2026 data, updated August 2026
Nature Physics is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 11.2 against 8.4 for Physical Review Letters, about 33% higher. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. Physical Review Letters is faster from submission to acceptance: a median of 171 days against 268 days in recent PubMed records. Physical Review Letters is the larger journal, with 3,251 papers in 2025 against 410 for Nature Physics.
| Measure | Physical Review Letters | Nature Physics |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Journal Metrics Score | 8.4 | 11.2 |
| Best subfield quartile | Q1 | Q1 |
| Rank in field | #43 of 886 in Physics & Astronomy | #27 of 886 in Physics & Astronomy |
| Acceptance rate (publisher-reported) | Not published | Not published |
| Median days, submission to acceptance | 171 days | 268 days |
| Access model | Subscription or hybrid | Subscription or hybrid |
| Indicative APC (OpenAlex) | $3,750 | $11,690 |
| Papers published in 2025 | 3,251 | 410 |
| h-index (OpenAlex) | 980 | 406 |
| Publisher | American Physical Society | 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 Physics is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 11.2 against 8.4 for Physical Review Letters, about 33% 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.
Physical Review Letters is faster: a median of 171 days from submission to acceptance against 268 days, in recent PubMed records. The interval includes revisions, so it is not the time to a first decision.
Physical Review Letters does not publish an acceptance rate. Nature Physics does not publish an acceptance rate. Without published rates for both, compare their field rank and scope instead.
Physical Review Letters is not fully open access; OpenAlex lists an indicative open-access fee of $3,750. Nature Physics is not fully open access; OpenAlex lists an indicative open-access fee of $11,690. Confirm current fees on each journal's website.