12 Best Abstract Management Software in 2026

Spreadsheets and email chains are a terrible way to run a call for papers. Submissions get lost, reviewers go quiet, and by the time decisions are made, you’re already behind on the agenda.

Abstract management software fixes that.

But not all of them work the same way. Some platforms are built specifically for academic peer review. Others patch abstract management onto a broader event tool. A few do both well.

This guide covers 12 options across that spectrum, so you can find the one that actually fits your conference.

Best Abstract Management Software: Shortlist

Selection Criteria

To build this list, we evaluated the most popular abstract management software based on hands-on research and customer reviews from trusted sites like G2, Capterra, and Gartner.

For each tool, we used the following criteria:

• Submission workflow: How easily can organizers configure forms, deadlines, and submission types for different conference formats?
• Reviewer management: Does the platform support auto-assignment, conflict-of-interest detection, and workload balancing?
• Review process integrity: Are single-blind and double-blind options available? Can bias be monitored across reviewers?
• AI and automation: Does the platform offer AI-assisted scoring, plagiarism detection, or automated reviewer matching?
• Event integration: Can accepted abstracts feed directly into the event agenda, mobile app, or session schedule?
• Ease of use: Is the interface accessible for both tech-savvy administrators and first-time submitters?

Why Trust This Review

vFairs has been building and running event technology since 2016, working with organizations across conferences, trade shows, academic summits, and career fairs. We’ve seen the abstract management process from the inside. So we know where manual workflows break down, where reviewer assignment becomes a bottleneck, and which features organizers end up relying on under pressure.

We also regularly track what event planners are reporting on review platforms like G2 and Capterra. This review draws on that combination of direct industry experience and verified user feedback, not just a feature comparison.

How to Choose the Right Abstract Management Software

The right platform depends on your event type, submission volume, and how much the abstract process needs to connect to the rest of your event workflow. Use the framework below to match your needs to the right platform.

Define Your Event Goals & Requirements

Analyze Core Features: What to Consider

Once you’re clear on your event goals and needs, you’re ready to evaluate how well each platform’s capabilities align with those requirements.

Best Abstract Management Software in 2026

1. vFairs

Best for: Large conferences needing end-to-end abstract management built into their event management platform.

vFairs is an all-in-one abstract management platform recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™, with a 4.7/5 rating on G2 from over 1,700 verified reviews. The platform connects abstract management directly to the rest of your conference, so that registration, agenda building, mobile app, and onsite check-in all run in the same system.

With vFairs, organizers can build a fully customized submission form, configure single or double-blind peer reviews, and assign reviewers automatically based on expertise, all without third-party tools. Once abstracts are accepted, they convert into agenda-ready sessions through field mapping, with speaker details, presentation types, and handouts pulled through automatically.

A dedicated project manager is assigned to every event and supports the team from setup through execution. This matters most when you’re managing a high-volume submission cycle alongside the rest of your conference logistics.

Key Features

vFairs gives conference organizers full control over every stage of the abstract lifecycle, from collecting submissions to converting accepted content into agenda-ready sessions, all within one platform.

Streamlined Abstract Submission

A drag-and-drop form builder lets organizers create custom submission forms for posters, podiums, or general entries, with unique fields per abstract type. Submitters can save drafts, make edits, and work to type-specific deadlines using access codes for extensions where needed.

Auto & Bulk Reviewer Assignment

Reviewers can be assigned automatically or manually based on category or track, with bulk assignment available for high-volume events. Workload distribution options include even allocation or round-robin assignment, and a centralized dashboard lets organizers track evaluation progress across all submissions.

Transparent & Flexible Review Process

vFairs supports blind, double-blind, and peer review configurations, giving organizers full control over what author information reviewers can see. Multi-layer evaluation is also supported. So peer reviewers, panel judges, and lead reviewers can each play a defined role, with weight-based scoring allowing judges to override peer decisions.

Curated Event Content Integration

Accepted abstracts convert directly into agenda-ready sessions using field mapping to pull in speaker bios, titles, presentation types, and downloadable handouts. Sessions can be generated in bulk, and speakers are linked to their slots automatically through mapped submission fields, eliminating duplicate data entry.

