EasyChair vs SimplyConf

EasyChair8.5Visit SimplyConf7.9Visit

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

SimplyConf #4 in Call for Papers Software 7.9/10 Free plan · paid from $29/yr Free plan✓ 2 of 2 features Visit SimplyConf

• EasyChair fits best

  Established academic conferences on a budget

• SimplyConf fits best

  Self-hosted conferences needing modular pricing

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Side by side

Feature	EasyChair 8.5/10 Visit ↗	SimplyConf 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.5	7.9
Ranking	#2 in Call for Papers Software	#4 in Call for Papers Software
Best for	Established academic conferences on a budget	Self-hosted conferences needing modular pricing
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Not published	$29/yr
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 · SimplyConf 2/2
Blind review	✓	✓
Schedule builder	✓	✓
Specs
Submission types	Mixed	Mixed
Review stages	Custom	Custom
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	Free, open-source core with web and self-hosted deployment Supports blind review, reviewer assignment, and review progress tracking Adds Stripe payments, scheduling, email, and export workflows
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	Reviews, emails, payments, schedules, and exports require paid add-ons WordPress is central to the product's ecosystem fit Managed hosting and self-hosting involve different deployment choices
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 →	SimplyConf is a WordPress-based conference management product for academic conferences, universities, program committees, and organizations running one or multiple events. Its free, open-source core covers events, abstract submissions, and… 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

• SimplyConf — where it wins

  • Free, open-source core with web and self-hosted deployment
  • Supports blind review, reviewer assignment, and review progress tracking
  • Adds Stripe payments, scheduling, email, and export workflows

  Where it doesn't

  • Reviews, emails, payments, schedules, and exports require paid add-ons
  • WordPress is central to the product's ecosystem fit
  • Managed hosting and self-hosting involve different deployment choices

• 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 →
• SimplyConf7.9/10 · Free plan · paid from $29/yr

  A flexible WordPress-based choice for conferences that need self-hosting and add-on control.

  Visit SimplyConfFull verdict →