Self-hosted alternatives to Sessionize
Want conference call-for-papers without handing your data to Sessionize? These 5 self-hosted apps run on your own server. Cheapest estimated hosting starts at about $5/month.
About Sessionize: Call-for-papers and speaker management for conferences.
| App | Health | Stars | License | Docker | RAM (est.) | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indico | Active | 2.1k | MIT | – | 1 GB | $5/mo |
| pretalx | Active | 958 | Apache-2.0 | – | 1 GB | $5/mo |
| osem | Active | 930 | MIT | ✓ | 1 GB | $5/mo |
| OpenSlides | Active | 661 | MIT | ✓ | 1 GB | $5/mo |
| motion.tools (Antragsgrün) | Active | 150 | AGPL-3.0 | ✓ | 1 GB | $5/mo |
The options in detail
1. indico
Feature-rich event management system, made @ CERN, the place where the Web was born.
Active Last commit 2026-11-03. Latest release v3.3.14 (2026-10-13). Needs roughly 1 GB RAM. How to run it →
2. pretalx
Web-based event management, including running a Call for Papers, reviewing submissions, and scheduling talks. Exports and imports for various related tools.
Active Last commit 2026-11-04. Latest release v2026.2.1 (2026-07-08). Needs roughly 1 GB RAM. How to run it →
3. osem
Event management tailored to free Software conferences.
Active Last commit 2026-11-02. Latest release v1.0 (2016-05-24). Needs roughly 1 GB RAM. How to run it →
4. OpenSlides
Presentation and assembly system for managing and projecting agenda, motions and elections of an assembly.
Active Last commit 2026-11-03. Latest release 4.3.7 (2026-11-03). Needs roughly 1 GB RAM. How to run it →
5. motion.tools (Antragsgrün)
Manage motions and amendments for (political) conventions.
Active Last commit 2026-11-04. 10+ releases in the past year. Latest release v4.18.1 (2026-11-02). Needs roughly 1 GB RAM. How to run it →
Why self-host instead of Sessionize?
- Own your data — it lives on a server you control, with backups you decide on.
- Predictable cost — a small VPS often replaces per-seat pricing for a whole team or family.
- No lock-in — open-source licenses let you keep running the software even if a vendor disappears.
The trade-off: you are responsible for updates, backups and security. Pick an app marked Active (a commit in the last 90 days) and with Docker support for the easiest ride.
Browse related categories
Other alternatives guides
Sessionize is a trademark of its owner; this site is not affiliated with it. Listings come from the community-maintained awesome-selfhosted list.