Zeor APC Journals

Zero APC Journals and Free Journals Indexed in Scopus 

Zero APC journals and free journals indexed in Scopus are among some of the hottest topics in scholarly communications. More researchers are looking for journals that offer the advantages of Zero Article Processing Charge journals while also providing the reputation and prestige that come with being indexed in Scopus. When put together, it seems like a match made in academic heaven, but like anything in life, there are pros and cons to consider. To that end, we have compiled our ultimate list of s about Zero APC and free journals that are indexed in Scopus.

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Zero APC Scopus Journals - FAQs

1: What qualifies as a Zero APC journal?

A zero APC journal is defined as any journal that does not charge authors any fees to publish in their journal.

2: What is APC? And why do journals charge APC?

APC is an acronym that stands for Article Processing Charges. APC’s are normally charged by publishers to help them cover the cost of operations involved in publishing scholarly research. This can include peer review management, editorial assistance, typesetting, hosting, web maintenance, and digital archiving. Many journals do not charge APCs and are referred to as Zero APC or Diamond Open Access Journals.

3: What is Scopus? Why does it matter if my Zero APC journal is indexed in Scopus?

Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database in the world. Put simply, being indexed in Scopus gives journals exposure to millions of researchers worldwide. Articles you publish in Scopus will also be discoverable by those researchers. Citing other research from Scopus-indexed journals also packs a heavy punch in evaluations such as grant funding and university or departmental rankings.

 

4: Are all Zero APC journals indexed in Scopus?

No, not all Zero APC journals are indexed in Scopus. Scopus maintains a strict set of journal quality criteria that journals must meet in order to be indexed. Several free journals that don’t charge APCs fail to meet Scopus standards.

5: How do I check whether the Current journal is legit or a predatory journal?

Predatory journals tend to scam researchers by publishing low-quality research at the expense of authors. Zero APC journals are legitimate journals that choose not to charge authors any fees to publish with them. Also, predatory journals will rarely ever be indexed in Scopus.

6: How can I find journals that are both Zero APC and indexed in Scopus?

Simply check the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) to see if a journal has Zero APCs and cross-check the journal against the Scopus Source List found on the Elsevier website. You can also check the SHERPA/ROMEO database to see if the journal is both Zero APC and indexed in Scopus.

7: Why should I publish in a Zero APC journal that is indexed in Scopus?

Publishing in a Zero APC journal that is indexed in Scopus allows you to;

* Not pay anything (financial-wise) to publish your research

* Ensure that your research is open access to anyone in the world (Most journals will do this anyway)

* Indexing in Scopus can help your research get found

* Get your research discovered by the millions of researchers who use Scopus

* Gives more credibility to your research institution.

* Help you meet open access mandates from funding agencies

 

8: Do Zero Article Processing Charge journals mainly benefit researchers in developing countries?

Early career researchers without institutional support to pay for APCs can also greatly benefit from submitting to Zero Article Processing Charge Journals.

9: What are some downsides to Zero Article Processing Charge journals?

* Limited editorial support can sometimes lead to slow publication times.

* Depending on how niche your research is, there may not be a lot of accepted research submissions.

* Zero article processing charge journals often don’t offer the same level of marketing and promotional services that traditional journals offer.

* The impact factor of some Zero APC journals can be much lower than journals that require you to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars per article.

 10: Do Zero APC journals compromise peer review quality for the sake of keeping costs low?

Zero, but some operate with volunteer reviewers and editors, which can cause slower turnaround times on getting your manuscript peer reviewed. Since most Zero APC journals do not operate with an income from charging authors fees, they are normally run by non-profit organizations with legitimate intentions.

 

11: What is Diamond Open Access? How does it relate to Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

Diamond Open Access is defined as journals that are free for both authors (Zero Article Processing Charge) and readers (no subscription fees). Diamond/Open Access journals are commonly referred to as Zero APC Journals.

12: Are Zero Article Processing Charge journals that are indexed in Scopus respected by universities and institutions for promotion and tenure?

Most definitely. As long as the journal you are submitting to has a respectable editorial board and solid Scopus CiteScore or Impact Factor, there should be no problems. Having your research indexed in Scopus is already a huge benefit during evaluations in institutions all over the world.

13: How are Zero Article Processing Charge Journals funded?

Zero Article Processing Charge Journals typically are funded by the hosting university or subsidized by the institution’s library. This is usually funded by subscription fees that universities and academic institutions pay to publishers like Elsevier and Wiley. Zero APC Journals are also funded by academic societies that want to provide an alternate route for researchers to publish without cost.