Detailed Reporting & Submission Tracking

Organizers can monitor submission progress, reviewer performance, and participation rates in real time. Full audit logs cover submission edits, reviewer assignments, and decision history, with CSV export available for post-event analysis.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “vFairs did a nice job replicating the in person conference experience, which allowed us to connect about 300 people from over 20 countries. Farah was the most responsive partner I have ever worked with! She responds fast and her customer service is unmatched!! – Ann C., Enterprise.
• “The project management was superb, from guidance and examples to help in planning and design to very timely replies regardless of time of day/week day or weekend. Never failed to find a solution to any of our requests and always professional and polite. Have worked with them on four online events now and always felt absolutely supported and confident in their management through to delivery.” – Jo J. , Chief Executive Officer.

Cons

• “There were no major downsides to using vFairs. The price was very fair, the support was good, and my few recommendations after the event were noted and already in their queue for improvement based on other customers’ feedback.” – Corbin S. Chief Administrative Officer.
• “The back end was a bit complicated and not as intuitive as other platforms we’ve used, although it wasn’t an issue with how much our support team did for us.” – Claire N., Marketing Manager.

Pricing

vFairs offers transparent, customized pricing based on your conference’s specific needs and size. You maintain control throughout, with dedicated support guiding you at every step.

Book a free demo to see how the platform works and get answers to your questions. Or contact the sales team for detailed pricing information tailored to your organization.

2. Cvent

Best for: Enterprise events needing detailed submission customization.

Second on our list of the best abstract management software is Cvent, an event management software that provides an end-to-end solution for sourcing and managing conference content. It starts with the peer-review process and ends with the publishing of accepted submissions and the creation of a conference agenda.

Cvent’s abstract management system allows organizers to customize the data collection process, setting up submission forms to collect specific information and file types. The platform also offers email automation options for managing invitations, confirmations, alerts, and reminders. Reviewers can access the Cvent portal to manage submissions, rate them, and sort content by scores, votes, and comments.

Despite all the positives, user reviews suggest a steep learning curve, with new users even requiring dedicated training before they’re comfortable with the platform. Cvent is also said to be more expensive than other platforms, making it hard for smaller non-profits to use.

Key Features

Customizable Submission Forms: Tailored forms with specific fields, plus automated emails for invitations, confirmations, and reminders.

Efficient Review Coordination: Assign reviewers to tracks or topics, grant portal access for rating and notes, and track scores in real time.

Streamlined Decision-Making: Approve or decline submissions based on reviewer scoring and send automated notifications to authors.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “Cvent is a great tool our company uses to manage our events from abstract submission to registration. I love how we can do everything in one platform without worry of data crossover. One piece I particularly love about Cvent is how efficient it makes scheduling sessions and reaching out to speakers.” – Alexandria Y.,Social Media Brand Manager
• “How easy it is to pull all of our collected information and invite reviewers to look over our abstract submissions.” – Verified User in Non-Profit Organization Management., Small-Business

Cons

• “All the different steps. It is hard to set up an event or an abstract. There are many parts (like trying to send an invitation as another person or editing the registration form). I think it is silly that the only way to make an event private is to go through a million different steps in the registration form.” – Helen W. , Senior Program Associate
• “There are some parts that are lacking features and don’t have a consistent user-experience. For example, Cvent’s event platform and abstract management platforms are much different to use. The abstract management feature has a lot of limitations and less customization, which is less than ideal.” – Selena F., Marketing Specialist

Pricing

Cvent pricing isn’t published on their website. You’ll have to request a quote directly from their site.

3. Whova 

Best For: Call-for-speakers and centralized submission management.

Whova is an event management platform designed to streamline the call-for-speakers and abstract submission processes. It aims to eliminate the stress of manually collecting data through forms, tracking spreadsheets, and managing email chains by integrating these tasks into a single, user-friendly system.

