ManuSights/Resource Library

Reference notes

Coverage

57 journals · 4 funder policies

Sources

Publisher APC pages + funder policies

Last reviewed

February 2026

Prepared by the Manusights editorial team.

Publishing-route guide

Open Access Publishing in Biomedicine: APCs, Mandates, and Journal Options

If your research is funded by the NIH, UKRI, Wellcome Trust, or certain European funders, you're required to publish open access. That requirement changes the calculus on where to submit, and how much it's going to cost.

This guide covers the main OA mandates, what they require, and the APC costs for 57 top biomedical journals. All figures are approximate: APCs change regularly and institutional agreements can reduce or eliminate the cost.

Quick orientation

Use this page when the journal decision is constrained by funder policy, APC budget, or the practical route to compliance.

This guide is designed for manuscript planning, not just policy reading. It helps teams map the mandate first, then compare journal models, then check whether institutional agreements or waiver routes change the real cost.

57 journals4 major funder policiesAPC rangesWaiver and compliance notes

Best used with

Author rights guide

Use it when the next question is what rights you keep after publication or repository deposit.

Journal submission specs

Check journal-level package requirements once the open-access route is clear.

Data sharing requirements

Pair article-access planning with repository and dataset obligations before submission.

In this guide

The five sections that matter most for OA planning

Start with the mandate only if a funder is setting the rules. Most submission teams should move quickly from policy to journal model, then into the APC dataset and the practical cost-reduction routes.

Funder mandates

NIH, UKRI, Wellcome, and ERC rules that change where and how you can publish.

OA models

Gold, hybrid, and green routes and what each one buys you.

Journal dataset

Compare OA model, APC range, waiver availability, and compatibility in one place.

APC advice

Budget, waiver, and transformative-agreement choices before acceptance arrives.

Source notes

Know what is approximate, what changes often, and where to verify the latest policy.

Major OA Mandates in Biomedicine

NIH (USA)

Immediate OA

Effective: January 2025 (for grants awarded from Jan 2025)

All peer-reviewed publications from NIH funding must be freely available in PubMed Central (PMC) immediately upon publication, with no embargo. Authors may deposit the accepted manuscript (AAM) if the published version isn't immediately open. NIH does not mandate a specific license: unlike cOAlition S funders, papers can retain journal copyright while still being deposited in PMC.

UKRI (UK)

Immediate OA

Effective: April 2022 (fully in effect)

All peer-reviewed research articles and review articles resulting from UKRI funding must be published OA immediately on publication. CC BY license required. Applies to all UKRI funders: EPSRC, MRC, BBSRC, etc.

Wellcome Trust

Immediate OA

Effective: January 2021

Requires immediate open access with a CC BY license. Supports APCs for publishing in fully OA journals or via the hybrid route. One of the strictest mandates: no embargo, CC BY only.

European Research Council (ERC)

Immediate OA

Effective: January 2021 (Plan S)

Part of cOAlition S / Plan S. Requires immediate open access to all peer-reviewed publications. CC BY license required. Authors can publish in fully OA journals, hybrid journals with transformative agreements, or deposit accepted manuscripts in approved repositories.

Practical implication: If you're funded by NIH, UKRI, Wellcome, or ERC, submitting to a subscription-only journal and doing nothing to make it OA is no longer compliant. Most researchers either (a) submit to a fully OA journal, (b) pay the hybrid APC to make the article OA, or (c) post the accepted manuscript to a repository (like PubMed Central or an institutional repository) where the funder mandate allows it.

OA Models: Gold, Hybrid, and Green

🟡 Gold OA

The journal is fully open access: all articles are freely available to anyone, immediately on publication. The author (or their funder) pays an APC.

Examples: PLOS ONE, Nature Communications, Genome Biology, eLife

🔵 Hybrid OA

The journal is subscription-based, but authors can pay an additional APC to make their specific article OA. Most major journals offer this.

Examples: Nature, NEJM, Lancet, JAMA, and Cell all offer hybrid OA

🟢 Green OA

The accepted manuscript (not the final typeset PDF) is posted to a repository like PubMed Central, Europe PMC, or an institutional repository. No APC required. Compliance depends on the journal's self-archiving policy.

All major journals permit some version of green OA: embargo periods and version rules vary. Check SHERPA/RoMEO for specific journal policies.

Gold and hybrid open-access options by journal

Use the dataset below to compare fully open-access journals, hybrid journals with optional OA, waiver availability, and basic funder compatibility in one place. The default view includes both fully OA and hybrid titles so you can compare the tradeoff directly.

Open access publishing options by journal

Compare the route that matters first: fully open versus hybrid, approximate APC, and whether the publisher offers a waiver path. Open the journal page for the fuller submission context.

