OpenSlides Review, Pricing & Features

OpenSlides review covering the open-source assembly and e-voting platform's features, free self-hosted option, SaaS pricing, and alternatives.

Category
Scheduling
Pricing
Freemium, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2011
Headquarters
Osnabrück, Germany
Web AppAPIOpen SourceSelf-Hosted

Overview

OpenSlides is an open-source system for digitally managing assemblies, committees, and meetings, covering agendas, motions, elections, and electronic voting. It began as a 2005 prototype and was rebuilt from 2010 into the modern Python/Django-based system, first released as version 1.0 in September 2011.

It is developed and operated by Intevation GmbH, a German IT services company founded in 1999 with a long history in free software, and is distributed under the MIT license, allowing free self-hosting alongside a paid, hosted SaaS offering.

Key Features

OpenSlides manages meeting agendas and speaking lists, a structured motions workflow for submission and amendment, candidate lists and election tracking, and a dedicated electronic voting module added in 2019 for live and online voting.

Additional capabilities include projector display mode for live meeting rooms, autopilot presentation sequencing, custom branding, single sign-on for larger organizations, and integrated livestreaming for hybrid or fully remote assemblies.

Pricing

OpenSlides can be self-hosted for free as open-source software under the MIT license, giving organizations full control over deployment and data.

The hosted SaaS product is priced per account: Online Voting at 2 euros per account (minimum 14 days, from 50 accounts), Conference Management at 4 euros per account (minimum 1 month), and Committee Management at 36 euros per account per year (fixed tiers of 100 to 1000 accounts, minimum 12 months).

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Free, open-source self-hosted option under the MIT license
  • Purpose-built for formal parliamentary-style motions and voting, not generic polling
  • Backed by an established German free-software company since 1999
  • Flexible SaaS pricing scaled to event size and duration
  • Electronic voting module supports legally relevant elections

Cons

  • Per-account SaaS pricing can add up for large recurring assemblies
  • Committee Management tier requires a 12-month minimum commitment
  • Self-hosting requires technical setup and Python/Django expertise
  • Smaller global brand recognition than general voting or event platforms
  • Feature depth is narrowly focused on assembly/motion use cases rather than broad event management

Pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OpenSlides free?

Yes, the self-hosted open-source version is free under the MIT license; the hosted SaaS version is priced per account.

What is OpenSlides used for?

It is used to manage assemblies, committee meetings, agendas, motions, elections, and electronic voting for organizations like parliaments, associations, and unions.

Who develops OpenSlides?

OpenSlides is developed and operated by Intevation GmbH, an IT services company based in Osnabrück, Germany, founded in 1999.

When did OpenSlides add electronic voting?

An electronic voting module was added to OpenSlides in 2019.

How is OpenSlides SaaS pricing structured?

It is priced per account across three tiers: Online Voting at 2 euros per account, Conference Management at 4 euros per account, and Committee Management at 36 euros per account per year.

Can I self-host OpenSlides instead of using the SaaS version?

Yes, OpenSlides is open source under the MIT license and can be self-hosted at no licensing cost.

What organizations typically use OpenSlides?

Parliaments, political parties, non-profit associations, unions, and cooperatives that need formal, auditable motions and voting processes.

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