Fourwaves vs HotCRP

Fourwaves is a conference management service for academic and scientific events, covering abstract submissions, peer review, registration, event websites, programs and attendee apps. Submission forms can support calls for papers and abstracts, and organizers can export abstract books with author indexes. Review workflows offer single- or double-blind processes, reviewer conflict detection and custom scoring grids. Its iOS and Android app includes the event program, personal agenda, participant list and presentation materials, and works offline. An API with organization-specific keys provides endpoints for event, registration, form, submission and session data. The free Starter plan costs nothing and caps yearly submissions at 25. Essential costs $999 a year with a 100-submission limit; Advanced costs $2,599 a year with a 300-submission limit. Each lists a 3% service fee. When a yearly cap is reached, new submissions pause until an upgrade, though existing submissions, registrations and event websites remain accessible. The company describes its audience as research communities, universities, scientific societies and research networks.

HotCRP manages conference paper submissions and reviews, either as open-source software for self-hosting or through the hosted HotCRP.com service. Submission tools include customizable forms, optional registration, program-committee conflict collection, and configurable PDF checks. Papers can be assigned by hand, in batches, or automatically, including through globally optimal assignments. Search, sorting, bulk downloads, formulas, and tags help organize submissions. Review workflows support custom forms, LaTeX math, multiple rounds, offline reviewing, delegation, and external reviewers. Program committee meeting tools include rebuttals, votes, rankings, a live tracker, decision types, and mailing users. The REST API uses bearer tokens that can be scoped, including for read-only access or selected papers. HotCRP.com connects with ACM publication services for copyright forms, final versions, PDF checks, proceedings, and Digital Library export. Self-hosting requires a web server and software including Nginx, PHP 7.3 or higher, MariaDB, and PHP packages. Listed free plans serve certain sponsored events and classroom use; independent conferences pay $7.50 per submission after the deadline.