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SimplyConf
simplyconf.com
What it is
SimplyConf is a WordPress platform for managing academic conferences, workshops, and symposiums, from submissions and peer review through registration, payments, email, and scheduling. Its free core plugin supports unlimited events, submissions, users, and authors, with tracks, custom statuses and fields, file attachments, and a frontend submission portal. Add-ons cover reviewer assignment, single- and double-blind review, scoring criteria, conflict detection, and track chair oversight. Other tools provide automated email triggers and bulk messaging, Stripe registration payments with pricing tiers and discount codes, multi-track schedules, and exports. Organizers can publish interactive schedules on their conference website and download submission data as CSV or create PDF abstract books and programs. SimplyConf offers self-hosted and managed hosting. Self-hosted use requires WordPress 6.0 or higher, PHP 7.4 or higher, and MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+; HTTPS is recommended. The core plugin supports 12+ languages. The core is free; annual add-ons start at $29 a year, while listed monthly plans cost $19 a month for Starter and $29 a month for Pro.
Spec sheet
- Product
- SimplyConf is an academic conference management platform for WordPress that handles submissions, peer reviews, registration and payments, email notifications, and scheduling.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Intended users
- SimplyConf says it is designed for academic conferences, workshops, and symposiums, from small departmental workshops to large international symposiums.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Support
- The pricing page says all plans include email support with a 24-hour response time, with extensive documentation and video tutorials also available.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- License
- The core plugin is released under GNU GPL v2 or later, while premium add-on licenses are annual and per-site.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Core plugin
- The free core plugin supports unlimited events, submissions, users, and authors, plus tracks, custom statuses, custom fields, file attachments, and a frontend submission portal.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Email tools
- The Emails add-on provides automated notification triggers, customizable templates with dynamic placeholders, bulk messaging, and mail logs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Exports
- The Exports add-on generates PDF abstract books and conference programs and downloads submission data as CSV.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Hosting and data
- SimplyConf offers self-hosted and managed hosting; its privacy policy says self-hosted data stays in the user's WordPress database and SimplyConf does not have access to it.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Languages
- The download page states that the core plugin supports 12+ languages.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Payments integration
- The Payments add-on integrates with Stripe for registration payments, multiple pricing tiers, discount codes, and automated invoicing.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Privacy and payment security
- The privacy policy says payments are processed by Stripe and SimplyConf does not store credit card numbers on its servers; it also says translation requests include UI strings but not user-submitted content.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Review workflow
- The Reviews add-on supports reviewer assignments, single- and double-blind review, custom scoring criteria, conflict detection, and track chair oversight.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- Schedule builder
- The Schedules add-on creates multi-track programs with rooms and time slots and lets organizers publish interactive schedules on their conference website.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
- WordPress requirements
- Self-hosted installation requires WordPress 6.0 or higher, PHP 7.4 or higher, and MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+; HTTPS is recommended for secure submissions.Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Plans and prices
SimplyConf Core Free Free forever Unlimited events · Unlimited submissions · Unlimited users Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Starter Plan $19 a month $19 /month 1 event · Unlimited submissions · Reviews and Emails add-ons · Basic support Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Exports add-on $29 a year $29/year 1 site; 5 sites for $69.00; unlimited sites for $139.00 Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Pro Plan $29 a month $29 /month 3 events · Unlimited submissions · All 5 premium add-ons · Priority support Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Schedules add-on $29 a year $29/year 1 site; 5 sites for $69.00; unlimited sites for $139.00 Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Emails add-on $39 a year $39/year 1 site; 5 sites for $99.00; unlimited sites for $189.00 Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Reviews add-on $49 a year $49/year 1 site; 5 sites for $119.00; unlimited sites for $229.00 Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Payments add-on $79 a year $79/year 1 site; 5 sites for $199.00; unlimited sites for $379.00 Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Professional Bundle $139 a year $139 /year Reviews · Emails · Exports · Payments Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Premium Bundle $169 a year $169 /year All 5 add-ons · Self-hosted Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free core supports unlimited events and submissions
- Frontend submission portal included
- Blind review and conflict detection available
- Interactive schedules can be published on conference sites
- Core plugin supports 12+ languages
Limits
- Self-hosted use requires WordPress 6.0 or higher
- Self-hosted use requires PHP 7.4 or higher
- Self-hosted use requires MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+
Who it suits
SimplyConf is designed for academic conferences, workshops, and symposiums, from departmental workshops to international events. It suits organizers who need submission and review workflows alongside registration and program tools.
Verdict
SimplyConf’s free core covers conference submissions and event management, with paid add-ons for review, email, payments, schedules, and exports. Check the self-hosted requirements and whether annual add-ons or a monthly plan fit the setup.
Where Specifiction places it
- Event Abstract Management Software#13 of 297.6
- Call for Papers Software#13 of 247.6
