Publish an Article in Reputable Journals for Free?

Publishing in reputable journals often entails article processing charges (APCs), particularly for open-access journals. However, many researchers seek journals with free acceptance and publication, both to alleviate financial constraints and to access a broader readership. In this post, we’ll break down the different types of journals and give a list of journals where you can publish your articles free.

Is it Possible to Publish an Article in Reputable Journals for Free?

Yes, it is possible to publish for free in reputable journals, though there are important distinctions between open-access and closed-access journals to consider:

• Open-Access Journals: These journals allow readers to download articles for free. Authors typically pay an APC upon acceptance, covering the cost of providing free public access to their work. Students and early-career researchers often choose open-access for its faster review process and broader visibility.
• Closed-Access Journals: Closed-access journals generally do not charge authors to publish, instead making their revenue by charging readers a fee to access full articles. This model often upholds higher credibility, as closed-access journals are known for rigorous peer-review processes, making publication a more competitive endeavor.

While all the journals which are open-access, meaning their content is free to read and accessible to the public, not all of them provide a free option for publishing. Most open-access journals operate under Article Processing Charges (APCs) to cover publishing costs, though the fee structure and requirements vary:

1. APC-Funded Open Access: Many open-access journals charge authors APCs to publish their work and make it freely available. These fees vary widely by publisher and journal impact factor.
2. Waivers or Subsidies: Some journals offer partial or full waivers on APCs for authors from low- and middle-income countries, or for specific fields of research.
3. Free-to-Publish Journals: Fully free-to-publish open-access medical journals (meaning no Article Processing Charges, or APCs) can be a bit challenging, as the majority of open-access journals use APCs to support their operations. However, some are funded by universities, societies, or government grants and do not charge authors to publish. A list of journals is given below.
4. Hybrid Open Access: Some journals on the list may offer both subscription-based and open-access publishing options, where authors can choose to make their article open access by paying an APC, while other articles remain behind a paywall.

Here are some of the best sources for locating a vast number of open-access medical journals:

1. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ):
   • DOAJ is an extensive directory of open-access journals from multiple publishers, covering various medical fields with direct links and publisher information.
2. PubMed Central (PMC):
   • PMC, managed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, hosts a large collection of free, full-text articles from peer-reviewed journals, with links to each journal’s website.
3. BioMed Central (BMC):
   • BMC provides an array of open-access journals across disciplines, particularly in biomedicine and health sciences, with direct access and publisher details.
4. Public Library of Science (PLoS):
   • PLoS offers several high-impact open-access journals in the life and medical sciences, all with easy access and publisher information.
5. Frontiers:
   • Frontiers publishes numerous open-access journals in various scientific fields, including medicine, providing links and details on each journal.
6. MDPI:
   • MDPI is a significant open-access publisher with journals across disciplines like public health, environmental science, and medicine. All journals are accessible with publisher information.
7. Hindawi:
   • Hindawi provides open-access journals across various fields, especially medicine and health sciences, with direct access links.
8. Wiley Open Access:
   • Wiley hosts many open-access journals with publisher information, including in medicine and health sciences, accessible directly.
9. Springer Open:
   • Springer Open offers several open-access journals across medical specialties, all with easy navigation and publisher details.
10. SAGE Open:
    • SAGE Open provides access to numerous open-access journals, including public health and clinical medicine, with links to each journal.

Here’s a selection of notable free-to-publish medical journals across different specialties, backed by reliable institutions and dedicated to keeping publishing free for authors:

General Medicine

1. Journal of Global Health – University of Edinburgh and Croatian Medical Journal
   URL: https://www.jogh.org/
2. Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Open – Canadian Medical Association
   URL: https://www.cmajopen.ca/
3. Global Health Action – Co-Action Publishing, Umeå University
   URL: https://www.globalhealthaction.net/
4. Advances in Medical Education and Practice – Dove Medical Press
   URL: https://www.dovepress.com/advances-in-medical-education-and-practice-journal

Public Health and Epidemiology

5. Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
   URL: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/
6. Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
   URL: https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/
7. BMC Public Health – BioMed Central (Waivers for LMIC)
   URL: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/

Psychiatry and Psychology

8. Frontiers in Psychology – Frontiers Media (Fee Waivers Available)
   URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology
9. International Journal of Mental Health Systems – BMC
   URL: https://ijmhs.biomedcentral.com/
10. Journal of Psychological Research – Academic Research Foundation
    URL: https://journalpsychologicalresearch.com/

Infectious Diseases

11. Infectious Disease Reports – MDPI (APC Waivers Available)
    URL: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/idr
12. Pathogens and Global Health – Taylor & Francis (Waiver Possibilities)
    URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ypgh20/current

