Compare
Review Commons vs Unjournal
Review Commons gives life-science preprints one round of journal-independent review, free, so authors can take the reports to an affiliate journal; Unjournal reviews papers in any field, double-blind, and lets the author publish the endorsed revision as a peer-reviewed preprint. One is a route into a journal, the other is an alternative to one.
How Review Commons works
Review Commons was launched by ASAPbio and EMBO. Since July 2023 it reviews only manuscripts with a public preprint. A Reviewing Scientific Editor chosen for the topic invites the referees, who assess the study's quality rather than its fit for a particular journal. Reports are anonymous unless the referees sign them.
After one round, the manuscript, the reports and the authors' response form a Refereed Preprint. Authors can transfer it to an affiliate journal, which aims to decide within 10 working days, and the reviews are posted on bioRxiv or medRxiv when the paper goes to its first journal. Review Commons is free of charge for authors.
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
The destination. Review Commons is built to get a paper into a journal faster: its reports travel to affiliate journals that can use them instead of a new review. On Unjournal the endpoint is the peer-reviewed preprint itself, published once the reviewers endorse the revision.
Rounds. Review Commons runs one round; the journal handles what follows. On Unjournal the same reviewers check the revision.
Blinding. Review Commons review is single-blind by default: referees see who the authors are. Unjournal review is double-blind.
Scope and cost. Review Commons covers the life sciences and is free. Unjournal covers any field; the review is paid on delivery.
| Criterion | Review Commons | Unjournal |
|---|---|---|
| Fields | Life sciences (cell biology, neuroscience, genetics and more) | Any field: reviewers are found in the global publication record |
| Who picks the reviewers | A Reviewing Scientific Editor | Matched to the paper's questions; the author approves an anonymized shortlist |
| Reviewer identities | Single-blind; reports anonymous unless referees sign | Double-blind: reviewers and author are anonymous to each other |
| Review rounds | One, then the journal takes over | Review, then the same reviewers check the revision |
| Reviews public | Yes, posted with the preprint once it goes to a journal | Yes, published alongside the paper |
| What the paper becomes | A Refereed Preprint, transferable to affiliate journals | A peer-reviewed preprint on the Unjournal preprint journal |
| Cost to the author | Free | Free to upload and publish; the review is paid on delivery, with a money-back guarantee |
When Review Commons is the better fit
If your paper is in the life sciences and your goal is a journal publication, Review Commons is free and its reports can spare you a fresh review at an affiliate journal. Unjournal fits better if your field is outside its scope, if you want double-blind review and to approve your reviewers, or if you want to publish the reviewed version yourself rather than wait for a journal.
Frequently asked questions
Is Review Commons free?
Yes. Review Commons states that it is free of charge for authors (read 26 October 2026).
Does Review Commons publish my paper?
No. It produces a Refereed Preprint (your preprint with the reports and your response) that you can send to an affiliate journal; publication is the journal's decision.
Do I need a preprint for Review Commons?
Yes. Since 1 July 2023, Review Commons only reviews manuscripts with a publicly available preprint.
Can I still submit to a journal after an Unjournal review?
Unjournal does not take your copyright, and publishing on the Unjournal preprint journal is your decision. Check the policy of the journal you have in mind on previously published preprints.
Sources
- Review Commons: About: ASAPbio and EMBO, Refereed Preprint, transfer to affiliate journals (read 26 October 2026)
- Review Commons: Guidelines for authors: scope, reviewer selection, anonymity, preprint requirement, transfers (read 26 October 2026)
- Review Commons: author flyer (PDF): free of charge for authors (read 26 October 2026)