2026 data, updated August 2026
Scientific Reports is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 4.8 against 3.0 for PLOS ONE, about 60% higher. Both are Q1 journals in their best subfield. Scientific Reports is faster from submission to acceptance: a median of 126 days against 166 days in recent PubMed records. PLOS reports a 26% acceptance rate for PLOS ONE; Scientific Reports does not publish one. Scientific Reports is the larger journal, with 48,695 papers in 2025 against 19,598 for PLOS ONE.
| Measure | PLOS ONE | Scientific Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Journal Metrics Score | 3.0 | 4.8 |
| Best subfield quartile | Q1 | Q1 |
| Rank in field | #1,436 of 6,272 in Medicine | #565 of 3,784 in Biology & Basic Science |
| Acceptance rate (publisher-reported) | 26% | Not published |
| Median days, submission to acceptance | 166 days | 126 days |
| Access model | Fully open access | Fully open access |
| Indicative APC (OpenAlex) | $1,805 | $2,390 |
| Papers published in 2025 | 19,598 | 48,695 |
| h-index (OpenAlex) | 601 | 462 |
| Publisher | Public Library of Science | 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.
Scientific Reports is the more cited journal: its 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 4.8 against 3.0 for PLOS ONE, about 60% 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 166 days, in recent PubMed records. The interval includes revisions, so it is not the time to a first decision.
PLOS reports 26% for PLOS ONE (2025). Scientific Reports does not publish an acceptance rate. Without published rates for both, compare their field rank and scope instead.
PLOS ONE is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $1,805. Scientific Reports is fully open access, with an indicative APC of $2,390. Confirm current fees on each journal's website.