Chemical Society Reviews APC and Open Access: RSC Pricing, Invited Reviews, and How It Compares to Chemical Reviews

Chemical Society Reviews operates primarily on an invitation basis. Here's what that means in practice:

How invitations work: Members of the editorial board identify active researchers in trending areas and invite them to write reviews. The invitation specifies the topic scope, approximate length, and deadline.

Can you submit without an invitation? Technically yes. Chem Soc Rev accepts unsolicited "outline proposals" where you pitch a review topic to the editorial office. If the editors are interested, they'll invite you to submit a full manuscript. But the acceptance rate for unsolicited proposals is low. The journal receives far more proposals than it can accommodate.

What gets invited:

• Tutorial Reviews: shorter, more focused reviews aimed at researchers entering a field
• Review Articles: longer, more authoritative surveys of a research area
• Themed collections: editors sometimes organize collections around a topic and invite multiple groups

The APC conversation for invited authors: When you're invited, the APC isn't usually a surprise. Many invited authors publish via the subscription track and don't pay anything. If your funder requires OA, you can request coverage details during the invitation process.

The Royal Society of Chemistry has built a strong network of institutional agreements, particularly in the UK and Europe.

UK-based researchers have the best RSC coverage. The Jisc agreement means most UK universities can publish in any RSC journal, including Chem Soc Rev, with full APC coverage. If you're at a UK institution, there's a strong chance you can publish gold OA for free.

US and Chinese researchers are less likely to have full RSC R&P coverage, though the number of institutional agreements is growing.

RSC member discount: RSC Fellows and members receive APC discounts (typically 15-25%) across all RSC journals. If you're already an RSC member, the discount applies automatically during the publication process.

Developing country waivers: RSC offers full or partial APC waivers for corresponding authors in lower-income countries. Eligibility aligns with Research4Life/HINARI categories.

Financial hardship: Case-by-case requests are considered. RSC's charitable status (it's a learned society, not a for-profit publisher) means it's generally more flexible on waivers than commercial publishers.

RSC's Gold for Gold program: RSC runs a program where institutions that subscribe to RSC Gold (the full journal package) receive vouchers for OA publishing. This is separate from R&P agreements and provides an additional route to funded OA.

For UK and European researchers, Plan S compliance through Chem Soc Rev is straightforward. The RSC agreements cover the APC, and CC BY licensing is available. US researchers can use the subscription track and self-archive the accepted manuscript after 12 months to satisfy NIH or NSF requirements.

• Review writing is time-intensive. A Chem Soc Rev review typically takes 3-6 months of dedicated work. The APC is minor compared to the time investment.

• Figure preparation matters. Chem Soc Rev reviews are known for high-quality graphical summaries and scheme figures. Expect to invest time (or money for a professional illustrator) in figure preparation.

• No fast-track option. RSC doesn't offer paid expedited review for Chem Soc Rev.

• Self-archiving: RSC allows authors to post the accepted manuscript on institutional repositories after a 12-month embargo.

• Supplementary materials are free. No additional charge for supporting information files.

1. Tutorial Reviews are a separate article type. They're shorter, aimed at newcomers to a field, and are particularly good for early-career researchers who want to establish expertise. If you're not yet senior enough for a full review invitation, pitch a Tutorial Review.
2. Chem Soc Rev has one of the fastest review-to-publication cycles in high-IF chemistry. Once a review is accepted, it's typically online within 2-3 weeks. Chemical Reviews can take months for production.
3. The journal's scope is broader than "chemistry." Chem Soc Rev regularly publishes reviews that bridge chemistry with materials science, biology, and environmental science. Don't self-select out if your work is interdisciplinary.

For chemistry researchers considering a review publication:

1. Invited to Chem Soc Rev? Check whether your institution has an RSC R&P agreement. If yes, choose gold OA for free. If not, the subscription track costs nothing.
2. Invited to both Chem Soc Rev and Chemical Reviews? Chemical Reviews has a higher IF but costs more and takes longer. Weigh prestige against practicality.
3. Want to write a review but haven't been invited? Submit an outline proposal to Chem Soc Rev's editorial office. Include a clear scope, your qualifications, and why the topic is timely.
4. Funder requires immediate OA? The APC (~$2,500-$3,000) is reasonable for a top-tier journal. Most UK and German institutions cover it through R&P deals.
5. Cost is the priority? Chem Soc Rev is already one of the cheapest high-IF options in chemistry. You won't find much cheaper at this quality level.

Whether you're writing a review for Chem Soc Rev or preparing original research for JACS or another ACS journal, strong manuscript preparation matters. Reviewers check for clarity, structure, and thoroughness. Chemical Society Reviews submission readiness check to identify structural issues before you submit.

Worth paying if:

• Your funder mandates open access (check Plan S / cOAlition S requirements)
• An institutional Read & Publish agreement covers the fee
• Open access visibility meaningfully benefits your research area
• The APC fits within your grant budget

Consider alternatives if:

• The APC is a personal out-of-pocket expense
• A subscription option or green OA (preprint + embargo) satisfies your funder
• Another OA journal with a lower APC would provide similar visibility