ConfTool

ConfTool is a conference-management system for academic and similar events, covering submissions, reviews, schedules, registration and administration. It suits organizers who need those jobs in one workflow, especially for a structured program; its free Standard license is limited to small non-commercial events and local installation.

Overview

ConfTool spans the event process from collecting submissions and handling reviews through scheduling, participant registration, administration and invoicing. Organizers can configure open or blind reviewing, schedule accepted submissions and sessions, check presenter conflicts, and let participants assemble personal agendas. That breadth is useful when a conference has a formal program and several connected administrative tasks. It is a poor fit if email marketing is part of the required workflow: ConfTool does not provide it.

Pro also links sessions and presentations to external virtual-event resources, supporting online and hybrid programs. Its payment options include bank transfer, PayPal, Stripe and connections to more than 45 online credit-card payment systems. Exports in Excel, Word, CSV, JSON and XML give organizers ways to use event data elsewhere.

Key features

• Submission and review: Configurable processes, open or blind reviewing and an optional multi-track feature cover different evaluation and program structures. Because multi-track is optional, organizers should account for possible module fees before choosing Pro.
• Scheduling: Session and accepted-submission scheduling, presenter-conflict checks and participant-created agendas address both program planning and attendee planning. Room scheduling and speaker management are also supported.
• Registration and payments: Pro supports participant groups, time-based discounts, event and item choices, conditional options and admission limits. Its range of payment connections is useful for organizers with varied payment needs, though the feature set belongs to the custom-priced Pro service.
• Security and privacy: ConfTool describes HTTPS access, automatic backups, role-based access control and other security features. Its servers are in Germany, each conference uses a separate database, and project data is deleted when the project ends.
• Support: Pro includes professional help with configuration and use. Standard has no support, a material drawback for organizers who need assistance setting up or operating an event.

Pricing

ConfTool Standard costs nothing. The free license is available on request for smaller non-commercial events, with a cap of 150 participants. It requires local installation and comes without support, so it is best for a technically capable organizer running a modest event who can manage the system independently. It is not a hosted, supported route for larger or commercial events.

ConfTool Pro is custom pricing, billed per conference. It is a hosted service, with the fee depending on event requirements and size; the optional multi-track feature and other modules may add fees. Pro is the more appropriate fit when hosting, support or its broader registration and payment capabilities matter, but organizers should compare the event-specific cost and module needs before committing.

Platforms

ConfTool is offered for web use and self-hosted installation, with Android and iOS also listed as platforms. The self-hosted option is relevant to Standard, while Pro is hosted. ConfTool supports hybrid events and offers an attendee mobile app.

Who it's for

ConfTool is aimed at academic conferences, congresses, workshops and seminars, whether on-site or virtual. It is strongest for organizers who need a connected submissions-to-program-to-registration workflow. Small non-commercial events may find Standard workable if they can install it locally and do without support; events needing a hosted service and professional assistance should consider Pro and its custom, per-conference cost. Organizers who rely on email campaigns should choose a separate solution or another platform.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Submission review, scheduling, registration, payments and invoicing sit within one event-management workflow, reducing the need to split these tasks across separate systems.
• Pro: Presenter-conflict checks, personal agendas and virtual-event links address practical needs for complex or hybrid programs.
• Pro: Standard offers a no-cost license for up to 150 participants, giving eligible small non-commercial events a free option.
• Con: Standard requires local installation and has no support, which limits its appeal to organizers without the capacity to administer it themselves.
• Con: Pro's price depends on each event, and optional modules can add fees, making budgeting less straightforward than a fixed-price plan.
• Con: There is no email marketing, so organizers must handle that need elsewhere.

Alternatives

For a narrower focus or a different pricing structure, compare ConfTool with these options and category guides:

• Call for Papers Software, Event Abstract Management Software, Event Scheduling Software and Speaker Management Software help compare tools by the event workflow you need most.
• Fourwaves has a free Starter plan with 25 abstract submissions per year, unlimited registrations and events, and a 3% service fee; consider it if that submission cap and fee model suit your event.
• HotCRP has free plans for ACM- or USENIX-sponsored conferences, journals and workshops; it is worth comparing if your event falls within those sponsorship categories.
• MeetingHand Abstract Management has a free plan capped at 25 registrations or abstracts; consider it for an event that fits within that limit.
• Sessionize offers a free plan for community events only, so it is an option when the event qualifies as a community event.
• SimplyConf offers a free Core plan with unlimited events, submissions and users; compare it if those limits are a priority.
• Airballoon includes its BalloonUp companion event and networking app at no additional charge; consider it if that is the particular capability you need.
• OpenConf has a Community Edition limited to three or fewer events and journals per calendar year; it may suit organizers whose activity fits that cap.
• AbstractWiz has a free per-event plan capped at 20 submissions and a paid Standard plan for unlimited submissions; compare it if submission volume is the main constraint.

Verdict

Choose ConfTool when you need a single system for academic-event submissions and reviews, program scheduling, registration and administration, particularly for a structured or hybrid conference. Standard makes sense for a small non-commercial event that can handle local installation without support. Look elsewhere if email marketing is essential, or weigh Pro's custom event fee and possible module charges against your requirements.