Best academic and scientific conference management software for 2027

Organizing an academic or scientific conference requires balancing peer review workflows, author communications, registration ticketing, and dynamic event schedules. Below are detailed overviews of eight leading conference management tools, highlighting their core focus, key features, and best-use cases.

1. COMS (Conference Management Software)

COMS, based in Austria, has been used for academic and scientific events since 2008. It connects submissions, review, program, registration and payments in one system, with self-managed servers in Germany, for events from small workshops to congresses with thousands of participants.

Abstracts, Review, Programme & Proceedings: Configurable submission forms, single- or double-blind review with weighted scoring, conflict detection, reviewer bidding and topic-based assignment, and two-stage review. Accepted submissions feed a searchable program and proceedings that are generated automatically.
Registration, Payments & Invoicing: Multi-currency registration, quotas, discount codes, invoices and refunds, with payment by bank transfer or through ready-made payment gateways, and no commission on payments. Organizers see which speakers have paid while they are still selecting submissions.
Mobile App & Virtual Platform: A branded app with the detailed program and abstracts, personal and community chat, push notifications and the organizer's own content, synced from COMS automatically.
Languages & Texts: Ready to use in 13 languages, including Arabic (right to left), Chinese and Vietnamese. Several can be combined for one event, and administrators can edit every text on the site.
Transparent Pricing: Prices are published: a one-time fee per conference with no subscription, from 530 EUR for up to 100 submissions. Certificates, custom forms, QR-code check-in, an event website, hourly backups and support by chat, email or Zoom are included.
Best For: Academic societies, research institutes, scientific congress organizers and PCOs who want submissions, review, registration and payments in one GDPR-compliant system.

2. Converia

Converia, developed in Germany, has been on the market for more than 20 years. It connects submissions, program planning, registration and invoicing in one system, with servers in the EU.

Abstracts, Review & Program Planning: Configurable submission forms, single- or double-blind review against custom criteria, and automatic reviewer assignment with workload limits. Accepted submissions go into a drag-and-drop schedule that flags speaker conflicts, and proceedings can be produced as a PDF.
Registration, Payments & Invoicing: Automatic early-bird tiers, workshops and member rates, with payment by credit card, bank transfer, direct debit, Google Pay or Apple Pay. Invoices handle EU VAT, and accounting data can be exported to DATEV, Sage or SAP.
Conference App & On-Site: A branded app with a personal schedule, push notifications, Q&A and polls, plus QR-code check-in, badges and certificates of attendance.
Best For: Universities and research institutions running medium to large scientific conferences with complex programs, pricing and invoicing that need EU data hosting.

3. ConfTool

Developed in Germany, ConfTool is a widely respected conference software known for its emphasis on data security, high customization, and compliance with strict European privacy laws (GDPR). It comes in two versions: ConfTool Standard (a basic open-source version for small, non-commercial events) and ConfTool Pro (a fully hosted, supported commercial platform).

Customization & Logic: Highly adaptable forms for submissions, scoring criteria, and registration options. It handles complex dependencies, such as variable registration tiers, workshop caps, and localized tax/VAT handling.
Review Coordination: Comprehensive conflict-of-interest management and detailed reviewer tracking.
Security & Compliance: Offers dedicated per-conference databases hosted in secure data centers, making it a favorite for security-conscious institutions.
Best For: European institutions, university departments, and international associations requiring granular data control, GDPR compliance, and complex pricing logic.

4. Oxford Abstracts

Oxford Abstracts is a modern, cloud-native platform designed to make abstract management and program scheduling as intuitive as possible. It breaks away from clunky legacy academic software with a clean UI for administrators, reviewers, and submitters.

Abstract Lifecycle: Real-time dashboard to track submission statuses. Includes automated reviewer assignment tools based on predefined rules or subject tracks.
Drag-and-Drop Program Builder: Effortlessly build multi-track interactive schedules directly from accepted submissions.
Virtual & On-Site Capabilities: Offers integrated digital poster galleries, delegate networking tools, and native registration ticketing.
Best For: Academic committees seeking a modern, user-friendly interface that reduces the learning curve for non-technical reviewers and attendees.

5. Ex Ordo

Ex Ordo is a premium, end-to-end conference management system built specifically for scholarly associations and research organizations. It covers every phase of the conference lifecycle with a focus on workflow automation.

Scholarly Focus: Tailored to academic workflows—offering features like blind peer reviews, camera-ready submission management, and copyright collection.
Interactive Mobile App & Web Program: Synchronizes accepted submissions, author bios, and track schedules into a polished mobile app for attendees.
Book of Abstracts & Publishing: Offers automated formatting to compile hundreds of papers into publication-ready digital volumes or index-ready metadata exports.
Best For: Large academic associations and recurring annual congresses needing dedicated account management and high-end publishing workflows.

6. EasyChair

EasyChair is one of the oldest and most widely recognized submission management systems in academia, particularly dominant in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Engineering disciplines.

Core Focus: Almost strictly focused on the peer-review engine (abstract submission, paper distribution, track management, proceedings generation, and decision-making).
Review Analytics & Discussion: Advanced mechanisms for program committee (PC) members to discuss disputed papers, re-evaluate scores, and handle bidding on papers based on subject expertise.
EPiC Series Publishing: Offers native integration to publish conference proceedings directly under the EasyChair EPITalks / EPiC Series umbrella.
Best For: Computer science, engineering, and hard-science conferences where peer review discussion among committee members is the absolute priority, and visual flair is secondary.

7. Whova

Whova is an industry-leading event management platform known primarily for its high attendee engagement, mobile event app, and networking features. While it serves corporate events, it includes robust tools for academic conferences.

Attendee Engagement: Leader in gamification, community bulletin boards, attendee matchmaking, speed networking, and live polls/Q&As during sessions.
Logistics & On-Site Tools: Native name-badge generation, lead retrieval for sponsors/exhibitors, floor-map builders, and live event check-in via mobile scanning.
Abstract & Agenda Management: Includes submission portals and schedule builders that feed directly into the Whova mobile app.
Best For: Hybrid or in-person conferences where attendee networking, sponsor visibility, and a top-tier mobile app experience are the primary goals.

8. Dryfta

Dryfta is an all-in-one event management software designed for non-profits, universities, and professional associations. It provides an all-inclusive suite of tools at an accessible price point.

Comprehensive Feature Set: Combines abstract submission, peer review, ticketing, badge printing, event app, email broadcast, and CRM into one ecosystem.
Association & Membership Management: Includes built-in tools to track member statuses, issue certificates of attendance, and award Continuing Education (CE/CME) credits to attendees.
Custom Customization: Offers customizable submission workflows, custom form fields, and tailored URL hosting for the conference site.
Best For: Educational institutions and non-profit associations managing annual meetings on a budget while needing membership management alongside event tools.