Microsoft CMT vs Sessionize

Microsoft CMT is a free web-based conference management system for academic and scientific peer review. It supports roles for chairs, senior meta-reviewers, meta-reviewers, reviewers, authors, and proceedings editors. Organizers can create any number of independently configured tracks and customize forms with separate question visibility. The workflow covers abstracts, full papers, supplementary material, revisions, camera-ready files, and presentations. Reviewer assignment can be manual or automatic, with Toronto Paper Matching System integration. Review collaboration includes bidding, reviewer suggestions, threaded discussion, virtual program committee meetings, and author rebuttals. Uploads are unlimited, with a 100 MB maximum per file, and supported types include PDF, DOCX, audio, video, and others. Conference data exports to Excel, XML, or CSV. CMT runs on Microsoft Azure with geo-replicated data, logs submission and file activity, and offers a schedule builder and IEEE eCopyright workflow. After a conference ends, CMT removes its data. The Free plan costs nothing.

Sessionize is cloud-based event content management software for organizing in-person or online events. Its workflow covers calls for speakers, proposal evaluation, speaker and session management, and schedule building. Organizers can create submission forms with custom fields, submission limits, deadlines, and agent mode. Evaluation options include star ratings, Yes/No decisions, and comparisons. Schedules can be arranged by drag and drop, embedded on websites, or retrieved as JSON or XML. The included attendee app works on phones, tablets, and desktops, supports offline use, and lets attendees build personal schedules. API integration and embedding support event websites, mobile apps, and WordPress sites. Sessionize lists unlimited sessions, speakers, team members, organizers, and evaluators. Its free trial requires no credit card. Community events can use the free plan, while a Professional event costs $499, paid once for one event occurrence. Sessionize does not provide attendee management or ticket selling, live streaming or video hosting, or an event webpage builder. It is available on Android, iOS, and web.