Oncology

13. ecancermedicalscience – ecancer Foundation
    URL: https://ecancer.org/en/journal/
14. Journal of Cancer Prevention – Korean Society of Cancer Prevention
    URL: https://www.jcpjournal.org/
15. Cancer Control – Moffitt Cancer Center
    URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/ccx

Pediatrics

16. Italian Journal of Pediatrics – BioMed Central
    URL: https://ijponline.biomedcentral.com/
17. Global Pediatric Health – SAGE (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/gph

Dermatology

18. Dermatology Reports – MDPI (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/dermrep
19. Journal of Dermatological Case Reports – Free Publication
    URL: https://www.jdcr.eu/
20. Case Reports in Dermatology – Karger Publishers (Waiver Eligible)
    URL: https://www.karger.com/Journal/Home/244182

Neurology and Neuroscience

21. eNeurologicalSci – Elsevier
    URL: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/eneurologicalscience/
22. BMC Neuroscience – BioMed Central (Waivers for LMIC)
    URL: https://bmcneurosci.biomedcentral.com/
23. Brain Sciences – MDPI (Waiver Available)
    URL: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/brainsci

Ophthalmology

24. BMC Ophthalmology – BioMed Central (Waiver Available)
    URL: https://bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/
25. Journal of Current Ophthalmology – Iranian Society of Ophthalmology
    URL: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-current-ophthalmology

Cardiology

26. Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy – AME Publishing Company
    URL: https://cdt.amegroups.com/
27. Journal of Geriatric Cardiology – Chinese PLA General Hospital
    URL: https://www.jgc301.com/
28. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmccardiovascdisord.biomedcentral.com/
29. Cardiology Journal – VM Media Group
    URL: https://journals.viamedica.pl/cardiology_journal

Gastroenterology

30. World Journal of Gastroenterology – Baishideng Publishing Group
    URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/
31. BMC Gastroenterology – BioMed Central (Waivers for LMIC)
    URL: https://bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/
32. Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology – AME Publishing Company
    URL: https://jgo.amegroups.com/

Endocrinology and Metabolism

33. BMC Endocrine Disorders – BioMed Central
    URL: https://bmcendocrdisord.biomedcentral.com/
34. Journal of Clinical and Translational Endocrinology – Elsevier
    URL: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-clinical-and-translational-endocrinology
35. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy – Dove Medical Press (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://www.dovepress.com/diabetes-metabolic-syndrome-and-obesity-targets-and-therapy-journal

Surgery

36. Journal of Surgical Case Reports – Oxford University Press
    URL: https://academic.oup.com/jscr
37. International Journal of Surgery Open – Elsevier
    URL: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-surgery-open
38. BMC Surgery – BioMed Central (Waiver Eligible)
    URL: https://bmcsurg.biomedcentral.com/

Pulmonology

39. BMC Pulmonary Medicine – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcpulmmed.biomedcentral.com/
40. Chronic Respiratory Disease – SAGE Publications (Waiver Available)
    URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/crd

Nephrology

41. BMC Nephrology – BioMed Central (Waivers for LMIC)
    URL: https://bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/
42. Clinical Kidney Journal – Oxford University Press
    URL: https://academic.oup.com/ckj
43. Kidney Research and Clinical Practice – Korean Society of Nephrology
    URL: https://www.krcp-ksn.org/

Rheumatology

44. Mediterranean Journal of Rheumatology – Greek Rheumatology Society
    URL: https://www.mjrheum.org/
45. Pediatric Rheumatology – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://ped-rheum.biomedcentral.com/

Infectious Diseases

46. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials – BioMed Central
    URL: https://ann-clinmicrob.biomedcentral.com/
47. BMC Infectious Diseases – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/
48. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance – Elsevier
    URL: https://www.journalofglobalantimicrobialresistance.com/

Urology

49. BMC Urology – BioMed Central (Waivers for LMIC)
    URL: https://bmcurol.biomedcentral.com/
50. Investigative and Clinical Urology – Korean Urological Association
    URL: https://icurology.org/

Orthopedics

51. Orthopedic Research and Reviews – Dove Medical Press (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://www.dovepress.com/orthopedic-research-and-reviews-journal
52. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research – BioMed Central
    URL: https://josr-online.biomedcentral.com/
53. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders – BioMed Central
    URL: https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/

Obstetrics and Gynecology

54. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/
55. Journal of Gynecologic Oncology – Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology
    URL: https://www.ejgo.org/
56. Obstetrics & Gynecology Science – Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
    URL: https://www.ogscience.org/

