Where you publish shapes who reads your research, how quickly it spreads, and how it is funded. One of the most consequential decisions a researcher makes is whether to publish in an open access journal or a traditional subscription-based one. Both models are legitimate, but they operate on fundamentally different economics — and understanding the difference matters for anyone choosing where to submit.
How Subscription Journals Work
In the traditional subscription model, readers (or their institutions) pay to access published content, usually through library subscriptions or per-article paywalls. Authors typically do not pay to publish, but their work is only accessible to readers whose institutions can afford the subscription — which can significantly limit readership, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
How Open Access Journals Work
Open access (OA) journals flip this model: published content is freely available to anyone, anywhere, without a paywall. Since there is no subscription revenue, most OA journals rely on an Article Publication Charge (APC) paid by the author (or their institution or funder) upon acceptance, after peer review, to cover the costs of managing, reviewing, and permanently archiving the journal.
IJMS operates on this open access model. Importantly, no fee is charged at the time of submission — the APC (USD 150 for professors, scholars, and students; USD 215 for corporate professionals) is only requested after a manuscript has successfully passed double-blind peer review and been accepted. This structure is worth noting explicitly, because it distinguishes legitimate open access journals from predatory ones, which often demand payment upfront regardless of review outcome.
Key Differences at a Glance
Readership
Open access articles are indexed and freely readable by anyone with an internet connection, which tends to produce faster and broader citation uptake. Subscription articles reach a narrower, often institutionally affiliated audience.
Cost Structure
Subscription journals shift cost to readers/institutions; open access journals shift cost to authors (typically via APCs), often subsidized by grants or institutional open-access funds.
Speed to Publication
Open access journals, particularly those with continuous publishing models, often have shorter turnaround times than legacy subscription journals, which may batch content into infrequent print issues.
Long-Term Access
Reputable open access journals commit to lifetime archiving of published work, ensuring papers remain permanently discoverable and citable — a feature IJMS explicitly includes as part of its APC.
Why Open Access Matters for Medical Research Specifically
Medical and public health research has an unusually strong case for open access. Findings on disease prevention, treatment protocols, and public health interventions have the most impact when they reach clinicians, policymakers, and researchers everywhere — not just those at institutions that can afford expensive subscriptions. This is part of why funders such as the World Health Organization and major research funding bodies increasingly require or strongly encourage open access publication for funded studies.
How to Spot a Legitimate Open Access Journal (vs. a Predatory One)
The rise of open access publishing has, unfortunately, also given rise to predatory journals that charge fees without providing genuine peer review. Watch for these markers of legitimacy:
- Fees are requested only after acceptance, never before or during review
- A clearly described, double-blind (or otherwise transparent) peer review process
- A defined editorial board with verifiable credentials
- DOI registration through a recognized agency such as Crossref
- Transparent Article Publication Charges listed publicly, not sent privately on request
- A genuine indexing presence (Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, or similar)
Which Model Should You Choose?
For most researchers, especially those whose work has direct clinical or public health relevance, open access offers meaningfully broader reach and faster real-world impact. If cost is a concern, look for journals offering reduced APCs for students and scholars — a common and legitimate practice — rather than dismissing open access altogether.
Final Thoughts
Neither model is inherently “better” — the right choice depends on your field, funding situation, and how important broad, immediate accessibility is to your research goals. If open access aligns with your priorities, review the IJMS Scope and current publication charges on the Paper Submission page before submitting your next manuscript.