2026 data, updated August 2026
PLOS ONE is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 3.0 against 2.4 for BMJ Open, about 25% higher. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. PLOS reports a 26% acceptance rate for PLOS ONE; BMJ Open does not publish one. PLOS ONE is the larger journal, with 19,598 papers in 2025 against 4,954 for BMJ Open.
| Measure | BMJ Open | PLOS ONE |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Journal Metrics Score | 2.4 | 3.0 |
| Best subfield quartile | Q1 | Q1 |
| Rank in field | #1,961 of 6,272 in Medicine | #1,436 of 6,272 in Medicine |
| Acceptance rate (publisher-reported) | Not published | 26% |
| Median days, submission to acceptance | No PubMed data | 166 days |
| Access model | Fully open access | Fully open access |
| Indicative APC (OpenAlex) | $1,839 | $1,805 |
| Papers published in 2025 | 4,954 | 19,598 |
| h-index (OpenAlex) | 243 | 601 |
| Publisher | BMJ | Public Library of Science |
Bold marks the stronger figure where one direction is better. Journal Metrics Score is a two-year citation average; quartiles and field ranks are computed within OpenAlex subfields and site fields. Data source: OpenAlex (CC0). Submission-to-acceptance days come from PubMed received and accepted dates and include revisions. Acceptance rates appear only where the publisher publishes one. APCs are indicative OpenAlex values.
Fit with each journal's scope matters more than any single number. Read a few recent papers in your topic in both journals before deciding.
PLOS ONE is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 3.0 against 2.4 for BMJ Open, about 25% higher. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. Which is better for your paper depends on its scope and how broad the result is; citation data measures the journals, not individual papers.
BMJ Open does not publish an acceptance rate. PLOS reports 26% for PLOS ONE (2025). Without published rates for both, compare their field rank and scope instead.
BMJ Open is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $1,839. PLOS ONE is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $1,805. Confirm current fees on each journal's website.