Nutrition

57. Nutrition Journal – BioMed Central
    URL: https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/
58. BMC Nutrition – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcnutr.biomedcentral.com/
59. Food & Nutrition Research – Swedish Nutrition Foundation
    URL: https://www.foodandnutritionresearch.net/

Medical Imaging

60. Insights into Imaging – European Society of Radiology
    URL: https://insightsimaging.springeropen.com/
61. BMC Medical Imaging – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcmedimaging.biomedcentral.com/
62. Radiology Case Reports – Elsevier
    URL: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/radiology-case-reports

Emergency Medicine

63. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine – BioMed Central
    URL: https://sjtrem.biomedcentral.com/
64. International Journal of Emergency Medicine – BioMed Central
    URL: https://intjem.biomedcentral.com/
65. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine – UC Irvine School of Medicine
    URL: https://westjem.com/

Dermatology

66. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual – International Dermatology Publications
    URL: https://www.derm101.com/
67. BMC Dermatology – BioMed Central
    URL: https://bmcdermatol.biomedcentral.com/

Geriatrics

68. BMC Geriatrics – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/
69. Journal of Aging Research – Hindawi (Waivers for LMIC)
    URL: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/
70. Clinical Interventions in Aging – Dove Medical Press
    URL: https://www.dovepress.com/clinical-interventions-in-aging-journal

Dentistry

71. BMC Oral Health – BioMed Central
    URL: https://bmcoralhealth.biomedcentral.com/
72. International Journal of Dentistry – Hindawi
    URL: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijd/
73. Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research – International Digital Organization for Scientific Information
    URL: http://www.ejomr.org/

Pharmacology

74. BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcpharmacoltoxicol.biomedcentral.com/
75. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives – Wiley and British Pharmacological Society
    URL: https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20521707
76. Journal of Experimental Pharmacology – Dove Medical Press
    URL: https://www.dovepress.com/journal-of-experimental-pharmacology-journal

Pathology

77. Diagnostic Pathology – BioMed Central
    URL: https://diagnosticpathology.biomedcentral.com/
78. BMC Clinical Pathology – BioMed Central (Waivers for LMIC)
    URL: https://bmcclinpathol.biomedcentral.com/
79. Journal of Pathology Informatics – Medknow Publications
    URL: https://www.jpathinformatics.org/

Medical Ethics

80. BMC Medical Ethics – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/
81. Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine – Tehran University of Medical Sciences
    URL: http://jmehm.tums.ac.ir/
82. Ethics, Medicine and Public Health – Elsevier
    URL: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ethics-medicine-and-public-health

Hematology

83. BMC Hematology – BioMed Central (Waivers for LMIC)
    URL: https://bmchematol.biomedcentral.com/
84. Hematology Reports – MDPI (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/hematolrep
85. Journal of Blood Medicine – Dove Medical Press
    URL: https://www.dovepress.com/journal-of-blood-medicine-journal

Otolaryngology (ENT)

86. Journal of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery – BioMed Central
    URL: https://jmedicalcasereports.biomedcentral.com/
87. BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders – BioMed Central
    URL: https://bmcearnosethroatdisord.biomedcentral.com/
88. Journal of Otolaryngology-ENT Research – MedCrave
    URL: https://medcraveonline.com/JOENTR

Anesthesiology

89. BMC Anesthesiology – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcanesthesiol.biomedcentral.com/
90. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia and Pain Medicine – Gavin Publishers
    URL: https://gavinpublishers.com/journals/journal-of-clinical-anesthesia-and-pain-medicine
91. Anesthesiology Research and Practice – Hindawi
    URL: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/arp/

Allergy and Immunology

92. BMC Immunology – BioMed Central (Waivers for LMIC)
    URL: https://bmcimmunol.biomedcentral.com/
93. Journal of Allergy – Hindawi (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ja/
94. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology – BioMed Central
    URL: https://aacijournal.biomedcentral.com/

Veterinary Medicine

95. BMC Veterinary Research – BioMed Central (Waivers Available)
    URL: https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/
96. Journal of Veterinary Science – Korean Society of Veterinary Science
    URL: https://www.jvetsci.org/
97. Veterinary World – Veterinary World
    URL: https://www.veterinaryworld.org/

Family Medicine

98. BMC Family Practice – BioMed Central (Waivers for LMIC)
    URL: https://bmcfampract.biomedcentral.com/
99. International Journal of Family Medicine – Hindawi
    URL: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfm/
100. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care – Wolters Kluwer
     URL: https://www.jfmpc.com/