Fourwaves vs SimplyConf
Fourwaves
fourwaves.com
SimplyConf
simplyconf.comSide by side
| Figure | Fourwaves | SimplyConf |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $83.25/mo | $2.42/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 10 |
| Spec score · Event Abstract Management Software | 9.1 (#1) | 7.6 (#13) |
| Spec score · Call for Papers Software | 9.2 (#1) | 7.6 (#13) |
| Product | Fourwaves is a cloud conference-management platform for academic and scientific events covering submissions, peer review, registration, websites, programs and an attendee app. | SimplyConf is an academic conference management platform for WordPress that handles submissions, peer reviews, registration and payments, email notifications, and scheduling. |
| Support | The pricing page lists AI, chat and email support on Starter and an onboarding call on Advanced. | The pricing page says all plans include email support with a 24-hour response time, with extensive documentation and video tutorials also available. |
Plans
Fourwaves
- StarterFree
- StarterFree
- Essential$999 a year
- Advanced$2,599 a year
- ProPriced on request
SimplyConf
- SimplyConf CoreFree
- Starter Plan$19 a month
- Exports add-on$29 a year
- Pro Plan$29 a month
- Schedules add-on$29 a year
- Emails add-on$39 a year
- Reviews add-on$49 a year
- Payments add-on$79 a year
- Professional Bundle$139 a year
- Premium Bundle$169 a year
In their own words
Fourwaves
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.
SimplyConf
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.