50 paper publishing sites for academic researchers

Paper publishing sites have become essential tools for academic researchers seeking to share their work, gain visibility and collaborate with others in their field. With a multitude of platforms available, choosing the right site can be overwhelming. Researchers must consider several key factors, such as whether the platform supports their specific discipline, offers peer review or provides open access options. Cost, visibility and additional features also play a significant role in determining the best platform. This guide explores 50 paper publishing sites, helping researchers navigate the options and select the most suitable platform for their needs.

Academia.edu | AJOL | arXiv | Bentham Open Science | bioRxiv | Cambridge Open Engage | CiteSeerX | CogPrints | Core | DOAJ | EconStor | ERIC | eLife | Elsevier | eScholarship | Europe PMC | F1000Research | Figshare | Frontiers | HAL | Inderscience Publishers | INASP | J-STAGE | LingBuzz | MDPI | MedRxiv | OAPEN | OpenEdition | OSF Preprints | PeerJ | PhilPapers | PLOS | PMC | PubPub | Redalyc | ResearchGate | RePEc | SAGE Open | Scholastica | ScienceDirect | ScienceOpen | Sciendo | SciELO | SSOAR | SSRN | SpringerOpen | Taylor & Francis Online | Vixra | Wiley Online Library | Zenodo

How to choose an academic paper publishing site?

When choosing a platform to upload their research paper or article, researchers should consider the following factors:

Scope and discipline

Ensure the platform aligns with the subject matter and discipline of your research. Some platforms are general (e.g. ResearchGate, Academia.edu), while others are subject-specific (e.g. bioRxiv for biology).

Peer-review

Determine whether the platform offers peer review or is purely a repository. Peer-reviewed platforms like PLOS or eLife can enhance the credibility of the research, while repositories like arXiv are suitable for preprints or early dissemination.

Open access vs subscription

While open access platforms (e.g. DOAJ, Zenodo) make research freely available to all, others may charge for access. Open access increases the visibility and impact of the work.

Cost

Check whether there are article processing charges or submission fees. Some platforms are free (e.g. arXiv, PubMed Central), while others charge fees for open access or publication services (e.g. MDPI, Frontiers).

Indexing and visibility

Consider whether the platform is indexed in major academic databases like PubMed. This can significantly enhance the visibility and citation of your research.

Preprint vs postprint

Decide whether to upload a preprint (before formal peer review) or a postprint (after peer review). Preprint platforms (e.g. bioRxiv) allow for early feedback but may not carry the same weight as postprint publications.

Verify the platform’s copyright and licensing terms. Some platforms allow authors to retain rights (e.g. Creative Commons licenses), while others may require the transfer of copyright.

Target audience and reach

Consider who will have access to your research. Platforms with a global reach (e.g. ResearchGate, SSRN) ensure broader dissemination, while regional platforms may target more specific audiences.

Metrics and citations

Some platforms provide tools to track metrics such as downloads, views and citations (e.g. ResearchGate, ScienceOpen). These metrics can help gauge the impact of the research.

Academia.edu

Academia.edu is a research-sharing platform with over 270 million users. It provides tools for sharing papers, tracking citations and interacting with other researchers. It operates on a freemium model, offering free access to papers but with paid premium features like advanced analytics.

Cost?Freemium (free basic access + some paid features)
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global
Academia.edu, one of the paper publishing sites.

African Journals Online (AJOL)

AJOL is the largest online library of peer-reviewed African-published scholarly journals. This paper publishing site provides open access and subscription-based journals, helping to increase the global visibility of African research.

Cost?Free for reading; some publishing fees
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Focus on African research

arXiv

arXiv is a free distribution service for preprints in fields like physics, mathematics, computer science and more. Researchers can share their work before peer review, receiving early feedback from the community. It is widely used and highly regarded in its fields.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Preprints
Format?No
Scope?Physics, mathematics and computer science
Research origin?Global

Bentham Open Science

Bentham Open provides a platform for publishing peer-reviewed open access journals in various scientific, technical and medical fields. This paper publishing site supports a broad range of disciplines and offers easy access to scholarly content.

