ITS Journal Rankings · Open access
Top open-access journals
Ranked journals listed in DOAJ (the Directory of Open Access Journals), ordered by the ITS Journal Score (2021–2025, open OpenAlex data). Fees are shown where DOAJ records them.
15,863 of the 62,158 ranked journals (26%) are listed in DOAJ. Together they published 7,015,352 papers in 2021–2025; the median journal published 160 papers. The largest fields are Social Sciences (4,997), Medicine (2,600), Arts and Humanities (1,612).
DOAJ listing is checked against DOAJ's open data. A journal missing here may still publish open access (for example if it is not in DOAJ or has not been checked yet). "Not recorded" in the fee column means DOAJ has no fee on record; check the journal's website.
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Top 100 DOAJ journals
| Rank in list | Global rank | Journal | Field | Score | Papers 2021–2025 | h-index | Open access | Fee (APC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | #5 | Nature Communications Nature Portfolio | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 98.7 | 47,557 | 753 | 100% | 6,150 EUR |
| 2 | #18 | Nucleic Acids Research Oxford University Press | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 97.0 | 6,700 | 882 | 100% | US$4,192 |
| 3 | #36 | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy Springer Nature | Medicine | 95.4 | 2,113 | 285 | 100% | 3,090 GBP |
| 4 | #48 | Science Advances American Association for the Advancement of Science | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 94.8 | 11,891 | 380 | 100% | US$5,450 |
| 5 | #51 | Molecular Cancer BioMed Central | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 94.6 | 1,227 | 293 | 100% | 4,390 EUR |
| 6 | #75 | Nano-Micro Letters Springer Science+Business Media | Engineering | 93.6 | 1,360 | 206 | 100% | 2,190 EUR |
| 7 | #98 | Journal of Hematology & Oncology BioMed Central | Medicine | 93.0 | 757 | 234 | 100% | 4,490 EUR |
| 8 | #100 | Journal of Clinical Investigation American Society for Clinical Investigation | Medicine | 92.9 | 3,060 | 714 | 100% | US$5,700 |
| 9 | #110 | Light Science & Applications Springer Nature | Engineering | 92.6 | 1,619 | 214 | 100% | 3,190 EUR |
| 10 | #118 | Theranostics Ivyspring International Publisher | Engineering | 92.5 | 2,343 | 228 | 100% | 4,500 AUD |
| 11 | #136 | Environment International Elsevier BV | Environmental Science | 92.1 | 3,618 | 336 | 100% | US$5,030 |
| 12 | #142 | Cardiovascular Diabetology BioMed Central | Medicine | 91.9 | 1,842 | 170 | 100% | 3,990 EUR |
| 13 | #150 | Advanced Science Wiley | Engineering | 91.7 | 14,728 | 282 | 100% | US$6,730 |
| 14 | #158 | Journal of Extracellular Vesicles Taylor & Francis | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 91.5 | 744 | 172 | 100% | US$4,850 |
| 15 | #159 | Microbiome BioMed Central | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 91.5 | 1,351 | 236 | 100% | 4,290 EUR |
| 16 | #163 | Gut Microbes Landes Bioscience | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 91.4 | 1,555 | 171 | 100% | 5,085 AUD |
| 17 | #165 | Redox Biology Elsevier BV | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 91.4 | 2,107 | 210 | 100% | US$4,700 |
| 18 | #172 | JAMA Network Open American Medical Association | Economics, Econometrics and Finance | 91.2 | 11,990 | 237 | 100% | US$3,000 |
| 19 | #179 | Genome biology BioMed Central | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 91.0 | 1,687 | 389 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 20 | #182 | Chemical Science Royal Society of Chemistry | Chemistry | 91.0 | 9,668 | 277 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 21 | #193 | Cell Reports Cell Press | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 90.9 | 7,613 | 328 | 100% | US$5,790 |
| 22 | #203 | Heliyon Elsevier BV | Medicine | 90.7 | 38,508 | 190 | 100% | US$2,270 |
