10 Ways to Publish Your Research for Free in Top Journals
Publishing in high-impact journals like Elsevier, Wiley, and PLOS can be expensive, with article processing charges (APCs) ranging from $150 to nearly $10,000. For many researchers, these costs can be a significant barrier. But don’t worry, there are ways to get your research out there without breaking the bank!
Here are 10 effective methods to publish your research for free:
Method 1: Visit DOAJ – Directory of Open Access Journals
DOAJ is a comprehensive index of diverse open access journals worldwide. You can filter journals with no publication fees.
How to use DOAJ:
- Go to doaj.org
- Search for journals
- Apply the filter “Without APCs” (Article Processing Charges)
This will give you a list of journals to publish for FREE!
Method 2: University Agreements
Your university might have agreements with specific scientific journals to publish articles for free or at a reduced cost. Check your university’s website for details.
For example, the University of Toronto has 100% waivers with 8 publishers: University of Toronto OA Agreements
Method 3: Waivers
Many journals offer waivers or discounts on publication fees for authors from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Check the journal’s “author guidelines” section for details.
Method 4: Hybrid Model
Some journals offer a hybrid model where authors can choose to publish their work as “open access” for a fee or without “open access” for free (behind a paywall). I’ll share an Excel file of such journals at the end.
Method 5: Negotiation
Don’t be afraid to negotiate! Especially for graduate students or authors who demonstrate insufficient funding, negotiation can still work.
Method 6: Society Memberships
Many academic societies offer significant discounts on APCs for their members. If you frequently publish in society-affiliated journals, this can save you a lot.
Method 7: Editorial Board Discounts
Editorial board members often get discounts on APCs. If you’re on the board of your preferred journal, check for details on eligibility.
Method 8: Peer Review Discounts
Peer reviewers play a crucial role in the scientific publishing process. Many journals offer APC discounts to peer reviewers as a token of appreciation.
Method 9: Lifetime Memberships
Lifetime memberships with scientific publishing platforms like PeerJ offer unlimited publishing and discounted fees. This is a great way to support open access and save on APCs.
Method 10: Subscriber’s Discount
Subscribing to scientific journals can come with perks like discounts on APCs. Medical journals such as JAMA, BMJ, and NEJM offer such discounts.
Bonus:
Download a list of 813 PubMed indexed journals with a Rs. 0 article processing fee: Download here
Using these methods, you can easily publish your quality work online at no cost. Don’t let publication fees hold you back!
Feel free to reach out for any questions, or thoughts. Happy exploring!
Best, Abhijeet Satani
Remember, curiosity knows no bounds, and the journey into science is an ongoing, exciting endeavour. Enjoy every moment of it!