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

RSC does not describe Chem Soc Rev as invitation-only. Here is what its own pages say:

How proposals work: The journal page says RSC welcomes and encourages proposals for reviews from members of the research community. The author guidelines say authors interested in writing an article should submit a completed proposal form to the online submission system, which gives the board the opportunity to provide feedback before the article is written.

Can you submit without an invitation? RSC publishes a review proposal form and a tutorial proposal form on the journal page, and asks authors interested in a Viewpoint to contact the editorial office. RSC does not publish an acceptance rate for proposals.

Article types:

• Tutorial Reviews: concise, accessible overviews that RSC says appeal to advanced undergraduates, the general research chemist new to the field, and the expert

• Reviews: in-depth, authoritative accounts of important topics in the chemical sciences

• Viewpoints: short, opinion-based articles

The APC for proposal-based authors: The APC is only payable if you choose gold open access and the article is accepted. The subscription route has no APC. If your funder requires OA, check whether your institution has an open access agreement with RSC using the Journal Finder.

The Royal Society of Chemistry has open access agreements with institutions and consortia. Agreements differ depending on the terms set out between the parties, and the full list of eligible journals is stated in each institution's contract.

RSC's open access community page mentions agreements with Jisc in the UK, Couperin in France and CzechELib in the Czech Republic, and North American institutions. To see whether yours covers Chem Soc Rev, use the RSC Journal Finder. When you submit, you must be listed as the corresponding author in the submission system and use your official institutional email address so RSC can identify the agreement.

RSC member discount: RSC says corresponding authors who are members of the Royal Society of Chemistry are eligible for a 15% discount on APCs, and to claim it you include your membership number in the online application form when asked. The member discount does not apply to the reduced rate countries (India, Indonesia and the Philippines).

Research4Life waivers: RSC says corresponding authors based in Research4Life Group A or Group B countries are eligible for a full APC waiver in its gold open access journals.

Case-by-case requests: RSC says that if you do not fall into Group A or Group B and have no funding to pay the APC, you may apply for a discount or waiver on acceptance. These requests are assessed case by case.

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 paid fast-track described. RSC's author guidelines for Chem Soc Rev do not describe a paid expedited review route.

• 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 a full Review feels like too large a first step, consider proposing a Tutorial Review.

1. RSC publishes its own timing for Chem Soc Rev. The journal page reports a median of 11 days to first decision for all decisions and 27 days for peer-reviewed submissions, and RSC does not publish an acceptance-to-online time for the journal.

1. 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. Proposal approved by Chem Soc Rev? Check whether your institution has an RSC open access agreement. If yes, choose gold OA for free. If not, the subscription track costs nothing.

1. Considering both Chem Soc Rev and Chemical Reviews? Chemical Reviews has a higher IF. Compare the fees and timing on each publisher's own page, and weigh prestige against practicality.

1. Want to write a review? Submit RSC's completed review or tutorial proposal form to the online submission system, as the author guidelines ask. Include a clear scope, your qualifications, and why the topic is timely.

1. Funder requires immediate OA? The APC is £3,100 (plus any applicable tax) for a hybrid journal. Check whether your institution has an RSC open access agreement through the Journal Finder.

1. Cost is the priority? The subscription route carries no APC, and RSC says there are no fees to submit to or publish in the journal.

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

For a manuscript-specific signal before you submit, run a Chemical Society Reviews submission readiness check.

Or see example reports before you finalize.