What is Pretalx used for?

pretalx is open-source conference management software that handles the call for papers, talk review, speaker communication and schedule publishing. It is a good fit for running a conference call for proposals, scheduling multi-track events and managing speaker communication.

Is Pretalx open source?

Yes. Pretalx is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at pretalx/pretalx and is written mainly in Python.

Yes. Pretalx is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence. A managed cloud version is also available.

Can I self-host Pretalx?

Yes. Pretalx can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What is Pretalx an alternative to?

Pretalx is an open-source alternative to Cvent, Bizzabo, Swapcard and Whova. Other open-source alternatives to Cvent include Hi.Events and Pretix.

Is Pretalx actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to Pretalx was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v2026.2.1, published on 8 July 2026. The project has 946 stars on GitHub.

Pretalx: open-source alternative to Cvent, Bizzabo, Swapcard

About Pretalx

pretalx is conference management software that covers the path from an open call for papers to a published schedule. Organizers collect proposals, review and select talks, email speakers and build the program, all within one system, whether the event is a small meetup or a multi-room conference.

It supports anonymous or open review, events with or without tracks, single or parallel rooms, and emails to all submitters or a chosen subset that can be proofread or edited before sending. The schedule can be built around speakers' needs, and changes are published and communicated automatically. A plugin ecosystem lets organizers adapt it to particular requirements, and custom plugins can be commissioned.

pretalx is open source and built with Python and Django, so organizers can run it on their own servers. The project also operates pretalx.com, a hosted service where an event can be set up in a few minutes and tried for free before committing; pricing is published on that site.

Key features

Configurable call for papers
Anonymous or open talk review
Bulk email to speakers and submitters
Schedule builder with automatic publishing
Plugin ecosystem for extensions
Multi-track and multi-room events

Good fit for

→Running a conference call for proposals
→Scheduling multi-track events
→Managing speaker communication

Built with: Python; Django
Tags: conference; call-for-papers; scheduling; events; django; python; speaker-management; open-source

Pretalx: questions and answers

What is Pretalx used for?: pretalx is open-source conference management software that handles the call for papers, talk review, speaker communication and schedule publishing. It is a good fit for running a conference call for proposals, scheduling multi-track events and managing speaker communication.
Is Pretalx open source?: Yes. Pretalx is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at pretalx/pretalx and is written mainly in Python.
Is Pretalx free?: Yes. Pretalx is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence. A managed cloud version is also available.
Can I self-host Pretalx?: Yes. Pretalx can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What is Pretalx an alternative to?: Pretalx is an open-source alternative to Cvent, Bizzabo, Swapcard and Whova. Other open-source alternatives to Cvent include Hi.Events and Pretix.
Is Pretalx actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to Pretalx was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v2026.2.1, published on 8 July 2026. The project has 946 stars on GitHub.