Cost?Paid (article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?Sciences, technology and medicine
Research origin?Global

bioRxiv

Similar to arXiv but focused on biology, bioRxiv provides a platform for biologists to share their preprints. This allows researchers to rapidly disseminate their findings and invite feedback prior to formal publication.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints
Scope?Biology
Research origin?Global

Cambridge Open Engage

Cambridge Open Engage is a collaboration platform where researchers can share early research outputs, such as preprints, conference posters and data sets. It facilitates discussion and feedback before formal peer review.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

CiteSeerX

CiteSeerX is a digital library and search engine for academic papers in computer science and related fields. This paper publishing site offers access to freely available research and provides citation indexing to help researchers discover related work.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Postprints
Scope?Computer science
Research origin?Global

CogPrints

CogPrints is an open access repository for research in psychology, neuroscience, linguistics and other areas of cognitive science. Researchers can freely submit their papers, making it accessible to a global audience.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Psychology, neuroscience, linguistics and cognitive sciences
Research origin?Global

Core

Core aggregates open access research outputs from repositories and journals worldwide, offering a wide range of academic papers across disciplines. This paper publishing site is particularly useful for discovering research from various institutions and repositories.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

DOAJ indexes high-quality, peer-reviewed open access journals across various disciplines, providing free access to research papers. It hosts over 10 million articles in more than 13,000 journals, supporting researchers looking for a no-cost publishing solution.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global
DOAJ, one of the paper publishing sites.

EconStor

EconStor is a digital repository for academic papers in economics and related disciplines. This paper publishing site provides open access to working papers, conference papers and journal articles, supporting global dissemination of economic research.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Economics
Research origin?Global

Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)

ERIC provides access to a vast collection of education research, including journal articles, research reports, conference papers and other materials. It is maintained by the US Department of Education and offers free access to educational research.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Postprints
Scope?Educational research
Research origin?Global

eLife

eLife is a non-profit platform that supports open science by offering free publishing tools such as Libero. This paper publishing site focuses on life and biomedical sciences and integrates open source tools to enable reproducibility and open annotation of published papers.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprint
Scope?Biomedical sciences
Research origin?Global

Elsevier

Elsevier is one of the largest academic publishers, offering a wide array of journals in diverse fields. While many of its journals operate on a subscription model, it also provides open access options.

Cost?Paid (subscription-based with open access options)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprint
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

eScholarship

eScholarship is an open access repository and publishing platform managed by the University of California. This paper publishing site allows researchers to publish their work and offers peer-reviewed journals, conference papers and other scholarly outputs.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope? All disciplines
Research origin?University of California research

Europe PMC

Europe PMC provides access to life sciences research articles, including preprints and full-text publications. This paper publishing site is part of PubMed Central, offering a comprehensive repository of biomedical and health research.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Biomedical and life sciences
Research origin?Global

F1000Research

F1000Research offers an open access publishing platform where articles are published before peer review, followed by transparent peer review. It covers a wide range of disciplines and prioritises quick dissemination of research.

Cost?Paid (article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

Figshare

Figshare is a platform for sharing not only papers but also research data, figures and software. This paper publishing site is widely used by academic institutions and journals to promote open data, and researchers can store all their outputs in one place.

Cost?Free for uploading; some paid services
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

Frontiers

Frontiers is an open access publisher that prioritises rigorous peer review and high visibility for research. It has a range of journals across over 1,500 disciplines and emphasises impact through a high-quality editorial board.

Cost?Paid (article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?Science, technology and medicine
Research origin?Global

HAL

HAL is an open access repository where authors can deposit scholarly documents from all academic fields. This paper publishing site is a widely used platform in Europe and promotes accessibility and long-term preservation of scientific work.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?More popular in Europe

Inderscience Publishers

Inderscience publishes journals across various fields, particularly in science, technology and management. The platform supports both open access and subscription models, offering researchers flexible publishing options.

Cost?Paid (article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?Science, technology and management
Research origin?Global

INASP

INASP provides support for journals in developing countries and promotes the publication of research from these regions. Its platform focuses on supporting researchers from the Global South countries.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprint
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Focus on the Global South

J-STAGE

J-STAGE is a platform developed by the Japan Science and Technology Agency that offers access to thousands of Japanese academic journals in various fields, with a strong focus on science, technology and medicine.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?Science, technology and medicine
Research origin?Focus on Japanese research

LingBuzz

LingBuzz is a free platform for researchers in linguistics to upload and share preprints and postprints. This paper publishing site is specifically designed for the linguistics community.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Linguistics
Research origin?Global

MDPI

MDPI is an open access publisher with a focus on rapid publication and high-quality peer review. It covers a wide range of academic disciplines, including the life sciences, environmental sciences and engineering.