Whova’s interface simplifies the entire submission and review process. Quick form setup and ready-to-use applications ensure a hassle-free experience for both organizers and speakers. The platform also facilitates smooth communication, distributes the review workload efficiently, and keeps everything on schedule with customizable timelines.

Despite its many features, users often report frustration with notification management, as all notifications appear in a single feed and must be cleared manually. Navigation inconsistency is another issue, with the desktop and mobile versions not always offering the same experiences and flows.

Key Features

• Collect Submissions: A central submission page with customizable forms and email campaigns for mass invitations to potential speakers.
• Abstract & Proposal Management: Admin dashboard with submission overview, status tracking, and reviewer assignment and workload distribution.
• Review Assignment & Workload Distribution: Designate internal or external reviewers, customize assignment rules, and allow reviewers to evaluate all submissions or specific tracks.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “Whova allowed me to easily see the agenda, and the speakers with their bios and Linkedin capabilities made it really easy to network. I was allowed to chat with them in the app, and thus meet them at break or after the days end. Conferences are just about networking, as the information presented.” – Richard, Defense & Space
• “Good – easy to use abstract management, like agenda and breakout info for each speaker.” –  Melissa J., Owner

Cons

• “There are many features that cannot be turned off. There are emails that go out to attendees without notice. Definitions vary from the proposal stage to the implementation stage: a speaker is also considered an attendee, although they may not attend and just need to be listed on the paper presentation.” – Jason Paul G., Executive Director
• “Some of the material was repetitive. Would like to see more for us long term Advocates. I have been in this work since 1988.” – Shannon R.

Pricing

Whova’s pricing is quote-based. Contact Whova for a customized estimate.

4. Ex Ordo

Best For: Academic conferences needing multi-track sessions and peer review customization.

Ex Ordo is a conference abstract management software designed to streamline the process of collecting abstracts and papers, managing peer reviews, and notifying authors about the status of their submissions.

Ex Ordo’s interface allows conference organizers to structure events along single or multiple tracks and customize submission forms to capture the necessary information. The platform also supports customization of the peer review process, automatically assigning submissions to the appropriate reviewers based on their track or area of focus. It tracks the review process, notifies reviewers if they are falling behind, and offers options to re-assign submissions or close reviews.

However, minor recurring bugs cause the platform to freeze during use, requiring users to wait for the issue to resolve on its own. Some reviewers also flag gaps in the double-blind process, specifically that reviewers can access original PDF uploads, which undermines anonymity.

Key Features

Multi-Track Abstract Collection: Structure events with single or multiple tracks, each with independent deadlines and chairs, and customizable submission forms.

Peer Review Allocation: Configure reviews-per-submission, limit reviewer load, and auto-match submissions to the best-qualified reviewers without spreadsheets.

Reviewer Management: Customizable marking schemes, online or download-based grading, and prompts guiding reviewers through outstanding tasks.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “Was super helpful to us while managing submissions to a conference, where many people had to login and review abstracts, leave comments, etc and then other had to review the reviews. Went almost perfectly” – Verified User in Higher Education
• “So to help you get your disrupted event back on track, we’re hosting a virtual conference on virtual conferencing; build and publish an elegant mobile abstract management app for Android and iOS.” – Junaid k., Team Leader (scan to BIM)

Cons

• “It is a great software where we have to take meeting conference sometimes it has some bugs where the screen freezes, and we cannot do anything just wait for the signal correction” – Junaid k.,Team Leader
• “We only had one issue with Ex Ordo sending out emails to every author of an abstract instead of just the first/submitting author.” – Verified User in Higher Education., Mid-Market

Pricing

Ex Ordo hasn’t published its pricing online. You’ll have to contact their sales team for custom pricing.

5. Fourwaves

Best for: Academic conferences wanting flexible peer review.

Fourwaves is an abstract management and peer-review software designed by academic researchers and conference organizers to simplify the abstract management and review process.

Fourwaves features a drag-and-drop form builder that allows organizers to create customized submission forms. The default online form includes standard questions such as title, authors, and abstract, but additional fields can be added to categorize submissions by topic, presentation type, or track.

