Compare
Qeios vs Unjournal
Qeios posts a paper as a preprint first, then collects signed, public reviews from researchers its AI invites or who volunteer; Unjournal reviews the paper double-blind with reviewers the author approves, and publishes it only once they endorse the revision. Qeios is open review after publication; Unjournal is anonymous review before it.
How Qeios works
Qeios is a multidisciplinary open science platform. After automated checks, a submission is posted as a preprint within one business day. Qeios uses custom-built AI to identify and invite reviewers, and researchers can also volunteer. Reviewers post their reviews publicly, sign them and disclose conflicts of interest.
Once a paper has at least four reviews, the author can publish it as a Version of Record. Authors can publish for free if their paper attracts reviewers on its own and meets Qeios's standards; a Pro plan at $24.99 a month sends the paper out through the AI-assisted invitation process.
How Unjournal works
- You upload your paper (PDF or Word). It is read for the specific questions that need an expert, and nothing is sent to anyone yet.
- Researchers whose own work is closest to those questions are found in the global publication record, and you approve the anonymized shortlist.
- They review it double-blind, commenting on the passages that matter.
- You revise, and the same reviewers check the revision against their comments.
- Once at least two endorse it and none says “not yet”, you can publish it on the Unjournal preprint journal with its reviews. You keep the copyright.
Uploading and seeing the shortlist are free, publishing is free, and the review is paid once it is delivered, with a money-back guarantee.
The real differences
Order. On Qeios the paper is public before anyone reviews it. On Unjournal nothing is published until the reviewers endorse the revision.
Anonymity. Qeios reviews are signed. Unjournal reviews are double-blind: neither side knows the other.
Who reviews. Qeios invites reviewers with AI or takes volunteers. Unjournal matches reviewers to the paper's questions and the author approves the shortlist before anyone is contacted.
Cost model. Qeios can be free, with a monthly Pro plan for AI invitations. Unjournal charges once for the review, on delivery.
| Criterion | Qeios | Unjournal |
|---|---|---|
| Fields | All disciplines | Any field: reviewers are found in the global publication record |
| When the paper is public | Before review, as a preprint | After the reviewers endorse the revision |
| Who picks the reviewers | AI invitations, or volunteers | Matched to the paper's questions; the author approves an anonymized shortlist |
| Reviewer identities | Signed, with conflicts disclosed | Double-blind: reviewers and author are anonymous to each other |
| Reviews public | Yes | Yes, published alongside the paper |
| What the paper becomes | A Version of Record after at least four reviews | A peer-reviewed preprint on the Unjournal preprint journal |
| Cost to the author | Free if reviewers come on their own; Pro plan $24.99 a month | Free to upload and publish; the review is paid on delivery, with a money-back guarantee |
When Qeios is the better fit
If you want your paper public at once and are comfortable with signed, open reviews arriving afterwards, Qeios offers that across all disciplines. Unjournal fits better if you want anonymous review before anything is published, reviewers you approve, and a revision checked by the same people.
Frequently asked questions
Is my paper public before review on Qeios?
Yes. Qeios posts submissions as preprints, usually within one business day, and the reviews come after.
Are Qeios reviews anonymous?
No. Qeios reviewers post their reviews publicly, sign them and disclose any conflicts of interest.
How much does Qeios cost?
Qeios says authors can publish for free if their paper attracts reviewers on its own; its Pro plan, at $24.99 a month, uses AI-assisted reviewer invitations (read 26 October 2026).
Is anything public before review on Unjournal?
No. Nothing is sent to anyone until you approve the reviewer shortlist, and nothing is published until the reviewers endorse your revision and you choose to publish.
Sources
- Qeios: About: publish-then-review model, AI reviewer invitations, signed reviews, Version of Record after 4 reviews, Pro plan (read 26 October 2026)