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SimplyConf
What it is
SimplyConf is a WordPress platform for managing academic conferences, workshops and symposiums, covering submissions, peer review, registration, payments, email notices and scheduling. Its free core plugin supports unlimited events, submissions, users and authors, with tracks, custom statuses and fields, file attachments and a frontend submission portal. Optional add-ons handle reviewer assignments, single- and double-blind review, scoring criteria, conflict detection and track chair oversight. Other add-ons provide automated and bulk emails, Stripe registration payments, multi-track schedules and exports of PDF abstract books or programs and CSV submission data. Schedules can be published as interactive programs on a conference website. SimplyConf offers self-hosted and managed hosting. Self-hosting requires WordPress 6.0 or higher, PHP 7.4 or higher and MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+; HTTPS is recommended for secure submissions. The core plugin supports 12+ languages. The Starter Plan costs $19 a month and the Pro Plan costs $29 a month; annual add-ons and bundles are also listed.
For and against
For
- Free core plugin supports unlimited events and submissions.
- Supports single- and double-blind review.
- Payments add-on integrates with Stripe.
- Exports PDF programs and CSV submission data.
- Core plugin supports 12+ languages.
Against
- Self-hosting requires WordPress 6.0 or higher.
- Self-hosting requires PHP 7.4 or higher.
- Premium add-on licenses are annual and per-site.
The verdict
SimplyConf combines conference workflows in a WordPress-focused system, with a free core and optional tools for reviews, payments, schedules and exports. Check the hosting requirements and the scope and license terms of the add-ons your event needs.
Who it suits
SimplyConf is aimed at organizers of academic conferences, workshops and symposiums, from departmental events to international symposiums. It may suit organizers who want WordPress-based submission management and can meet the self-hosting requirements or use managed hosting.
Plans and prices
SimplyConf Core
Unlimited events · Unlimited submissions · Unlimited users
Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Starter Plan
1 event · Unlimited submissions · Reviews and Emails add-ons · Basic support
Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Pro Plan
3 events · Unlimited submissions · All 5 premium add-ons · Priority support
Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Exports add-on
1 site; 5 sites for $69.00; unlimited sites for $139.00
Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Schedules add-on
1 site; 5 sites for $69.00; unlimited sites for $139.00
Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Emails add-on
1 site; 5 sites for $99.00; unlimited sites for $189.00
Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Reviews add-on
1 site; 5 sites for $119.00; unlimited sites for $229.00
Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Payments add-on
1 site; 5 sites for $199.00; unlimited sites for $379.00
Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
Professional Bundle
Reviews · Emails · Exports · Payments
Read 30 Sep 2026 · simplyconf.com
On the record
- Core plugin
- The free core plugin supports unlimited events, submissions, users, and authors, plus tracks, custom statuses, custom fields, file attachments, and a frontend submission portal.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Email tools
- The Emails add-on provides automated notification triggers, customizable templates with dynamic placeholders, bulk messaging, and mail logs.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Exports
- The Exports add-on generates PDF abstract books and conference programs and downloads submission data as CSV.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Hosting and data
- SimplyConf offers self-hosted and managed hosting; its privacy policy says self-hosted data stays in the user's WordPress database and SimplyConf does not have access to it.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Intended users
- SimplyConf says it is designed for academic conferences, workshops, and symposiums, from small departmental workshops to large international symposiums.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Languages
- The download page states that the core plugin supports 12+ languages.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- License
- The core plugin is released under GNU GPL v2 or later, while premium add-on licenses are annual and per-site.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Payments integration
- The Payments add-on integrates with Stripe for registration payments, multiple pricing tiers, discount codes, and automated invoicing.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Privacy and payment security
- The privacy policy says payments are processed by Stripe and SimplyConf does not store credit card numbers on its servers; it also says translation requests include UI strings but not user-submitted content.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Product
- SimplyConf is an academic conference management platform for WordPress that handles submissions, peer reviews, registration and payments, email notifications, and scheduling.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Review workflow
- The Reviews add-on supports reviewer assignments, single- and double-blind review, custom scoring criteria, conflict detection, and track chair oversight.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Schedule builder
- The Schedules add-on creates multi-track programs with rooms and time slots and lets organizers publish interactive schedules on their conference website.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- The pricing page says all plans include email support with a 24-hour response time, with extensive documentation and video tutorials also available.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- WordPress requirements
- Self-hosted installation requires WordPress 6.0 or higher, PHP 7.4 or higher, and MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+; HTTPS is recommended for secure submissions.simplyconf.com · read 30 Sep 2026
