PaperDesk

At a glance

• Editor score
  8.1 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Small conferences needing free submission and review
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Conference submissions
  Yes
• Facts checked
  22 Oct 2026

• Where it wins

  • Combines blind review, conflict flags and structured reviewer scoring.
  • Tracks submissions, reviewer due dates and camera-ready deadlines.
  • Supports editorial decisions, author notifications and proceedings generation.

• Where it doesn't

  • Focused on conference workflows rather than general journal publishing.
  • Web-only access may not suit teams seeking other platform options.
  • The published product details do not describe a broader integration ecosystem.

Our verdict on PaperDesk

PaperDesk is a web-based academic conference management system associated with NED University of Engineering and Technology’s Department of Computer Science and Information Technology. It is intended for conference organizers and research participants, with workflows for submitting manuscripts, assigning reviewers, issuing editorial decisions and preparing proceedings. Authors can add co-authors and track submission status, while administrators manage conferences, users and invitations.

Its review workflow combines reviewer assignment and conflict-of-interest flags with blind peer review, structured scoring and due-date tracking. Editors can accept, reject or request revisions, and automated decision notifications keep authors informed. The workflow continues through camera-ready paper uploads and deadline management, with proceedings generation included. That breadth makes PaperDesk a fit for conferences that want submission and review operations connected to editorial decisions and final paper collection, rather than a tool focused only on file intake.

PaperDesk is free and available through the web as a cloud service. The described platform centers on conference administration and does not target general journal publishing, so journal teams or organizations needing a broader publishing system should consider alternatives. The product details also describe no wider integration ecosystem, making it a more natural choice for small or mid-market conference teams whose core needs are contained within its submission, review and proceedings workflow. Overall, its strongest case is a conference seeking a no-cost way to coordinate manuscripts, reviewers and decisions in one system; it is less suited to buyers prioritizing journal workflows or an extensive platform ecosystem.

Your product? Our editors can test PaperDesk in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

PaperDesk pricing

PaperDesk fact sheet

Alternatives to PaperDesk

• EasyChairA web-based conference system spanning submissions, review, scheduling, and proceedings.9.3
• MCMicrosoft CMTA free conference workflow spanning submissions, peer review, and presentation planning.9.1
• OpenReviewA free, configurable review workflow for conferences, journals, workshops, and symposia.9.0

See all PaperDesk alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

PaperDesk is listed in our Manuscript Submission Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 30 Oct 2026 · How we research and update