HotCRP
HotCRP manages conference paper submissions, reviews, and program committee work. It is available as open-source software for self-hosting or through the hosted HotCRP.com service. Submission tools include customizable forms, optional registration, conflict collection, and configurable PDF checks. Papers can be assigned manually, in bulk, or automatically, including with globally optimal assignments. Search, sorting, bulk downloads, formulas, and tags help organize papers. Review workflows support custom forms, LaTeX math, multiple rounds, offline reviewing, delegation, and external reviewers. For committee meetings, HotCRP provides rebuttals, votes, ranks, a live tracker, custom decision types, and mailing tools. Its REST API uses bearer tokens with limited scopes, such as read-only access or access to selected papers. HotCRP.com connects with ACM publication services for copyright forms, final versions, PDF checks, proceedings, and Digital Library export. Self-hosting requires users to run a web server and install software including Nginx, PHP 7.3 or higher, and MariaDB. Free plans are available for some sponsored and classroom uses; the Independent plan costs 7.50 USD per submission, payable after the submission deadline.
Who it is for
HotCRP suits conference, journal, or workshop organizers handling submissions and review stages. Self-hosting is an option for teams able to run a web server; a hosted version is also available.
What is good
- Supports automatic paper assignment, including globally optimal assignments.
- Reviews can include multiple rounds and offline reviewing.
- Committee tools include rebuttals, votes, and a live tracker.
- REST API tokens can have limited scopes.
- HotCRP.com integrates with ACM publication services.
What to know first
- Self-hosting requires a web server and specified software.
- Independent events pay 7.50 USD per submission.
- Independent-site support is limited to bug fixes.
- Classroom use has no support.
Verdict
HotCRP covers submission, review, and committee meeting workflows, with hosted and self-hosted routes. Organizers should account for the self-hosting requirements or the per-submission cost and support limits that apply to particular plans.
HotCRP plans and pricing
All plansCompared on event abstract management software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Blind review
- Yes
- Submission types
- mixed
- Review stages
- multi_stage
- Schedule builder
- Yes
