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8 Best Academic Conference Software Platforms in 2026

From abstract submission and peer review to on-site attendee management and networking — we ranked every major academic conference tool. Know which one to use for each phase of your conference.

Last updated: March 2026 · 8 tools compared · Academic conference focus

Quick Comparison

#PlatformPricingAbstract SubmissionAttendee NetworkingOn-Site Check-In
#1
Who's In ConferenceTop Pick
From $49/month
#2
Ex Ordo
Custom per-event pricing — typically $1,500–$5,000/event
#3
OpenConf
Free
#4
EasyChair
Free for basic use / paid EasyChair Professional from ~$100/event
#5
ConfTool
From ~€300/event or annual licence
#6
Cvent
Custom enterprise — typically $15,000+/year
#7
Whova
Custom per-event — typically $2,000+/event
#8
Microsoft CMT
Free

Detailed Reviews

#1

Who's In Conference

Editor's Choice

Best value academic conference platform for attendee management, agendas, and networking

Pricing
From $49/month (Starter) + 2.7% on paid registration fees

Pros

  • Multi-day multi-track agendas perfect for academic session programming
  • AI networking connects researchers by discipline and interest area
  • Speaker and presenter profile management included

Cons

  • No abstract submission and review workflow built-in
  • Not designed for double-blind peer review processes

Our Verdict

The best value conference management platform for academic events that have completed their abstract review process and need to manage attendees, agendas, and on-site logistics. Multi-track sessions, presenter profiles, and AI-powered networking between researchers all work from the $49/month plan. For abstract submission and review, use a dedicated tool (Ex Ordo, EasyChair) alongside Who's In.

#2

Ex Ordo

Purpose-built academic conference management with abstract submission

Pricing
Custom per-event pricing — typically $1,500–$5,000/event

Pros

  • Best-in-class abstract submission and peer review management
  • Full paper management from submission through to proceedings
  • Programme builder for academic session scheduling

Cons

  • Per-event pricing adds up for annual conferences
  • Limited attendee networking and mobile experience

Our Verdict

The gold standard for academic abstract submission, peer review, and proceedings management. The submission-to-review workflow is genuinely excellent. Less strong on the attendee-facing experience — many academic conferences use Ex Ordo for submissions and a separate tool for on-site management.

#3

OpenConf

Open-source academic conference management system

Pricing
Free (open-source) + paid support/hosting options

Pros

  • Free open-source option for budget-limited academic societies
  • Full submission, review, and programme management
  • Self-hosted for data control

Cons

  • Requires technical expertise to install and maintain
  • Dated user interface compared to modern alternatives
  • Limited mobile experience

Our Verdict

The best free option for academic conferences with IT resources to manage self-hosting. OpenConf covers the full submission-review-programme workflow at no software cost. The interface is dated and the mobile experience is minimal — but for institutions with tight budgets and IT support, it remains highly capable.

#4

EasyChair

Widely-used academic paper submission and review platform

Pricing
Free for basic use / paid EasyChair Professional from ~$100/event

Pros

  • Extremely widely used — reviewers and authors already have accounts
  • Good for multi-track paper submission and review
  • Free tier adequate for many academic workshops

Cons

  • Dated interface that hasn't been significantly updated in years
  • No attendee-facing conference app or networking features
  • Support can be slow for free tier users

Our Verdict

The most ubiquitous academic submission system in computer science — reviewers and authors are already familiar with it. The interface is dated, but familiarity reduces adoption friction. Use it for submissions and pair with Who's In Conference for the attendee-facing experience.

#5

ConfTool

Conference management software for academic and scientific events

Pricing
From ~€300/event or annual licence

Pros

  • Combined submission, review, and registration in one system
  • Good for European academic conferences
  • Affordable annual licence model

Cons

  • Interface is functional but not modern
  • Limited attendee networking features
  • Less well-known outside Europe

Our Verdict

A solid mid-range option for academic conferences that want submission, review, and registration in one system. More affordable than Ex Ordo. Less familiar to international authors than EasyChair. Strong choice for European academic societies running annual conferences.

