Callboard vs ConfTool
Callboard
callboardhq.comConfTool
conftool.netSide by side
| Figure | Callboard | ConfTool |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Event Scheduling Software | 8.5 (#5) | 8.1 (#10) |
| Spec score · Speaker Management Software | 8.5 (#7) | 8.2 (#10) |
| Purpose | Callboard manages event proposals, reviews, speaker onboarding, agenda planning, and publishing the public schedule. | ConfTool supports conference organizers with submissions and reviews, program scheduling, participant registration, administration, and invoicing. |
| Security | The documentation says uploads are proxied through the Worker so ownership checks apply on read and write paths, and secrets are supplied through Wrangler rather than stored in the repository. | The features page lists HTTPS access, regular automatic backups, role-based access control, and extensive security features. |
Plans
In their own words
Callboard
Callboard is an open-source system for managing event proposals and the work from submission through schedule publication. Organizers can build CFP forms with conditional questions, shared character limits, participant rules and close dates, then route proposals to tracks. Reviewers see their assigned submissions, while organizers can apply weighted scores in two rounds. Accepted speakers use a portal to update session details, upload headshots and materials, finish tasks and read event resources.
For planning, organizers place sessions in rooms and time slots and use a conflict view to spot overlaps. Published schedules can be embedded and provide ordered speaker and co-speaker names, calendar invites, CSV exports and API access. Documented integrations include Accelevents CSV export, optional API push, an Airtable mirror and signed webhooks, with optional Svix delivery. AI abstract triage offers an advisory score and recommendation; it cannot write committee reviews or change submission status. The main application is described as one Cloudflare Worker using D1 and R2. Callboard is self-hosted under the MIT license, at free.
ConfTool
ConfTool is conference management software for academic conferences, congresses, workshops, and seminars, including on-site and virtual events. It supports submissions and reviews, program scheduling, participant registration, administration, and invoicing. With ConfTool Pro, organizers can configure open or blind reviews, optionally use multiple tracks, schedule accepted submissions, and check presenter conflicts. Participants can create personal agendas. Pro registration supports participant groups, time discounts, event options, and admission limits; payments can be handled by bank transfer, PayPal, Stripe, or connections to more than 45 online credit card payment systems. Pro can link sessions and presentations to external virtual-event resources and export data in Excel, Word, CSV, JSON, and XML. ConfTool Standard is free on request for smaller non-commercial events, for up to 150 participants, and requires local installation. Pro is hosted and billed per conference; its fee depends on event requirements and size, and optional modules may cost extra. The maker lists HTTPS access, automatic backups, and role-based access control. Standard comes without support, while Pro includes professional support.