Best CATALYST Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 tools from event abstract management software ranked against CATALYST on the same published basis.
- 1CATALYST vs Congressio
- 2CATALYST vs Fourwaves
- 3CATALYST vs HotCRP
- 4CATALYST vs Indico
- 5CATALYST vs ConfTool
- 6CATALYST vs SimplyConf
- 7CATALYST vs OpenConf
- 8CATALYST vs EasyChair
- 9CATALYST vs Oxford Abstracts
- 10CATALYST vs Sciencesconf
- 11CATALYST vs Linklings
- 12CATALYST vs Microsoft CMT
- 13CATALYST vs PeerSubmit
- 14CATALYST vs Ex Ordo
- 15CATALYST vs OpenWater Grant Management
- 16CATALYST vs AMS (Article Management System)
- 17CATALYST vs Eventact
- 18CATALYST vs START Conference Manager
- 19CATALYST vs joyn
- 20CATALYST vs Brownbag
CATALYST alternatives compared
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Congressio | 7.4 | Free plan | $40.83/mo | API, Web |
| 2 | Fourwaves | 7.3 | Free plan | $83.25/mo | Android, API, iOS, Web |
| 3 | HotCRP | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, self-hosted, Web |
| 4 | Indico | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Android, API, iOS, self-hosted, Web |
| 5 | ConfTool | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, self-hosted, Web |
| 6 | SimplyConf | 7.1 | Free plan | $2.42/mo | self-hosted, Web |
| 7 | OpenConf | 7.0 | Free plan | — | self-hosted, Web |
| 8 | EasyChair | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 9 | Oxford Abstracts | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 10 | Sciencesconf | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 11 | Linklings | 6.8 | No | — | Android, iOS, Web |
| 12 | Microsoft CMT | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Web |
| 13 | PeerSubmit | 6.8 | No | — | API, Web |
| 14 | Ex Ordo | 6.7 | No | — | Android, iOS, Web |
| 15 | OpenWater Grant Management | 6.5 | No | — | Android, Web |
| 16 | AMS (Article Management System) | 6.4 | No | $18.67/mo | Web |
| 17 | Eventact | 6.4 | No | $210/mo | Web |
| 18 | START Conference Manager | 6.3 | No | — | self-hosted, Web |
| 19 | joyn | 5.8 | No | — | Web |
| 20 | Brownbag | 5.7 | No | — | Web |
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Questions about CATALYST alternatives
What is the best alternative to CATALYST?
Congressio, number 1 in event abstract management software with a score of 7.4 out of 10. The others here: Fourwaves, HotCRP, Indico and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to CATALYST?
Congressio is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 11 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives 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.