56 of 56 rows

Visible journals

56

OA models

2

Waiver options

7

Quick filters
OA model
Export

Hybrid OA

Blood

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,500

IF (2024)

23.1

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Gold OA

APC

$3,290

IF (2024)

8.3

Waiver

Yes

Notes

BioMed Central; membership discounts widely available

Gold OA

BMJ Open

OA model

Gold OA

APC

$2,500

IF (2024)

2.3

Waiver

Yes

Notes

BMJ; waivers for low-income country authors

Hybrid OA

Brain

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$3,500

IF (2024)

11.7

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

Cancer Cell

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

44.5

Waiver

No

Notes

Cell Press journals use same APC structure

Hybrid OA

Cell

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

42.5

Waiver

No

Notes

Cell Press flagship

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

18.7

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

30.9

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

Cell Reports

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

6.9

Waiver

No

Notes

Cell Press journals all require same hybrid APC if OA is elected

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

20.4

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

Circulation

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,500

IF (2024)

38.6

Waiver

No

Notes

AHA journals offer OA option

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,500

IF (2024)

16.2

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

7.5

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

8.7

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Gold OA

eLife

OA model

Gold OA

APC

~$2,000

IF (2024)

N/A

Waiver

Yes

Notes

Revised model (2023): all accepted manuscripts published as reviewed preprints at no cost; ~$2,000 fee applies only for enhanced eLife-format article. No rejection after peer review.

OA model

Gold OA

APC

$1,299

IF (2024)

5.9

Waiver

No

Notes

Frontiers lowest-APC option in this list; institutional deals available

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,000

IF (2024)

25.1

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Gold OA

APC

$2,890

IF (2024)

9.4

Waiver

Yes

Notes

BioMed Central; institutional agreements common at research universities

Hybrid OA

GUT

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,200

IF (2024)

25.8

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

Hepatology

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,000

IF (2024)

15.8

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

Immunity

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

26.3

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

JACC

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,500

IF (2024)

22.3

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

JAMA

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,500

IF (2024)

55.0

Waiver

No

Notes

JAMA Network journals all offer hybrid OA

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,500

IF (2024)

14.1

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

JAMA Oncology

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,500

IF (2024)

20.1

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$5,500

IF (2024)

45.5

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

16.6

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$11,690

IF (2024)

10.1

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

Nature

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$11,690

IF (2024)

48.5

Waiver

No

Notes

Same APC as other Nature flagship journals

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$11,690

IF (2024)

41.7

Waiver

No

Notes

Springer Nature hybrid

OA model

Gold OA

APC

$9,750

IF (2024)

15.7

Waiver

No

Notes

Most expensive fully OA journal in this list; read-and-publish deals may reduce cost

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$11,690

IF (2024)

29.0

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$11,690

IF (2024)

27.6

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$11,690

IF (2024)

50.0

Waiver

No

Notes

Among the highest APCs; Springer Nature transformative agreements at some institutions

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$11,690

IF (2024)

32.1

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$11,690

IF (2024)

20.0

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

NEJM

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$6,000

IF (2024)

78.5

Waiver

No

Notes

Authors can make accepted articles OA at extra cost; NIH-funded authors often required to do so

Hybrid OA

Neuron

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$9,900

IF (2024)

15.0

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$3,000

IF (2024)

13.1

Waiver

No

Notes

Oxford University Press; some institutional agreements cover APCs

OA model

Gold OA

APC

$3,500

IF (2024)

9.9

Waiver

Yes

Notes

Global South waivers available; institutional memberships reduce cost

Gold OA

PLOS ONE

OA model

Gold OA

APC

$1,931

IF (2024)

2.6

Waiver

Yes

Notes

PLOS has an institutional membership program that can reduce or waive APCs

Hybrid OA

PNAS

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$2,250

IF (2024)

9.1

Waiver

Yes

Notes

PNAS Plus option available; OA surcharge optional but required for NIH-funded work

Hybrid OA

Science

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,500

IF (2024)

45.8

Waiver

No

Notes

AAAS hybrid; lower APC than Nature family

OA model

Gold OA

APC

$5,000

IF (2024)

12.5

Waiver

No

Notes

AAAS fully OA journal; some institutional agreements reduce APC

OA model

Gold OA

APC

$2,490

IF (2024)

3.9

Waiver

No

Notes

Springer Nature; institutional read-and-publish agreements often cover APCs

Hybrid OA

The BMJ

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$4,200

IF (2024)

42.7

Waiver

No

Notes

BMJ hybrid; several institutional read-and-publish deals

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$5,000

IF (2024)

8.3

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Hybrid OA

The Lancet

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$5,500

IF (2024)

88.5

Waiver

No

Notes

Hybrid OA option; OA election at submission

OA model

Hybrid OA

APC

~$5,500

IF (2024)

35.9

Waiver

No

Notes

Standard publisher terms

Practical Advice on APCs

Check institutional agreements first

Many research universities have read-and-publish agreements with Springer Nature, Wiley, Elsevier, and other publishers that let corresponding authors publish OA at no direct cost. Before paying an APC out of pocket, ask your library whether a transformative agreement covers your target journal. Many researchers don't know these agreements exist.

