OpenConf
OpenConf is a peer-review, conference, and abstract management system for collecting submissions and running review workflows.
What OpenConf is
OpenConf is a peer-review, conference, and abstract management system for collecting submissions and running review workflows. Organizers can choose from built-in form fields or create their own, then assign reviews manually or match reviewers and submissions by topic or bids. The workflow covers 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 through OIDC or SAML. Privacy features include 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. Community Edition is limited to three or fewer events and journals per calendar year, and its users are not provided support.
Good
- Manual or topic- and bid-based review assignment
- Supports scoring, acceptance decisions, and committee discussion
- Accepted submissions can be scheduled into programs
- Available hosted or for customer-server installation
Watch out
- Community Edition users are not provided support
- OpenConf 8 requires PHP 7.3 or later and MySQL 8.0.4 or later
- Community Edition covers three or fewer events and journals yearly
Who it suits
OpenConf suits conference and journal organizers who need submission forms, review workflows, and program scheduling. Community Edition is described for users who can install and maintain the software themselves and need basic submission, review, acceptance, and notification.
Verdict
OpenConf covers submission collection through review decisions and program preparation, with hosted and self-hosted options. Community Edition is intended for basic needs and self-maintaining users; support is included for hosting and license contacts, not Community Edition users.
Plans and prices
From OpenConf's own pricing page, checked 21 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Plus Edition | $400 a month | Unlimited submissions · 1 installation · Standard license; includes 1 year of support and submissions |
| Professional Edition | $900 a month | Unlimited submissions · 1 installation · Standard license; includes 1 year of support and submissions |
| OpenConf Hosting Service | $600 a year | 100 submissions · 10GB storage · Professional Edition · secure (TLS/SSL) connection · Base Price: US$600, includes 1 year of service and support |
| Community Edition | Free | Up to 3 events and journals per calendar year · no support · self-installed · restrictions on paid related services · Version 7 available at no cost subject to the OpenConf License |
| Plus Edition Standard License | $400, paid once | One installation · unlimited submissions · one year of support and submissions · Standard License: US$400; includes 1 year of support and submissions |
| Professional Edition Standard License | $900, paid once | One installation · unlimited submissions · one year of support and submissions · Standard License: US$900; includes 1 year of support and submissions |
The facts
Each one read from OpenConf's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Authentication
- The feature list includes passkeys, magic links, and single sign-on using OIDC and SAML.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Hosting and self-hosting
- OpenConf can be licensed for installation on the customer's server or used through its hosting service, where the maker administers the software.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Hosting security
- The hosting price includes a secure TLS/SSL connection; the maker says hosted customer data is backed up hourly on- and off-site.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Professional Edition lists IEEE eCopyright, ACM copyright export, and ORCID reviewer credit features.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes the Community Edition as an option for users who need basic submission, review, acceptance, and notification and can install and maintain it themselves.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Privacy features include a policy link, cookie banner, consent checkboxes, personal information review, and admin-managed data deletion.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Proceedings and program
- OpenConf supports online proceedings and scheduling accepted submissions into a web program or print booklet.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OpenConf is a peer-review, conference, and abstract management software system.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Review assignment
- Reviews can be assigned manually or matched automatically to reviewers and submissions by topic or bids.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Review workflow
- The software supports review scoring, acceptance decisions, notifications, and committee discussion.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Submission forms
- Users can select from dozens of built-in fields or customize submission forms with their own fields.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Technical support is included for hosting account contacts and for license contacts; Community Edition users are not provided support.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Technical requirements
- OpenConf 8 requires an HTTP server with TLS/SSL, PHP 7.3 or later, and MySQL 8.0.4 or later.checked 4 Oct 2026
The company
- Company
- The site identifies Zakon Group LLC as the owner of the OpenConf registered trademark.checked 4 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
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