ConfTool
ConfTool GmbH develops web-based conference and event management software for academic organizers, offering a free open-source edition (ConfTool Standard) for small events and a hosted SaaS edition (ConfTool Pro) with full support for larger conferences, workshops, and seminars.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What ConfTool does
ConfTool GmbH is a Hamburg, Germany-based privately held software company that develops web-based conference and event management software targeted at academic conference organizers. The company operates two products on a shared PHP codebase: ConfTool Standard, a free open-source version for non-commercial academic events with up to 150 participants that is offered for local self-installation without support; and ConfTool Pro, a hosted SaaS solution with full technical support aimed at larger events with many participants, multiple contribution types, and sub-events. ConfTool Pro provides an end-to-end conference management lifecycle including submission and peer review workflows, configurable program scheduling with personal agenda functionality, flexible participant registration forms with conditional logic, enhanced payment processing through PayPal, Stripe, and 45+ credit card gateways, invoicing, and virtual/hybrid event support via integration with external video conferencing and streaming platforms. The platform is localized into more than 15 languages and is positioned as fully GDPR-compliant with German-hosted servers, separate per-conference databases, and post-event data deletion.
The business model combines a freemium entry tier with a quote-based professional subscription. ConfTool Standard generates no direct revenue and serves as a funnel and community asset for academic organizers; ConfTool Pro is sold via direct contact-based sales ([email protected]) with multi-year contracts and pricing that depends on event requirements and size. The company is bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and no M&A activity. It is owned and managed by Dr. Harald Weinreich, who also serves as the principal developer and copyright holder. Distribution relies on content-led marketing through an extensive documentation site, demo installations, and an active support forum, rather than outbound sales or paid acquisition. ConfTool has been used by more than 5,000 organizers cumulatively and integrates with a broad ecosystem of virtual event, streaming, payment, and collaboration platforms.
ConfTool firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ConfTool
- Legal name
- ConfTool GmbH
- Website
- https://conftool.net
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ConfTool GmbH develops web-based conference and event management software for academic organizers, offering a free open-source edition (ConfTool Standard) for small events and a hosted SaaS edition (ConfTool Pro) with full support for larger conferences, workshops, and seminars.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ConfTool industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Conference and Event Management Software
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Speaker, Program & Abstract Management Services (THAHACAI), Conference & Trade Show Registration Platforms (THAHAFAB), Academic & Education Conference Organizers (THAHACAE)
Keywords
Where ConfTool is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ConfTool business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- ConfTool Pro (Hosted Subscription): Professional version offered as a hosted SaaS solution with full technical support. Fee depends on requirements and size of event. Contact-based pricing model.
- ConfTool Standard (Free License): Free version for smaller non-commercial academic events with up to 150 participants. Open/shared source system with no support provided.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | ConfTool Standard - Free for qualifying non-commercial academic events |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | ConfTool Pro - Quote-based professional hosted solution |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
ConfTool product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ConfTool develops and sells web-based conference and event management software designed for academic conferences, workshops, congresses, and seminars. Its two product lines are ConfTool Standard (a free open-source version for smaller non-commercial academic events up to 150 participants) and ConfTool Pro (a hosted SaaS solution with full technical support, advanced submission/review workflows, scheduling, registration, invoicing, payment processing, and virtual/hybrid event capabilities). The platform covers the full conference lifecycle from paper submission and peer review through program scheduling, participant registration, payment collection, and post-event data handling.
Product overview
ConfTool offers two distinct conference and event management software products: ConfTool Standard (free open-source version for small non-commercial academic events up to 150 participants) and ConfTool Pro (professional paid hosted version with extensive features for larger events). ConfTool Pro operates as a SaaS solution with full technical support, handling submission and review processes, conference program scheduling, participant registration with invoicing, communication facilitation, and virtual/hybrid event capabilities with external resource linking. Both versions share the same core functionality but differ significantly in feature depth and deployment model.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ConfTool Standard Free open-source version of ConfTool designed for smaller non-commercial academic events with up to 150 participants. Available under different licenses for non-commercial use with basic functionality, offered without support and for local installation only. Includes submission/review workflows, scheduling, and participant registration for small events.
- ConfTool Pro
Companies that use ConfTool
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ConfTool technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration34 records
Feature7 records
ConfTool partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ConfTool competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Eventbrite: Eventbrite is a large-scale self-serve event registration and ticketing platform with broad consumer and professional event reach. It competes with ConfTool on registration/ticketing but lacks ConfTool's academic submission/review depth.
- Cvent: Cvent is a large, well-established event management platform serving corporate, association, and academic events with end-to-end registration, venue sourcing, and virtual event tools. It is a broad incumbent that competes with ConfTool for larger academic and association clients.
Direct peers
- SCOOCS (formerly iChair): SCOOCS is a web-based solution for online meetings with agenda creation, moderation, and video conferencing links that integrates with ConfTool via REST. It is a peer in academic-oriented conference management, especially for research-community events.
- Swapcard: Swapcard is an event and community platform for virtual, hybrid, and in-person conferences that integrates with ConfTool to auto-create user accounts. It is a direct competitor in conference management with stronger community/networking features.
- EasyChair: EasyChair is a long-standing academic conference management system widely used for paper submission, peer review, and program building. It is the most direct competitor to ConfTool in the academic conference workflow segment.
- OpenConf: OpenConf is a conference management software platform handling submission, review, and event management for academic conferences. It is another direct competitor in the same academic conference tooling niche.
- Whova: Whova is an event management platform with mobile app and desktop access that supports importing participant data and agendas from ConfTool Pro. It competes directly for academic and association event organizers with a broader mobile-first experience.
- Cadmium: Cadmium provides event management software for associations and conferences, including abstract management, speaker logistics, and learning management. It overlaps with ConfTool in the academic/association conference workflow.
Emerging players
- Pathable: Pathable provides an event app and community platform for conferences, particularly associations and academic groups. It competes with ConfTool for attendee engagement and mobile experience layers on top of conference management.
- vFairs: vFairs is a virtual and hybrid event platform with strong capabilities in exhibitions and large-scale online events. It competes with ConfTool's virtual/hybrid event layer and is increasingly extending into academic and association segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ConfTool social profiles
Digital presenceConfTool compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
ConfTool financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ConfTool leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ConfTool funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ConfTool M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ConfTool
What does ConfTool do?
ConfTool develops and sells web-based conference and event management software designed for academic conferences, workshops, congresses, and seminars. Its two product lines are ConfTool Standard (a free open-source version for smaller non-commercial academic events up to 150 participants) and ConfTool Pro (a hosted SaaS solution with full technical support, advanced submission/review workflows, scheduling, registration, invoicing, payment processing, and virtual/hybrid event capabilities). The platform covers the full conference lifecycle from paper submission and peer review through program scheduling, participant registration, payment collection, and post-event data handling.
Is ConfTool a public or private company?
ConfTool is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ConfTool founded?
ConfTool was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ConfTool based?
ConfTool is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does ConfTool make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. ConfTool Pro (Hosted Subscription) is the primary driver. The others are confTool Standard (Free License).
Who are ConfTool's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Eventbrite and Cvent. Direct peers are SCOOCS (formerly iChair), Swapcard, EasyChair, OpenConf, Whova and Cadmium. Emerging players are Pathable and vFairs.
Does ConfTool have an API?
No public API is recorded for ConfTool.
What industry is ConfTool in?
ConfTool's product category is Conference and Event Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAM, Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management, with a secondary code of THAHACAI, Speaker, Program & Abstract Management Services. Its NAICS code is 561920 and its SIC code is 7372.