Sessionize

Overview

Sessionize is cloud software for managing event submissions, speakers, sessions, and schedules. It is best for organizers whose main work is building a program for an in-person or online event. The focused content workflow and attendee app are compelling; teams needing ticketing, attendee management, or streaming should look elsewhere for those functions.

Key features

Customizable speaker forms support custom fields, submission limits, deadlines, and agent mode. Organizers can assess proposals with star ratings, Yes/No decisions, or comparisons, then manage speakers and sessions, tracks, and rooms. That makes Sessionize a capable path from submissions to a planned program, particularly for teams coordinating many contributors.

Drag-and-drop schedule building keeps program assembly in the same workflow. Schedules can be embedded on websites or retrieved as JSON or XML, while API integration and embedding for event websites, mobile apps, and WordPress sites let teams connect the content to other services. The attendee app supports personal schedules and offline use, and works on phones, tablets, and desktops—a practical advantage for attendees who want their own program across devices.

Sessionize states that sessions, speakers, team members, organizers, and evaluators are unlimited. That is generous for content teams, but those limits do not extend its scope: it does not manage attendees or sell tickets, host live streams or video, or build event webpages. It uses HTTPS, one-way password hashing and salting, and request-level role-based access control; it states 99.9% uptime, encrypted data at rest, geo-redundant backups, and hosting through Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS. Support is by email, with Playbook articles and guidance.

Pricing

The Community event plan costs nothing, but is restricted to free community events. It excludes internal, private, promotional, marketing, profit-making, and commercial events, so it is not a general-purpose free tier for organizations running other kinds of events.

Professional event costs $499, paid once, billed for one event occurrence. It includes priority email support and a fully functional test mode, with no credit card required. This is the clearest fit for organizers producing a single event who want to test the setup before committing.

A free trial is available without a credit card. Sign-in can use Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Office 365, or Twitter. The Professional plan’s test mode gives buyers a way to work through a full setup before an event purchase.

Platforms

Sessionize is cloud-based and runs on web, Android, and iOS. Its attendee app also works on tablets and desktops, so the program can reach attendees beyond phones.

Who it's for

Sessionize is a strong fit for event teams that need to collect and evaluate speaker proposals, coordinate a program, and give attendees personal schedules. Its unlimited content-team roles and schedules also suit events with substantial speaker and review workloads. It is not the right standalone choice when attendee records, ticket sales, streaming, video hosting, or an event website builder are core requirements.

Pros and cons

Pros: Custom submission forms and three evaluation modes support a structured review process; drag-and-drop scheduling carries approved content into a program.

Pros: Unlimited sessions, speakers, team members, organizers, and evaluators avoid stated capacity caps on the core workflow.

Pros: The attendee app supports offline personal schedules and works across phones, tablets, and desktops.

Cons: It does not cover attendee management, ticketing, streaming, video hosting, or event webpage creation, so broader event operations require other tools.

Cons: The free plan is limited to free community events; other events need a paid plan.

Alternatives

For a more abstract-centered workflow, MeetingHand Abstract Management is worth considering: it has a free plan capped at 25 registrations or abstracts and a pay-as-you-go option at $4.90 a month, billed monthly. AbstractWiz offers a simpler event-based price structure, with a free plan capped at 20 submissions and no import feature, or a $270, paid once Standard plan with unlimited submissions and all features.

Fourwaves may suit organizers who want registrations alongside abstract submissions: its Starter plan is free and includes unlimited registrations and events, but caps abstract submissions at 25 per year and charges a 3% service fee. HotCRP is another option. ConfTool offers a free local-installation license for smaller non-commercial events of up to 150 participants, without support; choose it if those constraints fit your event.

SimplyConf is an alternative. Airballoon includes a companion event and networking app at no additional charge in its free BalloonUp plan. OpenConf is another option.

For broader category browsing, see Call for Papers Software, Speaker Management Software, and Event Scheduling Software.

Verdict

Choose Sessionize if your priority is a complete content workflow—from speaker submissions and evaluation through scheduling and attendee personal programs—with room to scale the content team. Its main advantage is that breadth within event content; its main limitation is the clear boundary around ticketing, attendees, streaming, and event websites. If those are central to your event, pair it with other services or choose a broader event platform.