Paid vs Free Journals in SCI and Scopus: Which Is Best and Why Journals Charge Fees?
In SCI and Scopus indexed journals, both paid and free publication options are available. Some journals are open access (free to read), while others are subscription-based (paid to read). This creates confusion among scholars about which type of journal is best for publishing their research work.
Types of Journals Based on Payment
1. Free to Publish Journals
- No article processing charge (APC)
- Usually subscription-based
- Reader or institution pays for access
- Examples: Many IEEE, Springer, Wiley subscription journals
2. Paid (APC) Journals
- Author pays Article Processing Charge (APC)
- Paper becomes open access
- Anyone can read and download freely
Types of Journals Based on Access
1. Open Access Journals
All published papers are freely available to everyone.
2. Subscription Journals
Readers or institutions must pay to access the papers.
3. Hybrid Journals
Authors can choose:
- Pay APC → Open access
- No APC → Subscription access
Which Is Best for Scholars?
Free to Publish Journals (Best Choice)
- No financial burden
- Usually strict peer review
- High reputation
- Accepted by universities
Paid Journals (Useful in Some Cases)
- Higher visibility due to open access
- Faster processing (sometimes)
- Useful if funding is available
Best Practice: Choose a reputed SCI/Scopus indexed journal based on quality and scope, not based on whether it is paid or free.
Why Do Journals Charge for Publication?
- Peer review management
- Editorial work and quality checks
- Website hosting and archiving
- Typesetting and formatting
- Digital preservation
Open access journals recover these costs from authors instead of readers.
Why Some Journals Are Open Access and Others Are Not?
Open Access Journals
- Funded by APC
- Maximize readership
- Increase citation potential
Non-Open Access Journals
- Funded by subscriptions
- Focus on library-based access
- Traditional publishing model
Myths
- Paid = fake (Not always true)
- Free = low quality (Not true)
- Open access = predatory (Not always true)
What Scholars Should Avoid
- Journals that guarantee acceptance
- Fake indexing claims
- Very fast publication promises
Conclusion
The best journal to publish in is not decided by whether it is paid or free, but by its reputation, indexing status, and peer review quality. Paid journals usually offer open access, while free journals are often subscription-based. Scholars should select journals based on quality, scope, and indexing rather than cost alone.