Callboard vs PragmaPlanner

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.

PragmaPlanner is web-based event-organisation software for building multi-track schedules for conferences, interview days and summits. Its solver searches scheduling combinations while considering attendee satisfaction and organiser constraints. You can assign speakers, record participant preferences, set room capacities and blocked times, and lock rooms or time slots. The software flags speaker overlaps, capacity problems and invalid placements. Attendee records can include descriptions, email addresses, availability and preferences, with assignments tracked in the project. CSV and ICS support data exchange, while customizable PDF exports create agendas. ICS import and export work with Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook and other digital calendar systems. Roomless sessions can run concurrently without room collisions, and hybrid schedules can combine physical and Roomless sessions. Projects are encrypted on the user's device before syncing or sharing, using AES-256-GCM, ECIES-based key exchange and HKDF-SHA-256. The maker says its servers cannot see schedules or participant data. The free plan costs nothing for up to 30 participants and 50 projects. Pro costs what you agree with the maker, billed plus taxes, with higher limits and priority support.