| 23 | #205 | Journal of Nanobiotechnology BioMed Central | Engineering | 90.7 | 3,204 | 173 | 100% | 3,190 EUR |
| 24 | #209 | Ecological Indicators Elsevier BV | Environmental Science | 90.6 | 7,186 | 244 | 100% | US$4,020 |
| 25 | #211 | Journal of Medical Internet Research JMIR Publications | Health Professions | 90.5 | 5,820 | 296 | 100% | US$3,350 |
| 26 | #223 | RSC Advances Royal Society of Chemistry | Materials Science | 90.3 | 18,224 | 285 | 100% | 2,100 GBP |
| 27 | #231 | The EMBO Journal Springer Nature | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 90.2 | 1,554 | 566 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 28 | #233 | Pharmacological Research Elsevier BV | Neuroscience | 90.2 | 2,430 | 222 | 71% | Not recorded |
| 29 | #235 | IEEE Access Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | Computer Science | 90.2 | 59,530 | 375 | 100% | US$2,160 |
| 30 | #239 | The Astrophysical Journal IOP Publishing | Physics and Astronomy | 90.1 | 17,299 | 703 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 31 | #240 | The Lancet Public Health Elsevier BV | Medicine | 90.1 | 873 | 156 | 100% | US$7,860 |
| 32 | #241 | npj Digital Medicine Nature Portfolio | Medicine | 90.1 | 1,879 | 168 | 100% | 3,390 EUR |
| 33 | #243 | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research BioMed Central | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 90.1 | 1,812 | 186 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 34 | #249 | Cell Death and Disease Springer Nature | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 90.0 | 5,060 | 239 | 100% | 4,190 EUR |
| 35 | #254 | Antioxidants Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute | Medicine | 90.0 | 9,811 | 207 | 100% | 2,900 CHF |
| 36 | #255 | Experimental & Molecular Medicine Springer Nature | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 90.0 | 1,063 | 181 | 100% | 3,990 EUR |
| 37 | #259 | The Lancet Global Health Elsevier BV | Medicine | 89.9 | 2,009 | 221 | 100% | US$7,860 |
| 38 | #260 | The ISME Journal Springer Nature | Environmental Science | 89.9 | 1,295 | 310 | 100% | 3,675 EUR |
| 39 | #261 | Molecules Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 89.9 | 35,827 | 347 | 100% | 2,700 CHF |
| 40 | #263 | Molecular Biology and Evolution Oxford University Press | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 89.9 | 1,554 | 324 | 100% | US$3,255 |
| 41 | #264 | Hydrology and earth system sciences Copernicus Publications | Environmental Science | 89.9 | 6,219 | 232 | 100% | 1,800 EUR |
| 42 | #265 | International Journal of Nanomedicine Dove Medical Press | Materials Science | 89.8 | 2,971 | 218 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 43 | #268 | Ultrasonics Sonochemistry Elsevier BV | Materials Science | 89.8 | 2,210 | 211 | 100% | US$3,870 |
| 44 | #279 | Molecular Neurodegeneration BioMed Central | Medicine | 89.7 | 499 | 168 | 100% | 2,990 EUR |
| 45 | #286 | EBioMedicine Elsevier BV | Medicine | 89.6 | 2,863 | 181 | 100% | US$6,810 |
| 46 | #289 | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press | Physics and Astronomy | 89.5 | 16,818 | 503 | 90% | 2,310 GBP |
| 47 | #291 | EClinicalMedicine Elsevier BV | Medicine | 89.5 | 2,975 | 150 | 100% | US$6,810 |
| 48 | #295 | The Astrophysical Journal Letters IOP Publishing | Physics and Astronomy | 89.4 | 3,719 | 246 | 100% | 2,219 GBP |
| 49 | #299 | Bioinformatics Oxford University Press | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 89.4 | 4,065 | 572 | 89% | Not recorded |
| 50 | #306 | Energy Reports Elsevier BV | Engineering | 89.3 | 7,584 | 150 | 100% | US$3,220 |
| 51 | #308 | Water Resources Research Wiley | Environmental Science | 89.3 | 3,332 | 425 | 81% | 2,600 EUR |
| 52 | #309 | Scientific Reports Nature Portfolio | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 89.2 | 151,352 | 465 | 100% | 2,490 EUR |
