ChartStead

Paid APIWeb

What ChartStead is

ChartStead is free, open-source software for managing conference programming from proposal intake through a published agenda. Organizers can create public call-for-proposals forms, review submissions in shared track-scoped workflows, and mark entries approve, maybe, or deny. A speaker portal handles onboarding tasks, biographies, headshots, and logistics. Agenda tools organize rooms, tracks, and session placement while warning about conflicts. Course Check reviews talks when they are accepted and again before publication, keeping named clashes visible until resolved. The public program presents a mobile-friendly schedule and speaker gallery that can be embedded. Documentation describes a scoped HTTP API and MCP access for agents and automation, using the same keys. Production sign-in uses Better Auth with Google or magic links. ChartStead is available through web and API platforms under the MIT License. Self-hosting teams handle deployment, access, updates, backups, delivery setup, and operational support. Ticketing, payments, advertising, and broad event CRM are outside its scope.

Who it suits

It suits conference teams handling submissions, speakers, tracks, rooms, and public schedules. Self-hosting organizations should be prepared to manage operations themselves.

What it does well

Free and open source under the MIT License
Public CFP forms and track-scoped review
Speaker portal for onboarding and logistics
Room, track, and conflict-aware agenda tools
Embeddable mobile-friendly public program

What to know first

No ticketing, payments, ads, or broad event CRM
Self-hosting requires operational responsibility
Production sign-in uses Google or magic links

Limits

ChartStead covers conference programming and speaker management but excludes ticketing, payments, advertising and broad event CRM functions. Self-hosting also leaves deployment, updates, backups, delivery setup and operational support to the operating team.

Getting started

Open the ChartStead website
Try the isolated demo with sample event data
Deploy and self-host the software
Set up production access with Google sign-in or a magic link
Configure delivery, backups and recovery

Verdict

ChartStead covers conference programming through publication, with review safeguards, speaker workflows, scheduling, and an embeddable public program. Its scope excludes commercial event functions, and self-hosting teams must run the service.

Questions

Is ChartStead free?

Yes. It is open source under the MIT License.

What does the MIT License allow?

It permits use, study, modification and sharing when the license notice is retained.

Which sign-in methods are available?

Production access uses Better Auth with Google sign-in or magic links.

Does ChartStead provide an API?

Yes. It documents a scoped HTTP API and MCP for agents and automation, using the same keys.

What does ChartStead exclude?

The product excludes ticketing, payments, advertising and a broad event CRM.

Facts from ChartStead's own pages

Agenda: Agenda tools cover rooms, tracks, session placement, and conflict warnings. · chartstead.com, 4 Oct 2026
API and agents: ChartStead documents a scoped HTTP API and MCP access using the same keys. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Authentication: The production environment uses Better Auth with Google or magic-link sign-in. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Course Check: Course Check reviews talks when organizers accept them and again before publication, keeping named clashes visible until resolved. · chartstead.com, 4 Oct 2026
Demo: The maker offers an isolated demo with sample event data and no account setup requirement. · demo.chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Integrations and API: The docs describe a scoped HTTP API and MCP for agents and automation, using the same keys. · chartstead.com, 4 Oct 2026
Maker: The site footer identifies Animas AI as the copyright holder; the contact email shown is [email protected]. · chartstead.com, 4 Oct 2026
Open source: ChartStead is released under the MIT License, which permits teams to use, inspect, modify, and share the software while retaining the license notice. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Operations: Teams running the open-source software are responsible for deployment, access, updates, backups, delivery setup, and operational support. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Production access: The production environment uses Better Auth with Google sign-in or magic links. · chartstead.com, 4 Oct 2026
Product scope: ChartStead covers conference programming through the public program and excludes ticketing, payments, advertising, and broad event CRM. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Public program: The public program includes a mobile-friendly schedule and speaker gallery that can be embedded. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Purpose: ChartStead is conference programming and speaker management software that takes a program from the call for proposals through the public schedule. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Review safeguard: Course Check reviews proposals before acceptance and checks for named schedule clashes before publication. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Scope limits: ChartStead leaves out ticketing, payments, ads, and a broad event CRM. · chartstead.com, 4 Oct 2026
Speaker portal: The speaker portal keeps bios, headshots, onboarding tasks, and logistics together. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Submissions and review: It supports public CFP forms and shared, track-scoped review with approve, maybe, and deny decisions. · chartstead.com, 4 Oct 2026
Support: The marketing site provides the contact email [email protected]. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026
Workflow: The product covers proposal collection, track-based review, speaker onboarding, agenda building, and publishing an embeddable public program. · chartstead.com, 10 Oct 2026

Where ChartStead stands on Freedom251

Event Scheduling Software#30 of 34