Budget OA costs before you submit

If your grant requires open access, budget for APC costs in your grant application. NIH and UKRI both explicitly allow OA publication costs as an allowable grant expense. Waiting until after acceptance to figure out funding creates unnecessary stress.

Waivers are real and underused

PLOS and BMC both have formal waiver programs. Researchers at institutions without library subscriptions or in low-income countries often qualify. Even where formal waivers don't exist, editors at some journals have discretion: if you're unfunded, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Preprint posting is free

Posting to bioRxiv or medRxiv before or during peer review satisfies some OA requirements (especially green OA deposit requirements) and gets your work visible immediately. Most major journals accept preprinted manuscripts. Check SHERPA/RoMEO for the specific policy of your target journal.

Data Sources & Disclaimers

  • • APC figures: Publisher-listed prices as of early 2026. APCs change regularly. Always verify on the journal's author instructions page before submitting.
  • • Mandate information: Based on publicly available funder policies as of February 2026. Funder policies evolve. Check your funder's website for the latest requirements.
  • • Institutional agreements: Coverage varies by institution and changes as agreements are negotiated. Your library is the authoritative source.
  • • Impact factors: Clarivate JCR 2024.
  • • NIH compliance note: "NIH compliant" refers to the ability to make an article OA through that journal: not that all articles are automatically free. Authors must elect OA (or have it elected) per the mandate requirements.

References

  1. Budapest Open Access Initiative. (2002). Budapest Open Access Initiative. Open Society Institute. [budapestopenaccessinitiative.org ↗]
  2. National Institutes of Health. (2023). NIH Public Access Policy: Ensuring open access to NIH-funded research. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [publicaccess.nih.gov ↗]
  3. UK Research and Innovation. (2022). UKRI Open Access Policy. Retrieved February 2026. [ukri.org ↗]
  4. Wellcome Trust. (2021). Open access policy for Wellcome-funded research. Retrieved February 2026. [wellcome.org ↗]
  5. SHERPA/RoMEO. (2026). Publisher copyright and self-archiving policies database. Jisc. [sherpa.ac.uk/romeo ↗]
  6. Creative Commons. (2013). Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. [creativecommons.org ↗]
  7. cOAlition S. (2018). Plan S: Principles and Implementation. Retrieved February 2026. [coalition-s.org ↗]

Practical note

Three mistakes that make OA planning harder than it needs to be

Treating APC price as fixed before checking whether the library has a read-and-publish agreement.
Assuming every funder mandate requires the same license, embargo rules, or route to compliance.
Waiting until acceptance to learn whether the budget, waiver, or repository route actually works for the target journal.

Ready to apply this to a real draft?

Move from reference guidance to a manuscript-specific check

Use the public submission-readiness path when you already have a manuscript and need a draft-specific signal, not just a general guide.

Best for researchers who want a fast readiness read before deciding whether to revise, retarget, or submit.

Run submission-readiness checkSee sample report
Public pathHow manuscript handling works

Related reference pages

Author Rights and Copyright

Use this when the open-access question shifts from APCs to what rights you keep after publication.

Data Sharing Requirements

Pair funder mandate planning with repository and data-availability requirements.

Reference Library

Return to the full publishing reference library for timelines, acceptance rates, and submission specs.

Author Rights GuideAll ResourcesData Sharing Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between gold, green, and diamond open access?

Gold open access means the final published version is immediately freely available, typically funded by an article processing charge (APC) paid by the author or their institution. Green open access means the author self-archives an accepted manuscript version in a repository (institutional or subject-based like PubMed Central) after a publisher embargo period, with no APC required. Diamond open access is a subset of gold where neither authors nor readers pay - the journal is funded by institutions, grants, or societies. Most major subscription journals now offer a hybrid gold option for authors who need to comply with funder mandates.

Do I have to pay an APC to publish open access?

Not always. Many funders (NIH, Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation, UK Research and Innovation) cover APCs through grants or institutional agreements. If you don't have APC funding, green open access is free - you self-archive your accepted manuscript after the embargo period. Diamond OA journals charge no APC at all. Some publishers also offer APC waivers for authors from low-income countries. Before paying out-of-pocket, check whether your institution has a transformative agreement with the publisher that covers APCs automatically.

Which Creative Commons license should I choose for my open access paper?

Most funders that mandate open access (NIH, Wellcome, Gates, UKRI) require CC BY (Attribution), the most permissive license. CC BY allows anyone to share, adapt, and build on your work - including commercially - as long as they credit you. If you want to prevent commercial reuse, choose CC BY-NC. If you also want to prevent derivative works, choose CC BY-ND. CC BY-SA requires derivatives to use the same license. Most academic publishers default to CC BY for APC-funded papers; always verify the license before accepting the proofs.