 

14: Can I double-check whether the journal I want to submit my research to is currently indexed in Scopus?

Yes. ALWAYS double-check the official Scopus Source List(found at sources.scopus.com) to make sure your journal is currently indexed. Journals can be added and removed from Scopus at any time.

15: What happens if the journal I publish in becomes de-indexed from Scopus?

If your journal becomes de-indexed (removed) from Scopus, you are not retried of your article. Any articles already indexed in Scopus under that journal will remain in the system. But moving forward, any articles you publish in that journal will not be registered or added to Scopus.

16: Are there any subject-specific Zero Article Processing Charge journals that are indexed in Scopus?

Yes, there are Zero Article-Processing-Charge journals in every major subject category that are indexed in Scopus. From medicine and research to engineering and business, you will be able to find Zero APC journals that are indexed in Scopus.

17: Do Zero APC journals offer copyright to authors the same way that other journals do?

This is dependent on the journal. However, most Zero APC Journals use the Creative Commons platform to allow authors to maintain copyright of their work while allowing others to use their work under certain conditions.

18: Is the publication process longer for Zero APC journals?

Because most Zero APC journals have smaller editorial teams, it can take longer to get your manuscript peer-reviewed. However, most Zero APC Journals have adapted to the times and are able to provide quick turnaround times for reviewing your research.

19: What role do academic research societies play in Zero APC Journals?

Many academic research societies run and operate Zero Article Processing Charge Journals. Because most Zero APC Journals are run by nonprofit organizations, academic research societies are a great fit. Society journals also tend to carry more prestige within the academic community and normally have high editorial standards.

20: Can Zero Article Processing Charge journals have a high Impact Factor?

Yes, many Zero Article Processing Charge journals have high CiteScores and Impact Factors. Just because a journal doesn’t charge authors to publish doesn't mean they can’t receive citations. Indexing in Scopus can also help give your research an advantage when it comes to receiving citations.

21: What is the DOAJ? How can the DOAJ help me find Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a community-curated website that indexes peer-reviewed open access journals. On DOAJ, it will show journals that offer zero APCs right on the journal’s page.

22: Are there any risks associated with Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

* Due to the journal not making money from charging authors to publish, if the journal goes bankrupt your article may not get published. (Rare)

* Some Zero APC Journals may offer lower visibility if they journal is less known in your specific research field.

* The journal can always be suspended or removed from Scopus if it doesn’t meet quality criteria.

 

23: How can I make sure the Zero Article Processing Charge journal I want to publish with is high quality?

When searching for Zero APC Journals to publish your research in, you should look at;

* Journal CiteScore or Journal Impact Factor

* Journal H-index and SCImago Journal Rank (SJR)

* Journal Acceptance Rate

* Editorial Board

* Peer Review Policies

* History of the Journal

* Reputation of the hosting institution or organization that is responsible for the journal operations

 

24: Do universities in 3rd world countries prefer to publish in Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

Yes. Many researchers in developing countries tend to publish in Zero-Article-Processing-Charge Journals because these journals eliminate all publication fees.

25: How do Zero Article Processing Charge journals affect global research?

Allowing researchers from low- and middle-income countries to have equal opportunities to publish without any type of fees.

26: Can journals be free to read but charge authors an Article Processing Charge(aka APC)?

Yes, this is known as Gold Open Access. Many journals are now opening up their research for anyone in the world to read free of charge. However, most of these journals will charge authors an Article Processing Charge(APC) in order to publish.

 

27: What is the acceptance rate for most Scopus Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

Depends on the journal. Highly ranked Zero Article Processing Charge journals that are indexed in Scopus can have a rejection rate of 70–80%+. Each journal is different, and you will have to weigh out the options when trying to decide which journal is right for you.

28: Are Hybrid Journals Zero Article Processing Charge?

No, hybrid journals are the exact opposite. Hybrid Journals are normally subscription-based journals that allow authors the option to make their research open access by paying the publisher an Article Processing Charge(APC).

29: How does Scopus evaluate which journals to index?

Scopus has a Content Selection and Advisory Board (CSAB) that helps determine whether a journal should be registered and indexed in Scopus. Scopus looks at a journal's editorial process, quality of peer review, regularity of published content, international diversity of editorial board members, citability of the content published, and whether the journal is available online.