However, specific features, such as invoice editing, bulk email to registered participants, and more granular author data exports, are limited or missing. The event website is also less customizable than some organizers need, making it a weaker fit for events with strong branding requirements.

Key Features

• Customizable Submission Forms: Default fields for title, authors, and abstract, with the ability to add or edit fields for topic, presentation type, or track.
• Peer Review Management: Assign reviewers by expertise, avoid conflicts of interest, manage the full review process, and notify presenters of outcomes from within the platform.
• Content Publication Management: Accepted submissions publish instantly to the event website and schedule, reducing the gap between review completion and attendee visibility.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “What I love most about Fourwaves is the accessibility and accuracy of its features and design. Its components are complex; yet the Fourwaves components are completely satisfactory and easy to use and understand for the user. The event management abstract provided a comprehensive overview of the strategies and tools utilized to streamline the planning and execution of the conference.” – Adaeze A., Podcast Host
• “What I like the most about Fourwaves is that they have on-site and hybrid solutions. This improves the accessibility. We can publish a mobile-friendly websites with registrations, abstract submissions, etc” – Bhargava H., Software Engineer I

Cons

• “At the beginning it could be overwhelming, but once you use it a few times and try it, it is easy to use” – Daniel A. L., Service Account Manager LATAM
• “Can work on screen glitches, so videos can be seen clearly.” – Verified User in E-Learning., Small-Business

Pricing

Fourwaves lists three pricing tiers on its website:

• Essential: $899/event with customizable forms, custom emails, detailed reports, show reviews to submitters.
• Advanced: $1,799/event with unlimited website pages, premium headers, certificates, launch support.
• Pro: $4,799/event with unlimited submissions, tracks management, peer-review module, video recordings, white-labeled website, unlimited VIP support.

All paid plans include a 3% service fee (Pro: 2.5%).

6. Dryfta

Best for: University event organizers needing multi-step submission workflows.

Dryfta is an event management platform with a dedicated abstract management module aimed at academic and university conferences. It supports custom submission workflows for abstracts, symposia, proposals, and grants, with both automated and manual reviewer assignment. A self-service dashboard lets authors and reviewers manage their tasks independently.

Abstracts submitted through Dryfta can be filtered based on custom criteria, sorted by ratings and status, and exported in CSV or PDF formats.

One drawback of Dryfta’s abstract management software is its noticeable learning curve, especially for first-time users navigating more advanced features. Customization of the app’s visual design is also limited, with minimal choices for layout, fonts, and colors.

Key Features

Multiple Submission Workflows: Custom forms for different submission types, like abstracts, symposia, proposals, and grants, each following its own review path.

Self-Service Dashboard: Central hub for authors and reviewers to submit, track, and manage tasks without constant administrative intervention.

Customizable Review Process: Single-blind or double-blind options, with automated or manual reviewer assignment based on organizer preference.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “The abstract review process is what originally sold us on Dryfta. It’s so easy to assign reviewers, and they find the system simple to navigate. We can also make updates to abstracts and titles whenever submitters request changes, which is a nice feature.” – Verified User in Higher Education.
• “Wonderful technical support before and during the event. All aspects (managing abstracts, presentations, sponsors, registration, contacts, etc.) are integrated. Easy for attendees to view presentations, abstracts, speakers, etc.” – LaDon S., Small-Business

Cons

• “I think the CRM functionality and reporting could be better. For example, if I want to run a quick filter by a null entry (when someone leaves an answer blank), I cannot do that. Having this functionality would make it easier for me to determine who needs to complete their profiles or their abstracts.” – Jessica A., Small-Business
• “The automated email notifications are overwhelming, due to the fact that there are so many of them. Then there are so many features that I don’t use – not a bad thing, but I feel I should perhaps educate myself to use more of them. I’ve now used Dryfta for three events (scientific conferences) and I’m slowly becoming more confident using the platform.” – Erica J., Small-Business

Pricing

Dryfta uses annual subscription pricing based on team size, covering unlimited events at a predictable cost, starting from $1,499/year (Small plan). Medium and Large plans include higher submission and attendee limits, virtual event tools, native mobile app, white-label options, and expanded email capacity. Contact Dryfta for exact pricing on those tiers.