Cost?Paid (article-processing charges)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Science, technology and medicine
Research origin?Global

MedRxiv

MedRxiv is a free online archive and distribution service for preprints in the health sciences. This paper publishing site allows researchers to share preliminary findings before formal peer review, accelerating the dissemination of research in clinical and health sciences.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints
Scope?Health sciences
Research origin?Global

Open Access Publishing in European Networks (OAPEN)

OAPEN specialises in open access books and book chapters, with a focus on peer-reviewed academic work. It offers a broad collection across disciplines, particularly in the humanities and social sciences.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?Humanities and social sciences
Research origin?European focus

OpenEdition

OpenEdition is a platform for publishing open access academic journals and books in the social sciences and humanities. This paper publishing site provides researchers with visibility across a wide range of academic disciplines, offering content in multiple languages.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?Humanities and social sciences
Research origin?Global

Open Science Framework (OSF) Preprints

OSF Preprints offers an open access repository where researchers can share preprints from all academic disciplines. It allows you to disseminate early versions of your work and receive feedback from the research community before formal peer review.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprint
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

PeerJ

PeerJ is an open access journal that covers research in the life sciences and medicine. It provides affordable publishing options for researchers and emphasises the importance of transparency and open peer review.

Cost?Paid (subscription or per-article fee)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Life sciences and medicine
Research origin?Global

PhilPapers

PhilPapers is a comprehensive directory of online philosophy articles and books. This paper publishing site allows 360,000 registered researchers in philosophy to upload and share their work.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Philosophy
Research origin?Global

PLOS

PLOS offers a suite of high-impact, peer-reviewed open access journals across multiple disciplines, including biology, medicine and ecology. It is a pioneer in open access publishing, committed to making scientific research accessible to everyone.

Cost?Paid (article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?Biology, medicine and ecology
Research origin?Global

PubMed Central (PMC)

PMC is a free archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the US National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine. It provides researchers with access to a wide range of peer-reviewed scientific articles, often used for open access publications in the health sciences.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes (for articles published in indexed journals)
Format?Postprints
Scope?Biomedical and life sciences
Research origin?Global

PubPub

PubPub is an open access platform for publishing academic content, focusing on collaborative writing and peer review. This paper publishing site is used by research communities and institutions to manage journals, conferences and other scholarly content.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

Redalyc

Redalyc is an open access digital library of scientific journals from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the Caribbean, primarily focused on the humanities, arts and social sciences. It promotes visibility for research from these regions.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?Humanities, arts and social sciences
Research origin??Focus on Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the Caribbean

ResearchGate

ResearchGate is a popular platform that hosts over 160 million publications and connects 25 million scientists. It allows researchers to upload papers, track citations and build a professional profile. The platform supports collaboration with other researchers and facilitates the exchange of feedback and resources.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Postprint
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

Research Papers in Economics (RePEc)

RePEc is a collaborative platform that collects and distributes economic research papers, providing free access to working papers, journal articles and software components. This paper publishing site focuses on improving the dissemination of economics and related fields.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Economics
Research origin?Global

SAGE Open

SAGE Open is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes original research across the social and behavioural sciences, as well as the humanities. It offers rapid publication and a rigorous peer-review process.

Cost?Paid (article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?Social and behavioural sciences and humanities
Research origin?Global

Scholastica

Scholastica is an open access journal publishing platform designed to streamline manuscript submissions, peer review and article production. This paper publishing site offers integrations with databases like DOAJ and Crossref, making it easy to register DOIs and track the reach of your publications.

Cost?Paid (for journal-publishing services)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

ScienceDirect

Managed by Elsevier, ScienceDirect is a leading full-text scientific database, offering subscription-based access to a vast collection of research articles. Many journals offer open access options, allowing researchers to reach a wider audience.

Cost?Paid (subscription)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

ScienceOpen

ScienceOpen is an open access platform that offers free publishing of preprints with DOIs, advanced search tools and metrics for tracking citations and readership. It aims to support the open science movement, helping researchers enhance the visibility of their work.

Cost?Free for preprints; paid for some publishing services
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global
Science Open, one of many paper publishing sites.

Sciendo

Sciendo offers both open access and subscription-based publishing services, with a focus on academic journals, books and conference proceedings across various disciplines. This paper publishing site supports a wide range of research fields and provides high visibility for academic content.

Cost?Paid (article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprint
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO)

SciELO provides open access to scientific journals from Latin America, Portugal, Spain and South Africa. It promotes the visibility of research and fosters scholarly communication, particularly in the sciences and social sciences.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Focus on Latin America, Portugal, Spain, South Africa

Social Science Open Access Repository (SSOAR)

SSOAR is an open access repository that collects and provides access to scholarly publications in the social sciences. This paper publishing site supports both preprints and postprints, making it an ideal platform for social science researchers to share their work.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Social sciences
Research origin?Global

Social Science Research Network (SSRN)

SSRN is a repository that specialises in the early dissemination of research in the social sciences and humanities. It allows researchers to share working papers and preprints for feedback before formal publication.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?Social sciences and hummanities
Research origin?Global
SSRN, one of the paper publishing sites.

