Best Event Abstract Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Congressio is ranked #1 of 29 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Fourwaves and HotCRP. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Fourwaves. The lowest first paid tier on this page is SimplyConf at $2.42/mo.
Event abstract management software helps organizers collect submissions and coordinate review through decisions and publication. Compare review workflow, blind review, scoring tools, and author revisions to see how each option supports your process. Submission types and poster handling matter when deciding what materials to accept, while publishing tools can address what follows review. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside these capabilities. Congressio, Fourwaves, and HotCRP are among the products to consider. Think through how your event handles intake, reviewer assessment, revisions, and results, then focus on the listed features that align with those requirements.
29 event abstract management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Event Abstract Management Software, ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going. 14 of the 25 on this page can be tried for free.
- 1 CongressioPaid from $40.83/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 2 FourwavesPaid from $83.25/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 3 HotCRPFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 4 SimplyConfPaid from $2.42/mo
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 5 ConfToolFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 6 OpenConfFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 7 EasyChairFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 8 IndicoFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 9 Oxford AbstractsFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 10 SciencesconfFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 11 LynkFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 12 Microsoft CMTFree plan
- Free to practise on: yes
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 13 PeerSubmit
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: yes
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 14 Linklings
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 15 Ex Ordo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: yes
- 16 OpenWater Grant Management
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 17 CATALYST
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 18 Congirus
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 19 EventactPaid from $210/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 20 AMS (Article Management System)Paid from $18.67/mo
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 21 START Conference Manager
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: yes
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 22 joyn
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 23 Brownbag
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 24 AbstractWiz
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
- 25 OpenReviewFree plan
- Free to practise on: not on record
- Free trial: not on record
- Well documented: not on record
- Runs where you work: not on record
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Submission types | Review workflow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Congressio | 7.7 | Free plan | $40.83/mo | Yes | — | multiple | custom |
| 2 | Fourwaves | 7.2 | Free plan | $83.25/mo | Yes | 999 /yr | — | — |
| 3 | HotCRP | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | SimplyConf | 7.2 | Free plan | $2.42/mo | Yes | 29 /yr | — | — |
| 5 | ConfTool | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | OpenConf | 7.1 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | EasyChair | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 8 | Indico | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | Oxford Abstracts | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | abstracts | — |
| 10 | Sciencesconf | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | multiple | multi_stage |
| 11 | Lynk | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | papers | — |
| 12 | Microsoft CMT | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | PeerSubmit | 6.7 | No | — | No | 100 /yr | multiple | custom |
| 14 | Linklings | 6.5 | No | — | — | — | multiple | custom |
| 15 | Ex Ordo | 6.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | OpenWater Grant Management | 6.3 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | CATALYST | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 18 | Congirus | 6.2 | No | — | — | — | multiple | — |
| 19 | Eventact | 6.2 | No | $210/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 20 | AMS (Article Management System) | 6.1 | No | $18.67/mo | No | 299 /yr | papers | — |
| 21 | START Conference Manager | 6.1 | No | — | No | — | multiple | custom |
| 22 | joyn | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Brownbag | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | papers | — |
| 24 | AbstractWiz | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 25 | OpenReview | 5.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which event abstract management software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Congressio is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 7.7. Fourwaves is second and HotCRP third.
How many of these have a free plan?
13 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, SimplyConf has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2.42/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on.