Academic conferences have unique needs that are impossible to manage with normal tools. These conferences handle a huge volume of abstract submissions, organize strict peer reviews, publications, feedback collecting and many more. The need for specialized software is essential to simplify the tasks, reduce errors and save time for conference organizers.
These innovative applications better support the hybrid and virtual conferences, manage time zones for global attendees, and provide all the necessary features for a seamless academic conference experience. Without proper software, organizing large academic conferences becomes chaotic, which eventually hurts the overall quality of the conference.
In this article, let’s compare Dryfta, Oxford Abstracts and Pheedloop academic conference software solutions, based on their features, pricing and use cases.
Dryfta for Academic Conferences
Dryfta’s academic conference software offers an end-to-end abstract management and peer review system. It allows organizing committees to choose a simple submission process or a more advanced multi-track and multi-level setup. They can also customize the overall review workflow to match their conference requirements. Dryfta possesses the functionalities that perfectly fit the needs and the standards of international academic conferences, irrespective of its size and submissions.
Features of Dryfta
Dryfta is an all-in-one academic conference management software that goes beyond just simple abstract submissions and reviews. It is a perfect platform that effectively centralizes all the essential elements that are necessary to organize an academic conference on a single platform. Some of its core features include:
Event CRM
Dryfta’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is developed for enterprises to efficiently manage registrations with simple and complex workflows, manage speakers as well as attendees’ data and access their in-depth, real-time insights.
Abstract Management and Peer Review
The abstract management, submission and peer review process is useful for the academic conference organizers to create custom submission forms, state the concepts, and clearly set submission deadlines without any hassles. This peer review system also supports single-blind and double-blind review processes. It also offers a dedicated dashboard for authors and reviewers. It consists of features such as sending automatic instant reminders and pop-up notifications on the status of the submissions.
Projects and Task Management
Dryfta’s event management tool is invaluable when it comes to planning and executing a conference. It is helpful to create detailed, well-structured event programs. It also offers a clear overview of the entire timeline of the conference. The conference organizers can easily add sessions to their program, adding important information such as the session topic, description, duration, and location (or virtual link for online conferences).
Registration and Ticketing
It also offers event ticketing and registration software that aids in academic conference handling, irrespective of the format it’s organized in. Using this system, the conference organizers can create multiple ticket variations, come up with their own pricing, set rules and regulations for the attendees, as well as configure custom registration forms. This platform integrates with secure payment gateways to send invoices properly without any errors.
Dynamic Program Scheduling
One of the unique features of Dryfta’s scheduling system is the ability to create parallel and multiple tracks, sessions and presentations for academic conferences. This feature is handy for larger conferences with multiple concurrent sessions. Attendees can choose the track that best aligns with their knowledge and interests. It also helps the conference organizers to manage last-minute changes efficiently and provide a personalized event experience.
Event Networking App
Dryfta’s mobile application is designed to revolutionize the way attendees experience academic conferences, irrespective of their location. This mobile app can be used on both Android and iOS. It can be easily downloaded through Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The attendees can access a wealth of event information at their fingertips through this app. The application allows attendees to create their profiles, browse participant lists, and connect with others who have similar interests.
Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are many other interactive features, such as:
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- Networking opportunities
- Real‑time interaction tools
- Meeting scheduler and instant messaging
- Participation certificates builder
- Automated and manual assignments
- Accept and notify authors
- Convert submissions into event schedules
- Abstract book publishing
- Badges and certificates Builder
- Donations and fundraising
- Matchmaking and pre-scheduled meetings
- Dedicated speaker dashboard
- Social media promotions and integrations
- Drag and drop event scheduler
- Virtual and hybrid meetings
- Live polling, chat and Q&A
Pricing of Dryfta
There is a Small package which starts from $1499 per year. There are also Medium and Large packages and pricing depends on the requirements. Dryfta’s packages also offer free event setup and data migration, which is included with every plan. All the pricing packages are designed for budget-sensitive teams.
Use Cases of Dryfta
Dryfta works exceptionally well for large international conferences with complex abstract review processes, multi-track session schedules, and demands extensive networking and engagement tools. Presented below are some examples of how Dryfta enhanced the conference experiences for some of the esteemed institutions.
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- International Maternal and Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC) hosted by JHPIEGO in 2023 used Dryfta’s features like abstract submissions and peer review, custom reporting, participation certificate and badge builder.
- The International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) 2022 from Johns Hopkins University, co-hosted by the Gates Institute, used Dryfta’s features like event website builder with custom content and event information, online community for attendees, speakers and moderators, and generating visa letters.
- International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA 2021) actively used some of the top features of Dryfta, such as collecting and processing pre-recorded videos, mobile event application, email campaigns, and many more.
Oxford Abstracts for Academic Conferences
Oxford Abstracts is an academic conference management system tailored to bring together all the complex elements of setting up and running a research conference into one powerful and easy-to-use tool. It has more than two decades of experience and a user base spanning more than 100 countries. With its highly refined features, it actively meets the core requirements of academic conference organizers by keeping workflows user-friendly and intuitive. Let’s learn about some of its main features:
Features of Oxford Abstracts
Oxford Abstracts has launched their website builder, a latest and advanced platform that streamlines the reviewer assignment, and gives details related to submission analytics. This has been immensely advantageous for both the academic conference organizers, abstracts and attendees.
