Do I Need to Pay to Publish My Research in Journals? Understanding Publication Fees, Indexing, and Your Options

Publishing research is one of the most rewarding parts of academic life. There’s nothing quite like seeing your name on a paper or watching your hard work become part of the scholarly record.

But along with the excitement often comes a big question that many researchers (especially early-career scholars) worry about: “Do I need to pay to publish?”

Spoiler alert: Not always. Not even often. And definitely not automatically.

This long-form guide breaks down the truth behind publication fees, how journal models work, and how you can publish in Scopus or Web of Science (WoS) journals without spending a single centavo.

Yes, it’s possible, and many researchers do it all the time.

1. The Confusion Around Publication Fees

One of the most common misconceptions among early-career researchers is the belief that publishing in reputable, indexed journals always requires paying a fee. This misunderstanding often spreads through word of mouth, especially in institutions where colleagues primarily publish in open-access (OA) journals that charge Article Processing Charges (APCs). When you constantly hear things like, “Prepare PhP 100,000, this journal requires APC,” it’s easy to assume that paying is part of the process.

The truth? The academic publishing ecosystem is a colorful mixture of models. Some journals charge, some don’t, and many give you the choice. Unfortunately, this nuance often gets lost in conversations, Facebook threads, academic group chats, and coffee-break debates at research conferences.

To make matters worse, predatory journals, or those sketchy ones with suspiciously fast review times (“Accepted in 3 days!”), also tend to confuse new researchers. They charge fees and falsely claim indexing, making many assume “all indexed journals must work like this.” The reality is the exact opposite: top journals are almost never the ones charging unreasonable fees.

2. Types of Journal Publishing Models

Academic journals typically fall under one of several publishing models: subscription-based, open access (OA), hybrid OA, and diamond/platinum OA. These models determine whether authors pay anything at all.

To help make things clearer, here’s a detailed table summarizing the publishing models:

Journal Publishing Models at a Glance

Publishing Model	Author Pays?	Readers Pay?	Common Features	Typical Journal Examples
Subscription-Based	❌ No	✔ Yes (via institution)	High-impact, long-established; free for authors	Many Elsevier, Springer, Taylor & Francis journals
Hybrid OA	Optional (if choosing OA)	✔ Yes for non-OA readers	Authors choose OA or free publication	Most Scopus/WoS-indexed hybrid journals
Fully Open Access	✔ Yes (APC)	❌ No	APC required to cover costs; OA mandatory	PLOS, MDPI, Frontiers, many OA publishers
Diamond/Platinum OA	❌ No	❌ No	Fully free, funded by institutions or societies	Many university-based journals

Each model has pros and cons. Subscription journals are typically the most cost-friendly to authors, while OA journals maximize visibility (at a cost). Hybrid journals strike a balance and give authors freedom.

Before choosing where to publish, it helps to know your priorities: free publication, visibility, indexing, field reputation, or institutional requirements.

3. When Fees Apply (and When They Don’t)

Fees generally apply when authors choose or are required to publish under an open access model. But in many cases, fees are optional or don’t exist at all.

To make this more digestible, here’s a more detailed breakdown.

Common Situations Where Authors DO Pay Fees

Sometimes you might need to pay. Here’s when:

1. Your journal is fully OA: Fees (APCs) are the journal’s primary funding model.
2. You choose the OA option in a hybrid journal: This is voluntary but fees apply.
3. You want optional extras, such as:
   1. Printed color figures
   2. Special print copies
   3. Excess pages (rare these days)
4. The journal explicitly states APCs apply to all submissions

These are normal practices, but they do not apply to all journals.

Submission Fees vs. Publication Fees

It also helps to distinguish between submission fees and publication fees, because they are not the same thing.

A submission fee (sometimes called a handling or review fee) is paid when you submit your manuscript. It is meant to cover the cost of processing and managing peer review and is charged whether the paper is accepted or rejected. A publication fee or Article Processing Charge (APC), on the other hand, is usually paid after acceptance to make your article open access or to cover production costs.

While submission fees exist in some fields (for example, in certain economics or social science journals), they are still not the norm across academia. Many authors will never encounter a submission fee in their careers, but almost everyone will hear about APCs because of the growth of the open access movement.

Who Actually Pays APCs?

Another important clarification: even when APCs are required, individual authors do not always pay out of pocket. In many cases, APCs are covered by:

1. Institutional research funds (university research offices or internal grants)
2. External project grants from government agencies or funding bodies
3. National or regional funding schemes that specifically support open access
4. Waivers and discounts for authors from low-income and lower-middle-income countries

This means that even in fully open access journals, there are often options: you can apply for waivers, seek institutional support, or choose journals whose APCs align with your funding situation. APC does not automatically mean “kailangan ko maglabas ng personal na pera.”

Common Situations Where Authors DO NOT Pay Fees

Many journals, especially older and more established ones, do not charge authors at all. You don’t pay when:

1. The journal is subscription-based
2. The journal is hybrid, and you choose the non-OA option
3. The journal is diamond/platinum OA
4. The journal is funded by an academic society, consortium, or university
5. You are from a low-income or lower-middle-income country (based on World Bank classifications)
6. You apply for “APC Relief Programs” available in many OA journals

In other words: many high-quality journals cost you zero pesos/dollars.

A small tip: If you ever reach a journal website and see absolutely no mention of fees, that usually means there are none. Legit journals don’t hide APCs because they proudly display them (sometimes too proudly).

4. Scopus/WoS Indexing Doesn’t Mean “Paid”

This one deserves its own emphatic clarification because it’s such a widespread myth.

