For a free journal check without a library login, use SCImago for Scopus-based quartiles, Journal Metrics for OpenAlex-based quartiles with acceptance times, and Google Scholar Metrics for h5-index rankings; most researchers need two of them. No single free site answers every question, because each draws on a different citation database.
Disclosure: Journal Metrics publishes this page and is one of the tools compared. It is listed first because it is ours; weigh that when you read the comparison.
The seven tools at a glance
| Site | Best for | Price | Data | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal Metrics | Quartile, citation score and median acceptance time on one page | Free lookups; AI recommendations from $0.69 | OpenAlex (CC0), PubMed dates | Its score is not the metric most committees name; acceptance time only for PubMed-indexed journals |
| SCImago Journal & Country Rank | Scopus-based quartiles by subject category | Free | Scopus | Only Scopus-indexed journals; no review-speed data |
| Scopus Sources | CiteScore and percentile within Scopus | Free through Scopus Preview; CiteScore needs a free account | Scopus | Deeper analysis needs a subscription |
| Google Scholar Metrics | h5-index rankings of top venues, including conferences | Free | Google Scholar | Top venues per category only; no quartiles |
| OpenAlex | Raw, open data on any journal for your own analysis | Free | OpenAlex | Built for data use, not quick ranked answers |
| DOAJ | Checking that an open access journal is vetted | Free | DOAJ applications | Open access journals only; no citation metrics |
| SciRev | Author-reported review times | Free | Author reports | Small samples for many journals |
Journal Metrics
Journal Metrics is a free journal metrics site for researchers choosing where to submit. Each of its 22,642 journal records shows a 2026 Journal Metrics Score (two-year mean citedness from OpenAlex), quartiles in its OpenAlex subfields, ISSN, publisher and open access context, and, for 3,062 PubMed-indexed journals, the median submission-to-acceptance time with its sample size. See how the score is computed.
Pros: one page per journal; acceptance time with sample size; no login. Cons: a newer metric that some committees will not recognize; speed data limited to PubMed-indexed journals. Best for: shortlisting journals quickly.
SCImago Journal & Country Rank
Pros: widely used free quartiles; long history per journal; country rankings. Cons: covers only Scopus journals; no speed or acceptance data. Best for: a Scopus-based quartile your institution may accept.
Scopus Sources
Pros: official CiteScore and percentile; shows whether a title is still indexed. Cons: non-subscribers use the limited Scopus Preview and need a free account to see CiteScore. Best for: confirming Scopus indexing before you submit.
Google Scholar Metrics
Pros: includes conferences and preprint servers; free. Cons: lists only top venues per category; no quartiles. Best for: computer science and engineering venues.
OpenAlex, DOAJ and SciRev
OpenAlex is the open dataset behind Journal Metrics and suits your own analysis. DOAJ tells you whether an open access journal passed its vetting. SciRev collects author-reported review times; use it alongside PubMed-based medians such as those in our journal acceptance times study.
Which should you use?
- Reporting a quartile for a CV or grant: the source your institution names; otherwise SCImago plus Journal Metrics. Step by step: how to find a journal's quartile.
- Shortlisting journals for a paper:Journal Metrics for quartile and speed, then the journal's own site for scope. Comparing finder tools: journal finder tools compared.
- Checking an open access journal you don't know: DOAJ, then Scopus Sources for indexing. More checks: how to verify journal indexing.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to SCImago?
Yes. Journal Metrics shows free quartiles from OpenAlex data, and Scopus Sources shows CiteScore percentiles with a free account.
Which free site covers the most journals?
Sites built on OpenAlex can cover more journals than Scopus-based sites; Journal Metrics scores 22,642 journals with enough recent articles.
Can I see review times for free?
Yes. Journal Metrics shows PubMed-based acceptance times for 3,062 journals, and SciRev shows author-reported review times.
Do I need a library login?
None of the seven needs a library login for a basic lookup. Scopus Sources asks for a free account before it shows CiteScore.
Why do two sites show different quartiles?
They use different citation data, metrics and category lists. Report the source and the category with any quartile.
Is Google Scholar Metrics good for medicine?
It lists top venues only, so it helps for leading journals and less for specialist ones.
Is Journal Metrics really free?
Journal lookups are free. Only AI journal recommendations and PubMed keyword metrics are paid, from $0.69.
How often is the data updated?
The current Journal Metrics snapshot is August 2026. The other sites update on their own schedules.
Written by Dr. Meng Zhao
Physician-Scientist · Founder, LabCat AI
MD · Former Neurosurgeon · Medical AI Researcher
Dr. Meng Zhao is a former neurosurgeon turned medical-AI researcher. After years in the operating room, he moved into applied AI for clinical workflows and now leads LabCat AI, a medical-AI company working on decision support and research tooling for clinicians. He built Journal Metrics as a free resource for researchers who need reliable journal metrics without paid database subscriptions.
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