Fourwaves vs Ex Ordo: which academic event management platform is right for you?
Published on 08 Jan 2025
Organizing academic events can be overwhelming—managing abstract submissions, peer reviews, registrations, and more, all while ensuring everything runs smoothly. Platforms like Fourwaves and Ex Ordo aim to make this process easier, but which one is the best fit for your needs?
In this comparison, we’ll dive into how Fourwaves and Ex Ordo stack up, focusing on the features, pricing, and user experience that matter most to academic event organizers, PCOs, and associations.
The challenges of event management
Before we dive into the comparison, let’s address the common pain points organizers face:
- Time-consuming abstract submissions and peer reviews.
- Disjointed tools for registration, payments, and communication.
- Limited options for customization and attendee engagement.
Both Fourwaves and Ex Ordo aim to address these challenges, but there are some critical differences in how they deliver value.
Feature comparison: Fourwaves vs Ex Ordo
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the core features offered by each platform.
| Features | Fourwaves | Ex Ordo |
| Abstract Management | Fully customizable forms, conditional logic, and file uploads. | Streamlined submission process but less customizable. |
| Peer Review Tools | Built-in review workflows, scoring, and real-time updates. | Simplified process but limited flexibility. |
| Registration & Payments | Integrated payments, detailed reporting, and attendee tracking. | Basic registration tools with fewer integrations. |
| Brand Customization | Complete branding options for a professional event website. | Limited branding flexibility. |
| Networking Features | Virtual networking and poster sessions for hybrid/virtual events. | No dedicated networking tools other than the live stream. |
| Event Website | All-in-one, professional websites tailored for academics. | Focused on abstract and review systems, less on websites. |
What makes Fourwaves unique?
- All-in-One Platform Fourwaves doesn’t stop at abstract submissions—it provides end-to-end solutions, from registration to peer reviews, to event branding and networking.
- Custom Branding for Professionalism Your event’s identity matters. Unlike Ex Ordo, Fourwaves allows you to create a fully branded website that reflects your institution or organization.
- Streamlined for Time-Savings Fourwaves centralizes all event logistics, saving you hours of manual work. Whether you’re organizing a small research day or a large-scale conference, our tools grow with your needs.
- Built for Researchers by Researchers Fourwaves is tailored to the academic community. We understand the unique challenges of research-focused events and offer features specifically designed for them.
Where Ex Ordo shines
Ex Ordo specializes in simplifying the abstract submission and peer review process. If your primary focus is solely on managing abstracts with zero to minimal emphasis on registrations, payments, or branding, Ex Ordo might be a good fit.
However, for organizers who need a comprehensive solution for event logistics, Fourwaves offers a broader range of features that go beyond submissions.
Pricing and value
Both platforms offer competitive pricing, but Fourwaves provides flexible plans tailored to academic events of all sizes. Plus, with Fourwaves, you get access to features like event websites, custom branding, and integrated networking tools at no additional cost—something Ex Ordo does not include.
The winner
While both Fourwaves and Ex Ordo offer great solutions for abstract management, Fourwaves’ all-in-one platform, customization options, and focus on the academic community make it the better choice for comprehensive and holistic event management.