $1,188/yr | 7.1 |
| 23 | Janeway | Yes | £780/site/yr | 7.0 |
| 24 | Kotahi | Free | 6.9 | |
| 25 | Eventact | No | $210/mo | 6.7 |
| 26 | Morressier Abstract Manager | 6.6 | ||
| 27 | Congirus | 6.4 | ||
| 28 | START Conference Manager | No | 6.3 | |
| 29 | Brownbag | Yes | $1,000 one-time | 6.2 |
| 30 | eJournalPress | 6.1 | ||
| 31 | eManuscript Manager | 6.0 | ||
| 32 | vitJournals | 5.9 |
Head-to-head All 22 comparisons →
- EasyChair vs Open Journal Systems
- EasyChair vs Scholastica
- EasyChair vs ConfTool
- EasyChair vs EDAS
- Microsoft CMT vs Open Journal Systems
- Microsoft CMT vs Scholastica
- Microsoft CMT vs EDAS
- OpenReview vs Open Journal Systems
- OpenReview vs Sciencesconf
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How we rank manuscript submission 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