What is the impact factor of Nature Communications?

Nature Communications has an impact factor of 15.7 (2024). This places it among the top-tier journals in its field with Nature Communications publishes high-quality research across all areas of natural sciences.

How long does Nature Communications take to review?

Nature Communications typically takes ~9 days to first editorial decision. The full review process involves 6 main stages: direct submission or transfer, editorial assessment, and peer review.

How much does it cost to publish in Nature Communications?

Nature Communications charges €5,390 (~$5,890 USD) as an article processing charge. This fee covers open access publication costs and makes your work freely available to readers worldwide.

Is Nature Communications peer reviewed?

Yes, Nature Communications is fully peer reviewed. All submissions undergo rigorous peer review by 2-3 reviewers with relevant expertise. Detailed technical review expected. Reviewers asked about significance and technical soundness..

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Nature Communications Impact Factor 15.7: Publishing Guide

Q: What is the acceptance rate of Nature Communications?

Nature Communications has an acceptance rate of ~20%. A common reason for rejection is treating it as 'rejected from nature' dump. Papers that feel like disappointment submissions, minimal revision from a Nature rejection, don't do well. Reframe the work for Nature Communications' actual audience and standards.

Q: What does Nature Communications look for in submissions?

Solid significance without requiring 'breakthrough': Nature Communications doesn't need your paper to reshape a field. It needs the work to be technically excellent and represent a meaningful advance. That's a different bar than Nature, and an honest one.

Q: What should I know before submitting to Nature Communications?

Nature Communications is where transfers often land. A significant portion of Nature Communications papers started as Nature or Nature journal submissions. The transfer system is active and efficient. If Nature suggests transfer, seriously consider it.

High-quality science across all fields: the accessible arm of Nature Publishing Group

15.7

Impact Factor (2024)

~20%

Acceptance Rate

~9 days to first editorial decision

Time to First Decision

What Nature Communications Publishes

Nature Communications publishes high-quality research across all areas of natural sciences. It's positioned below Nature but above most specialty journals. It occupies the sweet spot for work that's strong but doesn't quite reach Nature's 'field-changing' bar. Think of it as Nature's workhorse sibling: rigorous, broad-scope, but more realistic about what constitutes publishable science.

Significant advances across all natural sciences
Research representing substantial advances but not requiring Nature-level 'transformation'
Interdisciplinary work spanning multiple fields
Technical and methodological innovations with broad applicability
Strong science that fits the Nature brand but not flagship-level significance

Editor Insight

“Nature Communications is the honest middle ground. It won't pretend your solid paper is field-changing, but it won't reject good work for failing to revolutionize a field. If your paper is technically strong and advances understanding, it belongs here. Don't apologize for not being in Nature flagship; Nature Communications papers are well-read and well-cited.”

What Nature Communications Editors Look For

Solid significance without requiring 'breakthrough'

Nature Communications doesn't need your paper to reshape a field. It needs the work to be technically excellent and represent a meaningful advance. That's a different bar than Nature, and an honest one.

Broad scope, broad appeal

Like Nature, the readership spans all sciences. Your paper should be understandable to scientists outside your field. Jargon-heavy specialist papers belong in specialty journals.

Technical rigor

The methodological bar is high. Nature Communications papers should be bulletproof on methods. Reviewers will scrutinize your statistics, controls, and reproducibility.

Complete stories

Don't submit preliminary findings hoping to get into the Nature family. Nature Communications wants complete, well-developed studies with solid conclusions.

Open access commitment

Nature Communications is fully open access. Authors who believe in open science and have funding to support it are the natural audience.

Clear writing for non-specialists

The abstract and introduction must work for scientists in other fields. If only specialists can understand why your paper matters, narrow your journal target.

Why Papers Get Rejected

These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Nature Communications's editorial review:

Treating it as 'rejected from Nature' dump

Papers that feel like disappointment submissions, minimal revision from a Nature rejection, don't do well. Reframe the work for Nature Communications' actual audience and standards.

Overselling modest advances

Nature Communications has a realistic bar. Claiming 'fundamental shift' when you've made an incremental advance damages credibility. Be honest about what you've accomplished.

Ignoring the APC

The article processing charge is substantial (€5,390 / ~$5,890 USD). If you don't have funding, explore waivers early. Don't get to acceptance and scramble.

