Numerous studies have indicated that publishing with open-access journals will increase the visibility and impact of a research work. It can lead to increased citations and collaboration, as well as faster dissemination of research findings. However, some researchers may confuse open-access journals with predatory journals because predatory journals generally publish in open-access format.
To help researchers better understand their difference, below please find a table summarizing the key differences between legitimate journals, open-access journals and predatory journals in terms of their reputation, fees, indexing and impact factors, peer review processes, etc. based on various studies (Masten & Ashcraft, 2016; Committee on Publication Ethics, 2019; Grand Valley State University, 2020).
| Legitimate Journals | Open-Access Journals | Predatory Journals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | Often associated with reputable publishers or academic institutions | Often associated with reputable publishers or academic institutions | Often not associated with reputable publishers or academic institutions |
| Peer Review | Rigorous peer review process | Process varies but generally involves rigorous peer-review process | Low standards for quality of the article; sometimes may not provide proper peer review process at all |
| Journal Scope | Clear and well-defined scope | Clear and well-defined scope | Vague, broad, or poorly defined scope |
| Editorial Board | High quality editorial board with expertise in the field | Varies, some have renowned experts | Often unknown or fake names |
| Publication Fees | Often charged | Most will charge authors for Article Processing Charges(APC) but the fee is transparent and reasonable | High and unjustified without providing transparent information |
| Indexing and Impact Factor | Indexed in recognized databases; may have impact factor | Varies, some indexed in reputable databases and directories, may have impact factor | Falsely claim to be indexed or included in reputable databases, or may falsely claim to have impact factor |
| Acceptance to Publication | Peer review usually takes from a few weeks to a few months; once accepted, publication time often takes months to years | Peer review usually takes weeks; once accepted, takes a few weeks for publication | Once accepted, immediate publication |
| Access to Articles | Subscription based, limited access | Free, unrestricted access | Free, unrestricted access |
| Copyright | Author may retain or assign to publisher | Author may retain or assign to publisher | Publisher bypasses process |