| 53 | #319 | Journal of Neuroinflammation BioMed Central | Neuroscience | 89.1 | 1,615 | 218 | 100% | 3,490 EUR |
| 54 | #321 | Computers and Education Artificial Intelligence Elsevier BV | Computer Science | 89.1 | 533 | 111 | 100% | US$2,940 |
| 55 | #328 | Frontiers in Immunology Frontiers Media | Immunology and Microbiology | 89.0 | 33,404 | 356 | 100% | 3,150 CHF |
| 56 | #330 | PLoS Biology Public Library of Science | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 89.0 | 2,313 | 383 | 100% | US$5,500 |
| 57 | #331 | Environmental Health Perspectives National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences | Environmental Science | 89.0 | 1,194 | 410 | 100% | US$3,500 |
| 58 | #335 | Frontiers in Microbiology Frontiers Media | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 88.9 | 20,517 | 347 | 100% | 3,150 CHF |
| 59 | #337 | Sensors Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute | Engineering | 88.9 | 44,454 | 337 | 100% | 2,600 CHF |
| 60 | #340 | Frontiers in Plant Science Frontiers Media | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 88.8 | 19,408 | 329 | 100% | 3,150 CHF |
| 61 | #343 | PLoS Medicine Public Library of Science | Medicine | 88.8 | 1,100 | 351 | 100% | US$6,460 |
| 62 | #352 | Alexandria Engineering Journal Elsevier BV | Engineering | 88.7 | 4,877 | 144 | 100% | US$2,160 |
| 63 | #357 | Foods Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 88.6 | 20,411 | 185 | 100% | 2,900 CHF |
| 64 | #360 | Journal Of Big Data Springer Science+Business Media | Computer Science | 88.6 | 940 | 124 | 100% | 1,990 EUR |
| 65 | #362 | Pharmaceutics Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute | Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics | 88.6 | 11,136 | 187 | 100% | 2,900 CHF |
| 66 | #366 | Critical Care BioMed Central | Medicine | 88.6 | 2,466 | 289 | 100% | 3,590 EUR |
| 67 | #368 | Cells Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 88.6 | 14,789 | 234 | 100% | 2,700 CHF |
| 68 | #369 | LWT Elsevier BV | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 88.6 | 7,965 | 222 | 85% | US$3,470 |
| 69 | #373 | Journal of High Energy Physics Springer Nature | Physics and Astronomy | 88.5 | 13,584 | 380 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 70 | #375 | Journal of Magnesium and Alloys Elsevier BV | Materials Science | 88.5 | 1,457 | 123 | 100% | US$1,500 |
| 71 | #377 | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Elsevier BV | Environmental Science | 88.5 | 7,710 | 237 | 100% | US$3,630 |
| 72 | #378 | BMC Medicine BioMed Central | Medicine | 88.5 | 2,714 | 259 | 100% | 3,690 EUR |
| 73 | #383 | Carbon Energy Wiley | Engineering | 88.5 | 821 | 103 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 74 | #386 | The Lancet Digital Health Elsevier BV | Medicine | 88.5 | 671 | 130 | 100% | US$7,860 |
| 75 | #389 | Physical Review X American Physical Society | Physics and Astronomy | 88.4 | 1,285 | 210 | 100% | US$4,685 |
| 76 | #392 | Earth system science data Copernicus Publications | Earth and Planetary Sciences | 88.4 | 1,424 | 171 | 100% | 1,400 EUR |
| 77 | #393 | Astronomy and Astrophysics EDP Sciences | Physics and Astronomy | 88.4 | 14,346 | 402 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 78 | #399 | FEMS Microbiology Reviews Oxford University Press | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 88.3 | 281 | 318 | 88% | 2,500 GBP |
| 79 | #405 | Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Springer Science+Business Media | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 88.3 | 2,615 | 332 | 53% | Not recorded |
| 80 | #410 | Bioactive Materials Elsevier BV | Engineering | 88.3 | 2,211 | 157 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 81 | #413 | Journal of Translational Medicine BioMed Central | Medicine | 88.2 | 4,844 | 192 | 100% | 3,350 EUR |
