Dryfta vs. EasyChair vs. Openconf- A Detailed Comparison

The peer review system is an integral part of academic conferences, and it helps establish scholarly credibility. It is important to choose the right peer review system that impacts your workflow from abstract submission to making final decisions. This decision paves the way for a proper review to be conducted, and with a proper system, it builds trust between the reviewers and the importance of the event. 

In the following post, there are three leading systems that we can look at to understand how a good peer review system deals with conference submissions. This also talks about their strengths, limitations and the overall pricing options that help in making informed decisions.

1. Dryfta 

Dryfta provides an all-in-one and research conference management system where users can handle peer review, registration, and ticketing. Conference organizers can create customized submission forms for abstracts, presentations, and proposals and can send them to particular reviewers. They can assign these submissions either automatically or manually.

Reviewers have the benefit of having their own dedicated dashboard that allows them to view their assignments, make comments, and interact with individuals submitting their research as required. Additionally, authors also have their own dashboard where they can check submission status, make changes, and manage the reviewing system properly.

Pros of Dryfta’s Peer Review System

• • Personal dashboard: Both the authors and reviewers get their own personal dashboard that helps them individually with their submissions and reviews. They can access their work and stay updated. 
  • Automated notifications: This feature allows notifying the authors and reviewers regarding the status of their work. With the help of customized emails, they are kept in the loop on their submissions. 
  • Automated and manual assignments: A single abstract can be assigned to multiple reviewers. The system automatically matches the submissions to the reviewers based on the data collected. 

Cons of Dryfta’s Peer Review System

• • Learning time: With its wide range of features, Dryfta offers powerful capabilities that may require first-time users to spend some time familiarizing themselves with the full system.
  • Complex customization: Dryfta provides extensive customization options, giving users great flexibility, though new users may benefit from guided setup to make the most of these features.
  • Cost factor: As a comprehensive, integrated platform with advanced customization and rich functionality, Dryfta is positioned at a premium level that reflects the value it delivers.

Pricing Options for Dryfta

Dryfta tailors its pricing based on the size of the event, required functionalities, and organizational needs. While the exact costs are not available in a public table format, full event management solutions that include features such as abstract submission, peer review, and ticket selling typically start at $1,499 per year. Additionally, Dryfta offers customized packages for large-scale organizations where the pricing is set according to the needs.

2. EasyChair

EasyChair is one of the most established online conference management systems available for use. The system offers features such as abstract submission, reviewer assignments, peer reviews, and creating programs or schedules for various types of disciplines. EasyChair has become almost a byword for any process that provides peer reviews for academics and is now offering more services like ticketing and registrations. It combines calls for papers (Smart CFP), abstract submission, and reviewer management within a single platform.

Pros of EasyChair’s Peer Review System

• • Smart CFP system: You can publish a call for papers and connect to a global audience using this platform.
  • Flexible review models: This supports anonymous, double-blind, and multi-stage reviews.
  • Custom decision workflows: Organizers can tailor acceptance and rejection processes in one system.

Cons of EasyChair’s Peer Review System

• • Complex pricing model: License pricing is based on submissions with multiple pay structures, which can become confusing.
  • Time-consuming learning curve: The interface offered by the system can become time-consuming for new users to get used to.
  • Cost-per-submission model: The price increases with the number of submissions, which can lead to higher costs.

Pricing Options for EasyChair

• • Free License: Allows workshops and events of up to 20 submissions.
  • Professional License: Fee charged for each uploaded file or a fixed subscription for small-to-medium-sized conference events.
  • Licenses for Executives and VIPs: These include services such as support and unlimited submission.

The cost structure depends on the number of submissions and the licenses you choose. You can manage this through the fixed price option, the ‘pay as you go’ option, or the ‘deposit and final payment’ option. EasyChair offers a flexible pricing scheme, but you need to plan properly based on the number of submissions.

3. OpenConf

OpenConf is peer review and management software for conference, journal, or workshop purposes. It has the facility to customize submission forms, assign the submissions to the reviewers either automatically or manually, score reviews and other features that are integral to the system. OpenConf offers the flexibility to be hosted in-house or externally, allowing event organizers to adapt the review process to their specific needs. Many small academic bodies prefer this tool because it gives them complete control over the review experience.

Pros of OpenConf’s Peer Review System

• • Multilingual support: It is available in multiple languages, which makes it accessible to a large number of users. 
  • Reviewer bidding: Reviewers can select the topics of their expertise for a better reviewing process and to accurately judge each paper.
  • Self-hosted option: The software allows you to use it on your own server, or you can use it through the OpenConf hosting service, where the system will take care of server administration, upgrades, and backups.

Cons of OpenConf’s Peer Review System

• • Pricing: The pricing options can seem overwhelming for some users.
  • Support variability: Self-hosted deployments depend on internal teams for support.
  • Less integrated ticketing: It does not have a built-in registration or ticketing system.

Pricing Options for OpenConf

The pricing options for OpenConf vary according to the number of submissions, additional submission and the required use. It starts at $2 per submission and for the license users at $400 per license. 

Dryfta vs. EasyChair vs. OpenConf: Detailed Comparison

These three platforms have their own pros and cons. While comparing the three of them, each of their differences lies in how they approach the overall workflow of the conference. 

Aspect of Comparison	Dryfta	EasyChair	OpenConf
Primary Focus	End-to-end event and academic conference management	Academic peer review and paper management	Peer review for conferences, journals and workshops
Peer Review	Fully integrated with submissions, registration, and ticketing	Strongly focused on scholarly peer review workflows	Flexible peer review with manual and automated assignments
Submission Management	Custom abstract, proposal, and presentation forms	Abstract and full paper submissions with Smart CFP	Customizable submission forms
Reviewer Assignment	Manual and automated matching based on data	Manual assignment with configurable workflows	Manual and automated assignments with reviewer bidding
Reviewer Experience	Personal dashboard with comments and communication tools	Functional but comparatively less intuitive interface	Topic-based bidding and scoring tools
Author Experience	Personal dashboard to track status and updates	Submission tracking with limited interface flexibility	Basic dashboard for submission tracking
Notifications	Automated, customizable email notifications	Standard notifications system	Limited built-in notification options
Customization	High customization	Moderate customization	High flexibility in self-hosted setups
Ticketing and Registration	Built-in registration and ticketing system	Standard ticketing system	External tools required
Ease of Use	Easy and requires learning time	Steep learning curve	Easier to set up
Starting Cost	$1,499 per year	Free for small events, paid licenses vary	Starts at $2 per submission or ~$400 per license
Best Suited For	Conferences and events that need a complete integrated solution	Academically focused events with high reviewer discipline	Organizers in need of control and flexibility

To Sum Up

Peer review systems are important for academic conferences. They handle submissions and often turn them from just mere submissions to a proper perspective. The management of the review process takes a toll on the organizers of academic conferences; a system that balances all perspectives of the process and comes at an affordable cost for everyone involved is often chosen the most. One of the highlighted platforms may be better at balancing the aspects of ease of use, the costs of the tool, and scalability in a distinctly different fashion. Opt for a free demo from Dryfta to have a glimpse of the facilities it offers.