OpenConf vs Symposio
OpenConf
openconf.comSymposio
symposio.frSide by side
| Figure | OpenConf | Symposio |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $50/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 6 | 3 |
| Spec score · Event Abstract Management Software | 7.9 (#10) | 6.5 (#29) |
| Purpose | OpenConf is a peer-review, conference, and abstract management software system. | Symposio is an all-in-one solution for organisers of scientific conferences and symposia, with tools for registrations, abstract submissions and programme scheduling. |
| Support | Technical support is included for hosting account contacts and for license contacts; Community Edition users are not provided support. | Support varies by plan: Standard technical support, personalised technical support with Premium, and priority technical support with Custom. |
Plans
OpenConf
- Plus Edition$400 a month
- Professional Edition$900 a month
- OpenConf Hosting Service$600 a year
- Community EditionFree
- Plus Edition Standard License$400, paid once
- Professional Edition Standard License$900, paid once
Symposio
- StandardPriced on request
- PremiumPriced on request
- CustomPriced on request
In their own words
OpenConf
OpenConf is a system for managing peer review, conferences and abstracts. Organizers can build submission forms from built-in fields or add their own, then assign reviews manually or match submissions and reviewers by topic or bids. Its workflow includes scoring, acceptance decisions, notifications and committee discussion. Accepted submissions can be scheduled into a web program or print booklet, and proceedings can be published online. OpenConf can be installed on a customer's server or used through a hosting service administered by the maker. Authentication options include passkeys, magic links and single sign-on using OIDC and SAML. Privacy tools include policy links, cookie banners, consent checkboxes, personal-information review and administrator-managed data deletion. Professional Edition lists IEEE eCopyright, ACM copyright export and ORCID reviewer credit features. OpenConf 8 requires an HTTP server with TLS/SSL, PHP 7.3 or later and MySQL 8.0.4 or later. Support is included for hosting account and license contacts; Community Edition users receive no support. Community Edition has no listed price and is limited to three or fewer events and journals per calendar year.