Guide
Article processing charges explained
An article processing charge (APC) is a fee a journal charges to publish a paper open access, paid by the author, their institution or their funder once the paper is accepted. APCs range from a few hundred dollars to over $12,000: as listed on 26 October 2026, Elsevier's run from about $150 to $10,100, and Gold Open Access in Nature costs $12,850.
What an APC pays for
In a subscription journal, readers' libraries pay and the article sits behind a paywall. In an open access journal funded by APCs, the cost moves to the author's side: the article is free to read, and the journal charges a fee per accepted paper. Hybrid journals do both, charging an APC to make one article open in an otherwise subscription journal.
What journals charge
Prices are set per journal and change; these were listed on 26 October 2026, on each publisher's own pages.
| Journal or publisher | APC (US dollars) |
|---|---|
| Nature (Gold Open Access) | $12,850 |
| Elsevier journals | About $150 to $10,100, excluding tax |
| PLOS Biology (research article, non-member institution) | $5,500 |
| PLOS ONE (research article) | $2,477 |
Who pays, and waivers
Funders and institutions often pay through grants or agreements with publishers; otherwise the author does. Publishers commonly reduce or waive APCs for authors in lower-income countries using the Research4Life country groups. Elsevier waives open access charges in its fully open access journals for authors from 69 Group A countries and halves them for 57 Group B countries. PLOS lets authors from Group A countries without external funding publish free, and offers fee assistance to authors who show financial need, if they apply at submission.
Open access without an APC
Diamond open access journals charge neither readers nor authors; they are community-driven and funded by institutions or volunteers. They carry a minority of open access output: Delta Think estimated that around 13% of open access output from 2018 to 2023 in its sample was APC-free. Green open access (posting a version of the paper in a repository or on a preprint server) is free too, but the posted version has not necessarily been reviewed.
What it costs on Unjournal
Publishing a peer-reviewed preprint on Unjournal is free: there is no article processing charge and no subscription, and you keep the copyright. You pay for the review, once, and only when the reviews are delivered, with a money-back guarantee; revision rounds are included. Pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What is an article processing charge?
A fee a journal charges to publish an accepted paper open access, so that it is free to read. It is paid by the author, the author's institution or a funder.
How much is an APC?
From a few hundred dollars to over $12,000. As listed on 26 October 2026: PLOS ONE $2,477 for a research article, Elsevier journals about $150 to $10,100, Nature $12,850.
Can I get an APC waiver?
Often, if you are based in a lower-income country: Elsevier and PLOS both waive or reduce fees using the Research4Life country groups, and PLOS also considers financial need. Ask at submission, not after acceptance.
Is there open access publishing without an APC?
Yes: diamond open access journals, which charge neither authors nor readers, and repositories or preprint servers (green open access).
Does Unjournal charge an APC?
No. Publishing is free and you keep the copyright. The review is paid once, on delivery, with a money-back guarantee.
Sources
- Nature: Publishing options: Gold Open Access APC, as listed on 26 October 2026
- Elsevier: Open access: APC range and Research4Life waivers, as listed on 26 October 2026
- PLOS: Publication fees: per-journal fees and fee assistance, as listed on 26 October 2026
- Delta Think (2025): What proportion of OA is Diamond OA?: share of open access output that is APC-free, 2018 to 2023
- Science Europe (2021): OA Diamond Journals Study