AbstractWiz

Overview

AbstractWiz is an event-management platform for handling academic abstracts and their review. It is best suited to conference and workshop organizers who need to coordinate submissions, reviewers, communications, and reporting in one place. Its appeal is a focused event workflow; its main constraint is that Free stops at 20 submissions and excludes imports.

Key features

Submissions can arrive as plain text, rich text, or files, and accepted oral submissions can include uploaded papers. Organizers can add fields and criteria to both submission and review forms, which accommodates calls with specific requirements but puts the form-design decisions on the event team.

Reviewers can be invited and assigned work according to their preferred areas of expertise. Reviews can be hidden from authors, supporting blind review. Automated notifications and customizable bulk emails to selected groups help organizers handle routine updates without sending every message to every participant.

A dashboard tracks submission and review progress, and filtered lists can generate reports. Organizers can export the database to a spreadsheet application, while accepted submissions can be compiled into a customizable book for browser-based printing. These reporting and publication tools make AbstractWiz more than an intake form, though importing existing abstracts requires a paid plan.

An event license covers the period from creation of the submission instance through the end of the event. The trial lets organizers create an event and explore the platform without entering card details. Support is available through a contact form; the FAQ says the team will respond promptly. The maker says it uses HTTPS and data centres compliant with ISO/IEC and PCI DSS security certifications, and does not store credit card details on its platform. Its privacy terms say personal data is kept as long as needed to provide event-organizer services, then erased unless the user agrees to further communication; it is not disclosed outside the event without consent.

Pricing

PlanPriceWhat it includesFreefree, billed per eventUp to 20 submissions; no import featureStandard$270, paid once, billed per eventUnlimited submissions; all featuresCustomCustom pricingEvent setup, reviewer and committee addition and assignmentFree is appropriate for small events that can work within 20 submissions and do not need to import abstracts. Standard removes the submission cap and unlocks all features for a one-time, per-event charge, making it the straightforward choice for larger events or teams that need import. Custom pricing is aimed at organizers who want event setup and help adding and assigning reviewers or committee members. The event-bounded license means the charge is tied to an event rather than an ongoing subscription.

Platforms

AbstractWiz runs on the web, making it a fit for organizers who want browser-based access rather than a specified mobile or desktop app.

Who it's for

AbstractWiz fits academic conference, workshop, and event organizers who need to collect varied submission formats, coordinate blind review, communicate with user groups, and turn accepted work into reports or a printable abstracts book. It is less suitable for events whose submissions exceed the Free cap unless they are prepared to pay for Standard, or for organizers who need imports without upgrading.

Pros and cons

Pros

One workflow for submissions and review: Flexible formats, custom forms, expertise-based assignment, and the option to hide reviews from authors address core conference review needs.

Useful event outputs: Progress summaries, filtered reports, spreadsheet export, and a printable abstracts book support organizers beyond the review stage.

Low-commitment trial: Organizers can explore by creating an event without providing card details.

Cons

Free has a firm 20-submission ceiling: Events above that size need the paid per-event plan.

Free excludes imports: Moving existing abstracts into the system requires upgrading, even though export is supported.

Web-only platform: The stated platform coverage is limited to web.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Call for Papers Software and Event Abstract Management Software.

Choose Sessionize if its listed Android and iOS support or its free community-event plan better matches your event; that plan is restricted to community events, not internal, private, promotional, marketing, profit, or commercial events.

MeetingHand Abstract Management is another freemium web option, with a Free plan capped at 25 registrations or abstracts.

Consider Fourwaves if its Starter plan’s 25 abstract submissions per year, unlimited registrations and events, and 3% service fee suit your event better.

HotCRP is another freemium option, with free plans for ACM-sponsored and USENIX-sponsored conferences, journals, and workshops.

Choose ConfTool if a free license on request for a smaller non-commercial event fits: its Standard plan is limited to 150 participants, local installation, and no support.

SimplyConf offers a free Core plan with unlimited events, submissions, and users.

Airballoon is another freemium alternative, with a companion event and networking app included at no additional charge.

OpenConf is another freemium option, with a Community Edition for three or fewer events and journals per calendar year.

Verdict

Choose AbstractWiz if you run academic events and want submissions, blind-review workflows, communications, and event outputs under one event license. Its decisive trade-off is the 20-submission Free cap and lack of Free imports; organizers who need either unlimited submissions or import access should budget for the $270, paid once Standard plan, billed per event.