7. Attendee Interactive by Momentive

Best for: Conferences needing customized reviewer roles and automated applicant communication.

Attendee Interactive’s abstract submission features enable organizers to customize the submission process according to the event’s specific criteria. The platform streamlines the process by automating speaker invitations and establishing rules and requirements for various submission types.

Reviewers have access to a dedicated portal where they can easily manage and review abstracts. The system simplifies the review process by automatically compiling comments and calculating scores, allowing reviewers to track grading results in real time.

However, several workflows involve too many steps, and the evaluation module in particular is flagged as time-consuming. Reporting features are also called out as unintuitive, making post-event analysis harder than it should be.

Key Features

Customizable Submission Process: Tailored submission forms and criteria, with role-based reviewer access and automated speaker invitation workflows.

Streamlined Review Workflow: Reviewers score, comment, and collaborate on submissions through a dedicated portal; scores and comments are automatically compiled.

Centralized Data Management: All submission data, reviewer feedback, and decisions are stored in one accessible location with reporting and trend tracking.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “The folks at AI have been great to work with. Our conference has some peculiar needs compared to other academic meetings and AI has been willing to adapt to our needs. Their customer service is incredibly good. The session scheduling piece is also a great tool to use – I love having participant conflicts show as easily as they do.” – Kris M., Administrative and Events Manager
•  “Attendee Interactive is very open to customization to make their product better.” – Verified User in Program Development.

Cons

• “The report descriptions for existing reports are vague and unhelpful. These could use some clarification or could be removed.” – Jennifer P., Senior Program Manager.
• “I wish there was a bit more innovation or room for people to suggest updates that would better serve their own specific systems for their businesses needs. Wish there was more flexibility with reporting systems.” – Verified User in Non-Profit Organization Management.

Pricing

Pricing isn’t published on their website. Contact Attendee Interactive for pricing tailored to your event type and size.

8. Reviewr

Best For: User-friendly review and scoring tools for non-technical volunteers and judges.

Reviewr provides a solution for managing calls for proposals, speakers, and abstracts, catering to event planning needs. The platform is designed with a user-friendly interface that simplifies submission and review workflows. 

Participants can easily submit their content, while reviewers use built-in tools to evaluate and provide feedback efficiently. The system emphasizes an intuitive design, making navigation straightforward for all users, enhancing overall usability.

The platform works well for smaller organizations but is considered less suited to mid-market or larger, more complex programs. Users also flag limited setup controls and wish more functionalities were drag-and-drop, reducing the need to go back and forth with the Reviewr team.

Key Features

Customizable Submission Process: Supports various submission formats and criteria, adaptable to different conference and proposal types.

Efficient Review & Scoring Tools: Built-in tools for scoring, commenting, and providing structured feedback, with a streamlined interface designed to minimize reviewer confusion.

Automated Notifications & Communication: Automated status updates, deadline reminders, and feedback notifications for both authors and reviewers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “Even my new volunteers can figure out the judges section and they hardly ever ask me for help. The whole system streamlined our processes and made it easy for me to run abstract reports.” – Amy S., Small-Business
• “Submissions becomes simpler and you can quantify it easily.” – Verified User in Computer Software., Small-Business

Cons

• “I’d love to see some user interface and design upgrades at some point. Some of the back end is too complex for me and I’m not sure of what I’m doing sometimes, but the support is so good that doing it on my own if often unnecessary.” – Joshua H., Senior Writer and Marketing Events Manager
• “I’d like more controls over setting up new events–like creating a Constant Contact newsletter. If more features were drag and drop there would be less back and forth between me and the Reviewr staff.” – Joshua H., Senior Writer and Marketing Events Manager

Pricing

Reviewr lists three tiers on its website: Basic, Standard, and Prestige. However, the pricing isn’t published for any of these, so you’ll have to contact them directly for a custom quote.

