2026 data, updated August 2026
Cell is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 39.2 against 18.0 for Nature, about 2.2 times higher. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. Cell is faster from submission to acceptance: a median of 296 days against 376 days in recent PubMed records. Nature is the larger journal, with 4,551 papers in 2025 against 510 for Cell.
| Measure | Cell | Nature |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Journal Metrics Score | 39.2 | 18.0 |
| Best subfield quartile | Q1 | Q1 |
| Rank in field | #4 of 3,784 in Biology & Basic Science | #31 of 6,272 in Medicine |
| Acceptance rate (publisher-reported) | Not published | Not published |
| Median days, submission to acceptance | 296 days | 376 days |
| Access model | Subscription or hybrid | Subscription or hybrid |
| Indicative APC (OpenAlex) | $10,100 | $11,690 |
| Papers published in 2025 | 510 | 4,551 |
| h-index (OpenAlex) | 1,230 | 1,849 |
| 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.
Cell is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 39.2 against 18.0 for Nature, about 2.2 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 is faster: a median of 296 days from submission to acceptance against 376 days, in recent PubMed records. The interval includes revisions, so it is not the time to a first decision.
Cell does not publish an acceptance rate. Nature does not publish an acceptance rate. Without published rates for both, compare their field rank and scope instead.
Cell is not fully open access; OpenAlex lists an indicative open-access fee of $10,100. Nature is not fully open access; OpenAlex lists an indicative open-access fee of $11,690. Confirm current fees on each journal's website.