2026 data, updated August 2026
Nature Communications is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 16.7 against 4.8 for Scientific Reports, about 3.5 times higher. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. Scientific Reports is faster from submission to acceptance: a median of 126 days against 248 days in recent PubMed records. Scientific Reports is the larger journal, with 48,695 papers in 2025 against 12,640 for Nature Communications.
| Measure | Nature Communications | Scientific Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Journal Metrics Score | 16.7 | 4.8 |
| Best subfield quartile | Q1 | Q1 |
| Rank in field | #37 of 3,784 in Biology & Basic Science | #565 of 3,784 in Biology & Basic Science |
| Acceptance rate (publisher-reported) | Not published | Not published |
| Median days, submission to acceptance | 248 days | 126 days |
| Access model | Fully open access | Fully open access |
| Indicative APC (OpenAlex) | $6,290 | $2,390 |
| Papers published in 2025 | 12,640 | 48,695 |
| h-index (OpenAlex) | 747 | 462 |
| Publisher | Nature Portfolio | 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 4.8 for Scientific Reports, about 3.5 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.
Scientific Reports is faster: a median of 126 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.
Nature Communications does not publish an acceptance rate. Scientific Reports does not publish an acceptance rate. Without published rates for both, compare their field rank and scope instead.
Nature Communications is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $6,290. Scientific Reports is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $2,390. Confirm current fees on each journal's website.