2026 data, updated August 2026
IJMS is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.3 against 5.8 for Molecules. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. Molecules is faster from submission to acceptance: a median of 35 days against 36 days in recent PubMed records. IJMS is the larger journal, with 12,331 papers in 2025 against 4,825 for Molecules.
| Measure | IJMS | Molecules |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Journal Metrics Score | 6.3 | 5.8 |
| Best subfield quartile | Q1 | Q1 |
| Rank in field | #345 of 3,784 in Biology & Basic Science | #412 of 3,784 in Biology & Basic Science |
| Acceptance rate (publisher-reported) | Not published | Not published |
| Median days, submission to acceptance | 36 days | 35 days |
| Access model | Fully open access | Fully open access |
| Indicative APC (OpenAlex) | $2,784 | $2,561 |
| Papers published in 2025 | 12,331 | 4,825 |
| h-index (OpenAlex) | 424 | 342 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
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.
IJMS is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.3 against 5.8 for Molecules. 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.
Molecules is faster: a median of 35 days from submission to acceptance against 36 days, in recent PubMed records. The interval includes revisions, so it is not the time to a first decision.
IJMS does not publish an acceptance rate. Molecules does not publish an acceptance rate. Without published rates for both, compare their field rank and scope instead.
IJMS is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $2,784. Molecules is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $2,561. Confirm current fees on each journal's website.