2026 data, updated August 2026
Nature is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 18.0 against 16.7 for Nature Communications. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. Nature Communications is faster from submission to acceptance: a median of 248 days against 376 days in recent PubMed records. Nature Communications is the larger journal, with 12,640 papers in 2025 against 4,551 for Nature.
| Measure | Nature | Nature Communications |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Journal Metrics Score | 18.0 | 16.7 |
| Best subfield quartile | Q1 | Q1 |
| Rank in field | #31 of 6,272 in Medicine | #37 of 3,784 in Biology & Basic Science |
| Acceptance rate (publisher-reported) | Not published | Not published |
| Median days, submission to acceptance | 376 days | 248 days |
| Access model | Subscription or hybrid | Fully open access |
| Indicative APC (OpenAlex) | $11,690 | $6,290 |
| Papers published in 2025 | 4,551 | 12,640 |
| h-index (OpenAlex) | 1,849 | 747 |
| 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 is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 18.0 against 16.7 for Nature Communications. 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.
Nature Communications is faster: a median of 248 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.
Nature 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.
Nature is not fully open access; OpenAlex lists an indicative open-access fee of $11,690. Nature Communications is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $6,290. Confirm current fees on each journal's website.