SpringerOpen

SpringerOpen provides open access journals across multiple disciplines. This paper publishing site supports research in areas like science, technology and medicine, with all articles available for free to readers, ensuring wide visibility for authors.

Cost?Paid (article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprint
Scope?Science, technology and medicine
Research origin?Global

Taylor & Francis Online

Taylor & Francis is a leading publisher of scholarly research, offering both open access and traditional publishing models. It covers a wide range of academic fields and offers a fast-tracked review process for some journals.

Cost?Paid (article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprint
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

Vixra

Vixra is an alternative preprint repository created to ensure that any research, regardless of the discipline, can be shared without restrictive submission guidelines. This paper publishing site is similar to arXiv but more open to submissions from independent (non-affiliated) and/or amateur scientists.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

Wiley Online Library

Wiley offers a vast selection of 1,900+ peer-reviewed journals across disciplines such as science, engineering, humanities and social sciences. They provide both open access and subscription-based options, supporting the broad dissemination of research.

Cost?Paid (subscription or article-processing fees)
Peer-review?Yes
Format?Postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

Zenodo

Zenodo is a general-purpose open access repository developed by CERN. It supports the publication of data, software, reports and papers, providing DOIs and facilitating citation. It is ideal for researchers looking to share datasets and research outputs alongside traditional papers.

Cost?Free
Peer-review?No
Format?Preprints and postprints
Scope?All disciplines
Research origin?Global

How professional editing services can help prepare an academic paper for publication?

When preparing an academic paper for publication in a journal or on a paper publishing site, ensuring the highest level of clarity, coherence and correctness is crucial. Professional academic services such as proofreading, copyediting, line editing and developmental editing can greatly enhance the quality of a manuscript, making it more likely to meet the rigorous standards of academic publishers.

Proofreading

Proofreading focuses on correcting surface-level errors such as grammar, spelling, punctuation and formatting inconsistencies. It is the final step before submission and ensures that the paper is free from typographical errors that could distract from its content. Proofreading is essential for maintaining professionalism and ensuring that small mistakes do not undermine the credibility of the research.

Copyediting

Copyediting goes a step beyond proofreading by improving sentence structure, clarity and flow. A copyeditor checks for grammatical accuracy, consistency in terminology, proper citation formatting and adherence to the specific style guide required by the journal or platform (e.g. APA, MLA, Chicago). This service is essential for ensuring that the paper reads smoothly and that all technical aspects of the writing meet publication standards.

Line editing

Line editing involves a more detailed review of the language, focusing on the style, tone and precision of the writing. It enhances the overall readability by refining sentence flow, eliminating redundancy and ensuring that the argument is communicated effectively. Line editing helps improve the logical progression of ideas, making the paper more engaging and clear for its intended audience.

Developmental editing

Developmental editing is a broader, more in-depth service that focuses on the overall structure, content and coherence of the paper. It involves assessing the strength of the argument, the organisation of sections, the depth of research and the logical flow of the manuscript. Developmental editing is particularly useful for early drafts or complex research papers that require significant restructuring or refinement to meet publication standards.

Other benefits of using professional editing services

Academic journals and paper publishing sites often have strict submission guidelines and high expectations for clarity, coherence and technical accuracy. Submitting a manuscript that has been professionally edited increases the likelihood of acceptance by:

  • Improving clarity: Professional editing helps ensure that the research findings are communicated clearly and effectively, reducing the risk of misinterpretation.
  • Enhancing readability: Services like line editing improve the flow and readability of the text, making it easier for reviewers and readers to engage with the content.
  • Meeting submission guidelines: Editors ensure that the manuscript follows the required style and formatting guidelines, reducing the chances of rejection due to technicalities.
  • Strengthening the argument: Developmental editing helps refine the research argument, ensuring that it is logically sound and well-supported by evidence.
  • Minimising errors: Proofreading and copyediting eliminate typographical, grammatical and formatting errors, presenting a polished and professional final product.

Key takeaways

In conclusion, researchers have a variety of paper publishing sites to choose from, depending on their specific needs. Key considerations include whether the paper publishing sites offer open access, peer review or subject-specific repositories. Additionally, the costs, indexing and licensing policies of the paper publishing sites play crucial roles in selecting the best platform. Understanding these factors can help researchers maximise the visibility and impact of their work. Finally, paper publishing sites provide an essential gateway for academics to share, disseminate and collaborate effectively across disciplines and regions.

If you are an academic author looking for editing or indexing services, contact me. I am an experienced editor, and I offer a free sample edit and an early bird discount.

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Magda

I am an experienced editor and indexer with a PhD in literary history. I index and edit non-fiction, academic and business texts. I am an Intermediate Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading, a student member of the Society of Indexers and a vetted partner of the Alliance of Independent Authors.