| 82 | #414 | Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences Springer Nature | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 88.2 | 2,271 | 331 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 83 | #416 | Journal of Materials Research and Technology Elsevier BV | Engineering | 88.2 | 13,525 | 158 | 100% | US$1,930 |
| 84 | #418 | Nanomaterials Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute | Materials Science | 88.1 | 15,166 | 203 | 100% | 2,900 CHF |
| 85 | #419 | Nano Research Springer Science+Business Media | Energy | 88.1 | 5,139 | 198 | 34% | 13,000 CNY |
| 86 | #420 | International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education Springer Nature | Computer Science | 88.1 | 343 | 120 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 87 | #426 | International Journal of Biological Sciences Ivyspring International Publisher | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 88.1 | 1,856 | 166 | 100% | 2,000 AUD |
| 88 | #427 | Industrial Crops and Products Elsevier BV | Engineering | 88.0 | 8,687 | 220 | 36% | Not recorded |
| 89 | #431 | Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B Elsevier BV | Engineering | 88.0 | 1,839 | 168 | 100% | US$2,600 |
| 90 | #432 | National Science Review Oxford University Press | Engineering | 88.0 | 1,946 | 165 | 100% | US$1,904 |
| 91 | #439 | Journal of Biomedical Science BioMed Central | Immunology and Microbiology | 87.9 | 543 | 152 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 92 | #449 | Geoderma Elsevier BV | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 87.8 | 2,389 | 270 | 74% | Not recorded |
| 93 | #456 | Catalysis Communications Elsevier BV | Multidisciplinary | 87.8 | 627 | 143 | 100% | US$2,180 |
| 94 | #462 | Briefings in Bioinformatics Oxford University Press | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 87.7 | 3,299 | 210 | 78% | US$3,885 |
| 95 | #479 | Remote Sensing Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute | Environmental Science | 87.5 | 26,290 | 275 | 100% | 2,700 CHF |
| 96 | #486 | Plant Biotechnology Journal Wiley | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 87.5 | 1,663 | 202 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 97 | #494 | Genome Medicine BioMed Central | Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 87.4 | 773 | 180 | 100% | 4,490 EUR |
| 98 | #495 | Geophysical Research Letters American Geophysical Union | Physics and Astronomy | 87.4 | 9,061 | 433 | 87% | US$3,190 |
| 99 | #500 | Emerging infectious diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Medicine | 87.4 | 2,606 | 330 | 100% | Not recorded |
| 100 | #503 | Agricultural Water Management Elsevier BV | Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 87.4 | 3,094 | 213 | 74% | Not recorded |
Other journal rankings
Transparent methodology
How the ITS Journal Score works
One formula applies to every ranked journal, using open data from OpenAlex: 45% citation impact, 35% h-index and 20% size (papers published 2021–2025). Citation impact is the smaller of the journal's two-year mean citedness and its five-year citations per paper, so a journal whose output collapsed cannot jump to the top on old citations. Each part is half a percentile and half a log-scaled value, so the very top is still separated. Growth and open-access share are shown separately and are not part of the score.
A journal is ranked only if it published at least 50 papers in 2021–2025 and was active in at least five of the last six years. Field rankings compare a journal only with journals in the same field; the field is the OpenAlex field with most of the journal's recent papers, or "Multidisciplinary" when no field has 30% of them.
What this is not: the ITS Journal Score is not a Journal Impact Factor, CiteScore or SJR, and this site does not say whether a journal is indexed in Scopus, Web of Science or PubMed. Always confirm aims and scope, indexing, peer review and fees on the journal's own website before you submit.