30: Can researchers from any country publish in Zero Article Processing Charge journals that are indexed in Scopus?

Yes, you should have no problem submitting research as long as it fits the journal's scope. Most Zero Article Processing Charge journals indexed in Scopus accept research submissions from authors around the world.

 

31: Can you name some Zero Article Processing Charge journals that are indexed in Scopus?

The following are some of the more popular Zero Article Processing Charge journals that are currently indexed in Scopus.

* Journals from MDPI that offer waivers

* Journals from PLOS that offer waivers

* SciELO Journal Open Access Platform

* African Journals Online(ajol.info)

* Max Planck Society journals

* CSIRO Publishing

32: What Types of Articles can I submit to Zero Article Processing Charge journals?

Almost any type of research article you can think of. Zero Article Processing Charge journals will normally accept;

* Original Research Articles

* Review Papers

* Brief Communications

* Data Papers

Keep in mind that not all Zero Article Processing Charge journals will accept the same types of articles. Be sure to visit the journals' Author Guidelines to learn more about what the journal accepts.

 

33: Is the Zero Article Processing Charge(JOUR) model sustainable?

Sustainability is always a concern with Zero Article Processing Charge Journals. Since most of these journals do not generate income from processing charges, they rely heavily on the organization or institution that funds the journal. With recent budget cuts to university libraries and unpredictable administrative changes, it’s always a concern.

34: What are Author rights for Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

Most Zero Article Processing Charge journals will grant you the right to self-archive your work (sometimes immediately and other times after an embargo period), share on social media, and retain copyright to your research.

35: Do Zero Article Processing Charge journals only publish research in English?

Yes and no. While the majority of Scopus journals publish articles in English, some Zero Article Processing Charge journals (Spanish- and Portuguese-based) publish articles in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and even Multilingual.

36: If I publish in a Zero Article Processing Charge Scopus journal, how will this affect my H-index?

Publishing in Zero Article Processing Charge journals that are indexed in Scopus has ZERO effect on your H-index. As long as your research gets cited, it does not matter where you publish your research.

37: What challenges are currently facing editors of Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

Editors of Zero Article Processing Charge journals face many challenges.

* Limited budget to running the journals editorial operations.

* Attracting and retaining qualified peer reviewers.

* Competition for high-quality manuscripts.

* Managing large workloads with limited staff.

 

38: Can I publish a Dataset or supplementary materials in Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

Depends on the journal’s policy. While most Zero APC journals encourage the upload of supplementary materials, some journals may ask you to submit your data to a third-party data repository.

39: What role do institutional repositories have when submitting to Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

Institutional Repositories offer researchers the ability to archive their research free of charge. Many researchers choose to archive their work in their institution’s repository alongside publishing in Zero Article Processing Charge Journals.

40: Do Zero Article Processing Charge journals that are indexed in Scopus offer Guest Edited Issues?

Yes, many Zero Article Processing Charge Journals offer guest edited issues or special research topics. Many of these journals allow invited researchers to serve as guest editors for a specific issue.

41: Do funding agencies have an option to allow researchers to publish in Zero Article Processing Charge Journals?

As stated earlier, many funding agencies around the world are starting to support or REQUIRE their researchers to publish open access. Many of these agencies recognize Zero APC/*Diamond Open Access as an acceptable route to publish.

42: How transparent are Zero Article Processing Charge Journals with their editorial process?

All legitimate Zero Article Processing Charge journals indexed in Scopus should be transparent about their editorial board, peer-review process, affiliations, and funding. Any journal that is not transparent about these topics should be avoided.

 

43: Can Zero Article Processing Charge journals help with international collaboration?

Yes. Since most Zero Article Processing Charge Journals do not charge publication fees, they allow international research teams to collaborate and publish without fighting over who has to pay for the article.

44: What is the future of Zero Article Processing Charge journals that are indexed in Scopus?

We believe that as more universities and institutions begin to support open science, more Zero Article Processing Charge journals will emerge. Initiatives like Plan S will also help make free-to-read journals that are indexed in Scopus more predominant in the academic publishing industry.

45: As a researcher, how do I decide if I should publish my research in a Zero Article Processing Charge Journal or a high-fee Scopus Journal?

Deciding where to publish ultimately comes down to you, the researcher. When making your decision, you should always research the journal metrics (Cite Score, SJR, etc.), the journal’s scope, who your target audience is, funding availability, how long it takes for the journal to review your research, copyright policies, and how publishing in that journal will benefit your career.