CouchCMS

Self-Hosted

Open-source CMS for building custom conference management platforms

Overview

CouchCMS is an open-source content management system optimized for creating tailored conference management solutions. It lets organizers design workflows for speaker submissions, session scheduling, attendee registration (with payment integrations like PayPal), and badge generation. Its flexible content types and form builder enable customization for unique conference needs, while self-hosting on LAMP stacks or Docker ensures full data privacy control. Ideal for small-to-mid-sized events, it avoids vendor lock-in and recurring fees, though it requires basic web dev skills to set up custom features.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  couchcms:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: couchcms
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Customizable content types for speakers, sessions, and attendees
Registration form builder with payment gateway integration
Real-time schedule updates and attendee badge generation

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is CouchCMS hard to install for conference management?

CouchCMS is easy to install on a LAMP stack or via Docker. However, building a custom conference workflow requires basic PHP/HTML skills to set up content types (speakers, sessions) and registration forms.

? Is it a good alternative to Cvent for small conferences?

Yes—for small-to-mid-sized conferences, CouchCMS offers more customization and data control than Cvent, though it lacks enterprise features like built-in virtual event tools. It’s ideal for tailored, cost-free solutions.

? Is CouchCMS completely free for conference management?

Yes—CouchCMS is open-source under the GPLv3 license, so you can use it for free to build and host your conference platform without any licensing fees.

Top Alternatives

Cvent Search Google

Eventbrite Compare

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Conference Management

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Full data privacy control via self-hosting
⊕ No recurring subscription fees
⊕ Highly flexible to fit unique conference workflows

Cons

⊖ Requires basic PHP/HTML knowledge for custom setup
⊖ Lacks pre-built conference templates (needs manual configuration)
⊖ Limited native virtual event tools (relies on third-party integrations)