2026 data, updated August 2026
Nature Communications is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 16.7 against 8.0 for Cell Reports, about 2.1 times higher. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. Cell Reports is faster from submission to acceptance: a median of 186 days against 248 days in recent PubMed records. Nature Communications is the larger journal, with 12,640 papers in 2025 against 1,577 for Cell Reports.
| Measure | Cell Reports | Nature Communications |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Journal Metrics Score | 8.0 | 16.7 |
| Best subfield quartile | Q1 | Q1 |
| Rank in field | #44 of 1,172 in Neuroscience | #37 of 3,784 in Biology & Basic Science |
| Acceptance rate (publisher-reported) | Not published | Not published |
| Median days, submission to acceptance | 186 days | 248 days |
| Access model | Fully open access | Fully open access |
| Indicative APC (OpenAlex) | $5,460 | $6,290 |
| Papers published in 2025 | 1,577 | 12,640 |
| h-index (OpenAlex) | 326 | 747 |
| Publisher | Cell Press | Nature Portfolio |
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.
Nature Communications is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 16.7 against 8.0 for Cell Reports, about 2.1 times 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.
Cell Reports is faster: a median of 186 days from submission to acceptance against 248 days, in recent PubMed records. The interval includes revisions, so it is not the time to a first decision.
Cell Reports does not publish an acceptance rate. Nature Communications does not publish an acceptance rate. Without published rates for both, compare their field rank and scope instead.
Cell Reports is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $5,460. Nature Communications is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $6,290. Confirm current fees on each journal's website.