9. Eventify

Best for: Analytics on submission trends and participant engagement.

Eventify’s Abstract Management platform offers a streamlined solution for managing the submission and review process of abstracts for conferences and events. The platform allows organizers to create customizable submission forms that cater to the specific needs of their event. 

With features such as a built-in review workflow, event organizers can easily assign reviewers, set deadlines, and track the progress of submissions. This centralized approach not only enhances communication between all parties involved but also simplifies the decision-making process, allowing for a more organized and effective evaluation of potential presentations.

But a word of caution based on user reviews: branding and design customization are the most consistent complaints. The event page tools offer limited control over layout and visuals, making it harder to match different events to a brand identity. Data management is also partially self-serve, with no team support available for bulk uploads of attendee or sponsor lists.

Key Features

Customizable Submission Forms: Tailored fields for title, authors, abstract text, and keywords.

Built-in Review Workflow: Assign reviewers, set deadlines, and monitor progress in real time with structured communication between reviewers and organizers.

Analytics & Reporting Tools: Track submission counts, reviewer performance, and submission trends to assess the quality and engagement of the abstract call.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “Sleek and intuitive user interface. Navigating through the app was a breeze, thanks to its well-organized menus and clear icons. Eventify makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.” – Verified User in Information Technology and Services.
• “This added the networking aspect – between attendees, sponsors, speakers and hosts – that we wanted to have with our conference. We got a lot of positive feedback about the app.” – Joan R.. President Small-Business

Cons

• “Some restrictions on the agenda and speaker configuration.” – Paulina O., Enterprise.
• “Speaker profiles not linked to attendee profiles in the App.” – Ryan G., Online Resources Officer.

Pricing

Eventify has multiple packages listed on its website, but you’ll have to contact them directly for the pricing.

10. MeetingHand

Best for: Registration and abstract submission handled within a single integrated form.

MeetingHand provides a suite of abstract management solutions for academic event coordination, including abstract submission and review processes.

It supports various formats for abstract submission, including text and file uploads. This flexibility accommodates the needs of different presenters, ensuring a smooth and adaptable submission process.

One drawback of MeetingHand is that for a technical/academic meeting, the interface was a bit clunky, the abstract and registration formats did not work well, and actually delayed people from registering and paying online.

Key Features

Integrated Registration & Abstract Submission: A single form covering registration payments and abstract submission, with automated confirmations for both.

Reviewer Management & Blind Peer Review: Assign submissions to reviewers, support blind review processes, and collect structured feedback through the reviewer portal.

Automated Notifications & Program Integration: Automated acceptance emails and direct integration of accepted abstracts into the event programme, with presenter scheduling.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “With proper planning, it takes 2-3 hours to completely set up a conference, registration page and abstract collection page. It allows easy capacity management, payment automation and even booking for extras.” – Ömer Faruk Y., Branch Manager
• “MeetingHand has affordable price. They don’t have any commission or other hidden fees. The most thing that I like is support. Whenever I need help; their 7/24 support team help me kindly.” – Ronald Z., Event Coordinator.

Cons

• I was very confused at the beginning when I first started using it. Perhaps, as a multi-functional software, it could be overwhelming at the start or too comprehensive for those running simple event projects.” – Kimberly N., Accounting Specialist
• “Multilanguage feature is currently supported through Google Translate API, which is fine, but it definitely needs a multilingual tab based system for international conferences where multiple languages are used.” – Ömer Faruk Y., Branch Manager

Pricing

MeetingHand pricing tiers are listed on its website as:

• Pay as you go: $4.90 per registration or abstract.
• Small: $990/event (up to 250 registrations or abstracts).
• Medium: $3,490/event (up to 1,000 registrations or abstracts).

11. Oxford Abstracts

Best for: Academic conferences wanting a clean submission experience and transparent per-event pricing.

Oxford Abstracts is a specialist abstract management platform for academic conferences. It covers the full submission and review cycle, including call for papers, peer review (single or double-blind), author notifications, and programme building. It’s simple to use with a clean, modern interface that keeps the process straightforward for both organizers and submitters.

