Best Call for Papers Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Sessionize is ranked #1 of 24 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of MeetingHand Abstract Management and Fourwaves. The best-ranked option with a free plan is MeetingHand Abstract Management. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SimplyConf at $2.42/mo.
Conference organizers weighing submission workflows can compare how these tools handle the journey from an abstract or proposal to a reviewed, scheduled session. Compared on blind review, review stages, reviewer limits, submission limits and submission types, the entries expose practical differences in process and capacity. A schedule builder may matter when planning the program; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. Sessionize, MeetingHand Abstract Management and Fourwaves are among the named options, alongside HotCRP. Consider which review steps your event needs, how many submissions it must accommodate and whether scheduling belongs in the same workflow.
24 call for papers software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
24ranked
14free plans on this page
$2.42/molowest paid tier
5 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Call for Papers Software 24 channels on this page · 86 of 192 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromBlind reviewSubmission typesReview stagesSubmission limitReviewer limitSchedule builder Spec sheet Score
01 Sessionize Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesnot statedReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule buildernot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.5
02 MeetingHand Abstract Management Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagescustomSubmission limit25 submissionsReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
03 Fourwaves Free planYesPaid from$999/yrBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesnot statedReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule buildernot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.2
04 HotCRP Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagesmulti stageSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.2
05 ConfTool Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesnot statedReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule buildernot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
06 SimplyConf Free planYesPaid from$29/yrBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagescustomSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
07 Airballoon Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagescustomSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.0
08 OpenConf Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesmixedReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 3/8spec lines stated 7.0
09 EasyChair Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagescustomSubmission limit20 submissionsReviewer limit200 reviewersSchedule builderYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
10 Fireside Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagesmulti stageSubmission limit3 submissionsReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
11 Oxford Abstracts Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesabstractsReview stagesmulti stageSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.9
12 Microsoft CMT Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagescustomSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
13 Ex Ordo Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesnot statedReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule buildernot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.7
14 Lynk Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typespapersReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
15 CATALYST Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesnot statedReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule buildernot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.3
16 AbstractWiz Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagesmulti stageSubmission limit20 submissionsReviewer limitnot statedSchedule buildernot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
17 EDAS Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagescustomSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 5/8spec lines stated 5.7
18 OpenReview Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewYesSubmission typesmixedReview stagesmulti stageSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule buildernot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.7
19 Smart Abstract Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesmixedReview stagesmulti stageSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 3/8spec lines stated 5.7
20 Symposia Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewNoSubmission typesabstractsReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 4/8spec lines stated 5.5
21 OpenRostrum Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesnot statedReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 2/8spec lines stated 5.4
22 Paperpod Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesabstractsReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 3/8spec lines stated 5.4
23 Propozify Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesnot statedReview stagesnot statedSubmission limit100 submissionsReviewer limitnot statedSchedule builderYes 3/8spec lines stated 5.4
24 Sessionboard Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBlind reviewnot statedSubmission typesnot statedReview stagesnot statedSubmission limitnot statedReviewer limitnot statedSchedule buildernot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.0
Compare all 24 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Blind review | Submission types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sessionize | 7.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | MeetingHand Abstract Management | 7.4 | Free plan | $4.90/mo | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 3 | Fourwaves | 7.2 | Free plan | $83.25/mo | Yes | 999 /yr | — | — |
| 4 | HotCRP | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 5 | ConfTool | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | SimplyConf | 7.1 | Free plan | $2.42/mo | Yes | 29 /yr | Yes | mixed |
| 7 | Airballoon | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 8 | OpenConf | 7.0 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | mixed |
| 9 | EasyChair | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 10 | Fireside | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 11 | Oxford Abstracts | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | abstracts |
| 12 | Microsoft CMT | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 13 | Ex Ordo | 6.7 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Lynk | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | papers |
| 15 | CATALYST | 6.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | AbstractWiz | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 17 | EDAS | 5.7 | No | — | No | — | Yes | mixed |
| 18 | OpenReview | 5.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | mixed |
| 19 | Smart Abstract | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | — | mixed |
| 20 | Symposia | 5.5 | No | — | No | — | No | abstracts |
| 21 | OpenRostrum | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 22 | Paperpod | 5.4 | No | — | No | — | — | abstracts |
| 23 | Propozify | 5.4 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | Sessionboard | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which call for papers software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Sessionize is ranked #1 of 24 with a score of 7.5. MeetingHand Abstract Management is second and Fourwaves third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 of the 24 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, SimplyConf has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2.42/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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