Fact: Indexing has absolutely nothing to do with charging fees.

Scopus and Web of Science evaluate journals based on:

1. Editorial quality
2. Peer review rigor
3. Ethical policies
4. Academic impact
5. Citation behavior
6. Publishing consistency

None of the criteria include “should charge authors money.” Some of the most prestigious journals in the world (Nature, Science, The Lancet—when publishing non-OA) do not require APCs. Many Scopus/WoS journals are 100% free for authors because they are funded through subscriptions.

Ironically, it is the predatory journals that most aggressively demand payment.

Why Many Free Journals Feel “Harder to Publish In”

It’s also worth noting that many Scopus/WoS journals that charge no fees at all, especially subscription-based or hybrid journals, tend to be more selective and more rigorous. This doesn’t mean they are closed or impossible to get into, but they usually expect:

1. Higher methodological quality
2. Stronger theoretical grounding
3. Clearer, more polished writing
4. A more substantial contribution or novelty in the field

Because these journals are funded by libraries, institutions, or societies (and not by author payments), they don’t rely on APCs to survive. As a result, they can afford to:

1. Impose stricter peer review standards
2. Take longer review cycles (often 3–6 months or more)
3. Maintain higher rejection rates to protect journal quality

This is why many researchers feel that free journals are harder to publish in—and in many cases, they are. But the important takeaway is this:

Difficulty doesn’t mean you need to pay. It only means the journal is committed to maintaining quality.

5. How to Check If a Journal Charges Fees

A little bit of research can save you from misunderstandings, predatory publishers, and unnecessary expenses.

Here is a simple, practical process to follow.

Steps to Check Publication Fees (Easy Checklist)

Before submitting, do the following:

1. Visit the journal’s official website. Go directly through the publisher’s website and not aggregator sites.
2. Locate the author guidelines section. Search for sections like:
   1. “Instructions for Authors”
   2. “For Authors”
   3. “Submission Guidelines”
   4. “Publication Fees” or “APCs”
3. Identify the publishing model. Verify if it's subscription, hybrid, OA, or diamond.
4. Check if fees are optional or mandatory. Look for phrases such as:
   1. “APC applies for open access option only”
   2. “No publication charges for non-open access”
5. Cross-check with reliable sources such as:
   1. Scopus Sources
   2. Journal Citation Reports
   3. DOAJ (for OA journals)
6. Email the editorial office if the website is unclear. Reputable journals answer politely—predatory ones answer too fast (or too excitedly).

Warning Signs of Predatory or Suspicious Journals

If you see any of these, run (or click away) immediately:

1. Vague fee information (“small fee,” “processing fee,” “minimal charge”)
2. Fast acceptance promises (“Accepted within 48 hours!”)
3. Poor website design or broken links
4. Too many grammatical errors (always a red flag)
5. Not listed on the publisher’s official platform
6. APC details revealed only after acceptance

If a journal is transparent, professional, and upfront, you’re usually in good hands.

6. A Simple Playbook: How to Publish in Scopus/WoS Without Paying

At this point, you might be thinking, “Okay, I get the theory. But what do I actually do if I want to publish in Scopus or Web of Science without paying anything?” Here is a simple, practical playbook you can follow.

Step-by-Step Playbook

1. Start with reputable publishers and societies. Look at journals from well-known publishers (Elsevier, Springer, Taylor & Francis, IEEE, Wiley, etc.) and professional societies in your field. Many of their journals are either subscription-based or hybrid with a free non-OA option.
2. Filter for Scopus or WoS-indexed journals. Use official lists (Scopus Sources, Web of Science Master Journal List) to identify journals that are truly indexed. Check using the ISSN, not just the journal title.
3. Check the author guidelines for fees. Look carefully for sections like “Publication Charges,” “Article Processing Charges,” or “Open Access Options.” Confirm if there is a free, non-OA route where you pay nothing to publish.
4. Choose the non-OA option when available. In hybrid journals, you can usually publish under the traditional subscription model and still be indexed in Scopus/WoS without paying APCs. Your article is still citable and part of the scholarly record.
5. Prepare a strong manuscript. Free, selective journals often have tougher standards. Invest in your methodology, clarity of writing, and theoretical contribution. This increases your chances of acceptance in fee-free, high-quality journals.
6. Use waivers and funding when OA is required. If you truly need open access (for example, due to funder mandates), explore institutional funds, project grants, or APC waivers and discounts instead of automatically paying from your own pocket.

If you follow this playbook, you can absolutely publish in Scopus- or WoS-indexed journals without spending a single centavo on APCs. It does require more careful journal selection and usually more patience with peer review, but your budget (and your future self) will thank you.

7. Final Thoughts: Publish Smart, Not Expensive

The bottom line: You do NOT always need to pay to publish your research, even in highly respected and well-indexed journals. The belief that “Scopus/WoS = expensive” is just a myth, likely born from the rise of open-access journals and the aggressive marketing of predatory publishers.

Fees depend entirely on the journal’s publishing model, not its indexing or prestige level. Many researchers, including experienced ones, publish multiple papers in Scopus/WoS journals without paying anything. You can too. Publishing strategically means:

1. Understanding your journal options
2. Reading the fine print
3. Checking the publishing model
4. Avoiding predatory journals
5. Choosing journals that support your goals (and budget)

Academic publishing shouldn’t feel like an expensive hobby or a side business. With the right knowledge, you can publish ethically, affordably, and confidently without draining your wallet or your mental health.

And hey, if you manage to publish in a great journal for free? Go treat yourself to milk tea or a donut because you earned it.