EasyChair vs HotCRP

EasyChair8.5Visit HotCRP7.6Visit

Higher score EasyChair #2 in Call for Papers Software 8.5/10 Free plan · paid from $4 Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit EasyChair

vs

HotCRP #6 in Call for Papers Software 7.6/10 Free plan · paid from $7.50 Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit HotCRP

• EasyChair fits best

  Established academic conferences on a budget

• HotCRP fits best

  Technical conferences needing open-source review depth

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Side by side

Feature	EasyChair 8.5/10 Visit ↗	HotCRP 7.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.5	7.6
Ranking	#2 in Call for Papers Software	#6 in Call for Papers Software
Best for	Established academic conferences on a budget	Technical conferences needing open-source review depth
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Docs	Email, Docs
Integrations	4 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features EasyChair 2/2 · HotCRP 2/2
Blind review	✓	✓
Schedule builder	✓	✓
Specs
Submission types	Mixed	Mixed
Review stages	Custom	Multi_stage
Submission limit	20 submissions	Not published
Reviewer limit	200 reviewers	Not published
Our review
Pros	Free tier covers submissions, reviewing, blind review, hosting, and backups Supports rebuttals, scheduling, proceedings, registration, and Smart CFP Professional and Executive add program, analytics, export, and integration features	Multiple review rounds, anonymous review, rebuttals, and discussions Conflict controls, track permissions, and flexible reviewer assignment Hosted or self-hosted deployment with a REST API
Cons	Free is sized for up to 20 submissions and 200 reviewers Paid tiers charge per submission rather than through annual pricing Access is web-based, with advanced needs split across multiple tiers	Independent plan support is limited to bug fixes Classroom plan provides no support Per-submission pricing may be less predictable for large events
Our verdict	EasyChair is a web-based conference management system for chairs, program committees, reviewers, authors, and organizers. It covers the academic event workflow from call-for-papers publishing and abstract or paper submission through… Read the review →	HotCRP manages submission, peer-review, and publication workflows for academic conferences, workshops, and journals. It is designed for chairs and program committees that need detailed control over paper registration, submissions,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• EasyChair — where it wins

  • Free tier covers submissions, reviewing, blind review, hosting, and backups
  • Supports rebuttals, scheduling, proceedings, registration, and Smart CFP
  • Professional and Executive add program, analytics, export, and integration features

  Where it doesn't

  • Free is sized for up to 20 submissions and 200 reviewers
  • Paid tiers charge per submission rather than through annual pricing
  • Access is web-based, with advanced needs split across multiple tiers

• HotCRP — where it wins

  • Multiple review rounds, anonymous review, rebuttals, and discussions
  • Conflict controls, track permissions, and flexible reviewer assignment
  • Hosted or self-hosted deployment with a REST API

  Where it doesn't

  • Independent plan support is limited to bug fixes
  • Classroom plan provides no support
  • Per-submission pricing may be less predictable for large events

• EasyChair8.5/10 · Free plan · paid from $4

  A broad academic conference workflow with a useful free tier and usage-based upgrades.

  Visit EasyChairFull verdict →
• HotCRP7.6/10 · Free plan · paid from $7.50

  A deep academic review workflow with flexible hosting and a free plan.

  Visit HotCRPFull verdict →