However, the interface feels unintuitive in places. For example, settings and judge configuration options are spread across multiple locations, which slows down initial setup. The dashboard also makes it difficult to get a quick snapshot of program progress.

Key Features

Submission & Review Management: Full cycle from call for papers through blind peer review, with customizable review forms and author communication tools.

Programme Builder: Accepted abstracts feed directly into a session schedule and can be published on the event website or exported.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “Oxford abstracts is a great product. User friendly, excellent product to share with other potential clients/reviewers.” – Angela S., Nurse Practitioner.
• “I was so relieved that this software was as user friendly as it is. Managing incoming abstracts, sorting them to reviewers, managing reviews, and making decisions was incredibly straightforward, saving the team both trouble and time.” – Gillian B., Research Coordinator.

Cons

• “There are some limitations on what can be done from the branding or graphic aspect of the interface.” – Luis K.
• “Difficult to navigate between parts, mostly acceding only by link more than through the tool.” – Carlos L. Manager.

Pricing

Oxford Abstracts lists three pricing tiers on its website:

• Abstract Management: $890/event with fully customizable forms, custom emails, detailed reports, show reviews to submitters.
• Standard Conference: $2,290/event with live conference platform, program builder, on-demand & live content, custom branding.
• Professional Conference: $3,450/event with poster gallery, attendee networking & chat, exhibitor space, website builder (24 months), certificates.

There are also add-ons available, such as multi-stage submissions ($850), symposium groupings ($850), certificates ($150), and website builder ($200). All add-ons are priced per event.

12. OpenWater

Best for: Complex award and grant programs requiring highly configurable multi-step workflows.

OpenWater is a submission and review management platform used for abstract management, award programs, grants, and fellowship applications. Its strength is configurability. Multi-step workflows, custom eligibility rules, and granular reviewer permissions make it a good fit for programs with complex requirements that simpler platforms can’t accommodate.

But just know that branding and graphic customization within the interface are limited. Data export is also fragmented, meaning abstract data, affiliations, and decisions currently can’t be pulled into a single report, requiring multiple downloads.

Key Features

Highly Configurable Workflows: Multi-step application and review processes with custom eligibility rules, reviewer permissions, and branching logic for complex programs.

Strong Reporting: Detailed export and reporting tools for submission data, reviewer performance, and program outcomes.

Responsive Customer Support: Users consistently highlight fast response times and willingness to assist with configuration questions.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• “We use OpenWater to manage our application process, and it has significantly streamlined our operations. The platform allows us to maintain our organization’s branding while providing a seamless experience for applicants.” – Christine K., Learning & Education Specialist.
• “The judging process is a great feature, allowing us to involve over 80+ experts who review more than 1,800 session proposals. This process lets us organize submissions by program categories and gives us the flexibility to choose, for instance, how many judges will review each proposal.” – Verified User.

Cons

• “The customization options are limited, which makes it harder to create a smoother, more user-friendly interface.” – Lori D.
• “We’ve experienced several “bugs” (more than we think is acceptable) as well as other not so great standard features that have affected our own processes as well as our applicants’/reviewers’ experiences.” – Verified User in Non-Profit Organization Management.

Pricing

Pricing is quote-based. Contact OpenWater for pricing based on program type and submission volume.

Which Platform Should You Choose?

No single abstract management platform is the right fit for every conference. So take the time to evaluate each platform based on important factors such as user-friendliness, customization options, and integration capabilities.

For organizers who need abstract management to connect seamlessly with the rest of their conference (registration, agenda building, mobile apps, and on-site check-in), vFairs offers the most complete integration. Accepted abstracts feed directly into the event platform, removing the need to manage multiple vendors or transfer data between systems.

Book a free demo today to see how vFairs can simplify your next conference.

Disclaimer: The information in this article about various platforms and their features was accurate at the time of writing. Technology and software platforms continuously evolve, and features, pricing, and capabilities may have changed since publication. This review is based on information sourced from third party review sites and is not endorsed by any of the platforms mentioned.

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