2026 data, updated August 2026
Nature Medicine is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 30.0 against 19.7 for The Lancet, about 52% higher. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. The Lancet is faster from submission to acceptance: a median of 41 days against 172 days in recent PubMed records. The Lancet is the larger journal, with 1,484 papers in 2025 against 746 for Nature Medicine.
| Measure | Nature Medicine | The Lancet |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Journal Metrics Score | 30.0 | 19.7 |
| Best subfield quartile | Q1 | Q1 |
| Rank in field | #9 of 6,272 in Medicine | #23 of 6,272 in Medicine |
| Acceptance rate (publisher-reported) | Not published | Not published |
| Median days, submission to acceptance | 172 days | 41 days |
| Access model | Subscription or hybrid | Subscription or hybrid |
| Indicative APC (OpenAlex) | $11,690 | $6,830 |
| Papers published in 2025 | 746 | 1,484 |
| h-index (OpenAlex) | 766 | 1,207 |
| Publisher | Nature Portfolio | Elsevier BV |
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 Medicine is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 30.0 against 19.7 for The Lancet, about 52% 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.
The Lancet is faster: a median of 41 days from submission to acceptance against 172 days, in recent PubMed records. The interval includes revisions, so it is not the time to a first decision.
Nature Medicine does not publish an acceptance rate. The Lancet does not publish an acceptance rate. Without published rates for both, compare their field rank and scope instead.
Nature Medicine is not fully open access; OpenAlex lists an indicative open-access fee of $11,690. The Lancet is not fully open access; OpenAlex lists an indicative open-access fee of $6,830. Confirm current fees on each journal's website.