Specialist-only framing

Writing for experts in your narrow subfield when Nature Communications readers span all sciences. Your first paragraph should hook a curious physicist reading a biology paper.

Weak data availability

Nature Communications takes data sharing seriously. Inadequate data availability statements or restricted access without justification creates problems.

Underestimating review rigor

Some authors assume Nature Communications is 'easier' than Nature. The technical bar is comparable. The significance bar is lower, but the methods scrutiny is just as intense.

Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?

The quick diagnostic reads your full manuscript against Nature Communications's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.

Run Free Readiness Scan →

Insider Tips from Nature Communications Authors

Nature Communications is where transfers often land

A significant portion of Nature Communications papers started as Nature or Nature journal submissions. The transfer system is active and efficient. If Nature suggests transfer, seriously consider it.

The APC is real: plan for it

At €5,390 (~$5,890 USD), the open access fee matters. Budget for it from the start. Waivers exist for researchers without funding, but approval isn't automatic.

Editorial scope is genuinely broad

Unlike Nature, which has implicit preferences, Nature Communications really does publish across all sciences. Physics, biology, chemistry, earth sciences: if it's good, it fits.

Reviews are typically constructive

Nature Communications reviewers tend to be substantive rather than dismissive. Expect detailed methodological feedback, not just 'not significant enough.'

Revision requests are usually reasonable

Unlike Cell, Nature Communications doesn't typically ask for years of additional experiments. Revisions are usually achievable in 2-3 months.

The editorial process is professional

Professional editors (not academics handling papers on the side) manage submissions. This means consistent, relatively fast handling.

Interdisciplinary work does particularly well

If your paper bridges fields that don't usually talk, Nature Communications is often more receptive than specialty journals in either field.

High citation potential

Open access plus Nature brand plus broad scope equals visibility. Nature Communications papers are well-cited relative to similar specialty journals.

The Nature Communications Submission Process

Direct submission or transfer

Transfer can accelerate the process

Submit directly or accept transfer from Nature/Nature family journals. Transferred papers may get expedited handling if reviews are shared.

Editorial assessment

1-2 weeks

Professional editors assess scope, significance, and technical adequacy. Relatively high desk rejection rate for papers outside scope or below the bar.

Peer review

4-6 weeks

2-3 reviewers with relevant expertise. Detailed technical review expected. Reviewers asked about significance and technical soundness.

Decision

~30 days to first decision

Accept, reject, or revise. Revision requests usually specific and achievable.

Revision

Usually 2-3 months allowed

Address reviewer concerns with point-by-point response. Additional experiments may be requested but typically not extensive.

Acceptance and APC

Publication typically 1-2 weeks after acceptance

Upon acceptance, APC invoice issued. Payment required before publication. Waiver requests should be submitted early.

Nature Communications by the Numbers

2024 Impact Factor(Clarivate JCR)	15.7
Submissions per year	~30,000
Acceptance rate	~20%
Articles published per year	~6,500
Time to first editorial decision(Median, per journal metrics page)	~9 days
Time to acceptance	~243 days median
Open access	100% (CC-BY)
Article processing charge	€5,390 (~$5,890 USD)

Before you submit

Nature Communications accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.

The pre-submission diagnostic runs a live literature search, scores your manuscript section by section, and gives you a prioritized fix list calibrated to Nature Communications. ~30 minutes.

Run Free Readiness Scan See a sample report

Article Types

Article

No strict limit; typically 4,000-6,000 words

Full research reports across all natural sciences

Review

Variable

thorough reviews of important topics (usually commissioned)

Perspective

~3,000 words

Forward-looking commentary on significant topics (usually invited)

Landmark Nature Communications Papers

Papers that defined fields and changed science:

Massively parallel single-cell RNA-seq using nanoliter droplets - 10x Chromium platform (Zheng et al., 2017)
thorough molecular characterization of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (Robertson et al., 2017)
The global distribution and burden of dengue (Bhatt et al., 2013)
Multi-omics profiling of the tumor microenvironment - pan-cancer atlas studies (various, 2018-2022)
Deep learning for protein structure prediction benchmarks and community assessments (CASP-related, multiple years)

Preparing a Nature Communications Submission?

Get pre-submission feedback from reviewers who've published in Nature Communications and know exactly what editors look for.

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Primary Fields

All Natural SciencesPhysicsChemistryBiologyEarth SciencesMaterials ScienceEngineeringInterdisciplinary Research

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