#6

Cvent

Enterprise conference management for large academic and professional events

Pricing
Custom enterprise — typically $15,000+/year

Pros

  • Most complete registration, hotel, and logistics management for large events
  • Good for complex multi-track academic programmes at scale
  • Established vendor for major academic and professional associations

Cons

  • $15,000+/year is prohibitive for most academic conferences
  • No built-in abstract submission — requires integration with separate tools

Our Verdict

The appropriate choice for major academic association meetings with thousands of attendees, hotel blocks, and complex logistics. For smaller academic conferences (under 500 attendees), Cvent is significant overkill and expense.

#7

Whova

Conference app with attendee networking for academic events

Pricing
Custom per-event — typically $2,000+/event

Pros

  • Strong attendee networking and community features
  • Good session schedule and personalised agenda building
  • Virtual business cards and contact exchange

Cons

  • $2,000+/event is expensive for academic conferences with tight budgets
  • Attendees must download the Whova app

Our Verdict

Good conference app for academic events where networking between researchers is a priority. The community boards and activity feeds create engagement. The per-event cost is a significant concern for academic conferences that often operate on constrained budgets.

#8

Microsoft CMT

Free Microsoft-hosted academic paper submission and review system

Pricing
Free (Microsoft-hosted)

Pros

  • Completely free — no per-event or per-submission fees
  • Widely used in AI/ML research community
  • Handles large-scale submissions for major conferences

Cons

  • Limited customisation — Microsoft controls the platform
  • No attendee-facing conference app or on-site management
  • Dependent on Microsoft continuing to offer the service

Our Verdict

The free alternative to EasyChair for computer science and AI conferences. CMT handles submission and review workflows well and is familiar to the ML/AI research community. Zero cost is a genuine advantage for academic conferences. Like EasyChair, pair it with Who's In Conference for the on-site attendee experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best academic conference management software in 2026?
The best academic conference software depends on what you need. For abstract submission and peer review: Ex Ordo (best in class) or EasyChair (most familiar). For free options: OpenConf (self-hosted) or Microsoft CMT. For the attendee-facing conference experience — agendas, networking, badges, and check-in: Who's In Conference from $49/month is the best value.
Can Who's In Conference handle academic conference abstract submissions?
Who's In Conference handles the attendee-facing conference experience — registration, agendas, networking, badges, and check-in. It doesn't have a built-in abstract submission and peer review workflow. For abstract management, we recommend pairing Who's In Conference with Ex Ordo, EasyChair, or Microsoft CMT. Once abstract review is complete, accepted authors register through Who's In Conference.
What is the cheapest academic conference management software?
Microsoft CMT and OpenConf are free for academic abstract submission and review. Who's In Conference starts at $49/month for the full conference management experience (registration, agendas, networking, badges). EasyChair has a free basic tier. For complete academic conference management combining submission review and attendee management, the most cost-effective combination is Microsoft CMT (free) + Who's In Conference ($49/mo).
Does EasyChair or Who's In Conference have a better attendee app?
Who's In Conference has a significantly better attendee experience. EasyChair is purely a submission and review tool — it has no attendee app, no conference agenda view, no networking, and no badge printing. Who's In Conference is the attendee-facing complement to abstract management tools like EasyChair, Ex Ordo, and Microsoft CMT.
Is there a conference management tool that handles both abstract review and attendee management?
Ex Ordo comes closest — it handles abstract submission, peer review, programme building, and basic registration. ConfTool also combines submission and registration. However, neither has the attendee networking, AI matchmaking, or mobile PWA experience of Who's In Conference. Most academic conferences use a dedicated submission tool (Ex Ordo, EasyChair) alongside Who's In Conference for the on-site attendee experience.

Related Resources

Best Conference Software 2026 →Best Networking Apps →Best Badge Tools →Best Hybrid Platforms →Whova Alternative →Best Virtual Platforms →Best Sponsor Management Tools →Academic Conference Management →Who's In Conference Product →

The best on-site experience for academic conferences

Multi-track agendas, AI-powered researcher networking, and QR check-in — from $49/month

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