Program Builder
Options to create a dynamic, visually appealing program with ease, using the intuitive program builder with the academic conference at its core.
Delegate Registration and Ticketing
Simplify the registration and ticketing with integrated and customizable options that streamline the whole process within the system. It also supports the processes of discounts and ticket sales.
Networking and Submission Analytics
The platform provides end-to-end information for the submitters to know the status of their call for abstracts. It shares detailed information that is helpful to nurture discussions and increase collaborations with its modern networking tools, such as private group video chats, and supports in-session comments.
There are many more features of Oxford Abstracts worth mentioning, some of which include:
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- Transparent pricing
- Mobile-friendly
- Full Multi-Stage and Symposia options
- Fully customizable branding
- Fully integrated with Zoom
- Integration with Stripe and PayPal
- Live chat
Pricing of Oxford Abstracts
Oxford Abstracts has a basic plan- a fully free package that is functional with abstract management of unlimited submissions, and other paid packages like abstract management – $830/per event, standard conference – $2120/per event, and professional conference – $3190/per event packages. There are also add-ons that consist of extra charges like multi-stage- $790/per event, symposium – $790/per event, certificates – $150/per event, and conference Website Builder – $200/per event.
Use Cases of Oxford Abstracts
Oxford Abstracts offers hassle-free abstract handling for mid-sized scholarly gatherings, such as international workshops that demand only precision blind reviews and quick exports to proceedings.
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- Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) Europa has adopted Oxford Abstract for accelerating their academic events experience.
- Society for NeuroOncology has adopted this software for the betterment of their academic conferences.
PheedLoop for Academic Conferences
PheedLoop is an event platform that is mainly focused on registration, mobile apps, and onsite tools. Its submission features have limitations and may not fit the academic workflows such as structured abstract review, complex scoring, or multi-track scientific program building.  Scientific and Academic Research institutions may not prefer PheedLoop and need all-in-one platforms that support the complete academic conference’s research and review lifecycle.
Features of PheedLoop
PheedLoop offers a vast range of features with its innovative options that help to elevate the event’s experience to new heights. With a belief to serve the events to obtain meaningful connections and engaging experiences. It consists of best-in-class solutions for event planners globally and who have different kinds of needs. There are many features, but let’s explore a few of them, which include:
Advanced Promotion Controls
PheedLoop’s advanced promotion system gives event organizers both improved control and clearer visibility into applied promotions. These are helpful to transform the structure and well-managed promotional offers for the events.
Better Financial Tracking
The organizers can keep track of the budget that gives the freedom to know the exact value of discounts applied to every ticket. This will result in improved transparency when reviewing orders and reporting them in line with the top standards.
Automated Task Assignment
Full Task visibility from the “Task Management” feature. This option is available for attendees, sponsors, exhibitors and speakers. Each participant will have all the necessary tools for staying well-organized and actively engaged.
Additionally, there are many more features of PheedLoop, some of which include:
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- Attendee communication
- Mobile event app
- Livestreaming options and virtual booths
- Automated emails
- Entry-level registration
- Post-event analytics
- Badge printing
Pricing of PheedLoop
PheedLoop offers affordable prices as low as $1 and its prices differ based on the chosen module and user. Customers can request their pricing by simply filling out a form and selecting the desired features. It offers unlimited events per year with constantly upgraded features. The customers get to start small and grow with low startup and predictable costs. It also provides pay-as-you-go, which gives the freedom to pay only for what one needs.
Use Cases of PheedLoop
Many people often pick PheedLoop for its innovative hybrid conferences that emphasize engagement, such as tech-savvy STEM conferences with virtual lobbies, live polls, and global networking to draw diverse participants without any kind of limitations, especially related to traveling and venue.
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- PheedLoop powered the Future of TV Advertising Canada conference with its seamless check-in and custom sponsor solutions.
- It also had the privilege to support Black Professionals in Tech Network (BPTN) at the BFUTR Global Tech Summit in Mississauga with its enhanced attendee experience.
- PheedLoop proudly partnered with the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) to power the Ontario Tourism Summit 2025 in Ottawa, which actively used its event engagement and session navigation features.
In a Nutshell
When choosing the right academic conferences software, one should mainly understand their preferences, interests and requirements. When there is only a basic requirement to host hybrid or virtual events, then going for PheedLoop is would be the right call. If there is a need for focused submission and reviews, then choose Oxford Abstracts. Or, if you want an advanced platform that offers a holistic approach, customization options, and affordable pricing plans, then Dryfta is the right fit.
Dryfta offers versatility and efficiency in organizing any academic conference. This end-to-end system is thoughtfully crafted, with various top-level features that cater to the diverse requirements of academic conferences. It offers a comprehensive solution to every task that is required to deliver a top-class event experience. The platform’s vast array of features can reduce the errors that often occur and make the event run easily and make it remarkably efficient. Sign up for a free demo today.