Frequently Asked Questions

The Journal Metrics Score is the two-year mean citedness of a journal, computed from OpenAlex (CC0) data: citations received in the most recent complete year to works published in the two prior years, divided by the number of those works. Quartiles rank journals within each OpenAlex subfield by score. For example, if a journal's 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 5.0, its 2023-2024 works received an average of 5 citations in 2025.

The formula is: Score = (Citations in the most recent complete year to works from the previous 2 years) ÷ (Number of works published in those 2 years). We compute it from OpenAlex summary statistics for each journal. For the 2026 score, that means 2025 citations to works published in 2023-2024, divided by the number of those works.

No — Journal Metrics does not display the Journal Impact Factor or any Journal Citation Reports data. Every metric on this site, including the Journal Metrics Score and the quartiles, is computed independently from OpenAlex (CC0) data. Because the underlying database, citation coverage, and document-type rules differ, our score is not comparable to citation metrics published by other providers, even though the two-year averaging idea is similar.

A 'good' score varies significantly by academic field. In life sciences and medicine, a score of 10+ is typically excellent, 5-10 is very good, and 3-5 is good. In physical sciences and engineering, 5+ is excellent and 3-5 is very good. In mathematics and computer science, a score above 3 is excellent. In social sciences and humanities, a score above 4 is considered excellent. Rather than focusing on raw numbers, researchers should compare scores within their specific field and rely on the subfield quartiles.

Quartiles divide journals within each subject subfield into four groups based on their Journal Metrics Score. Q1 (top 25%): the highest-ranked journals in the subfield. Q2 (25-50%): above-average journals. Q3 (50-75%): average journals. Q4 (bottom 25%): lower-ranked journals. We compute quartiles by ranking journals within each OpenAlex subfield by score. Publishing in Q1 journals is often valued for academic promotions, tenure decisions, and grant applications at many institutions worldwide.

CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences) Block classification is a journal ranking system particularly important in Chinese academic institutions. Journals are classified into four blocks: B1 (top tier, most prestigious), B2 (high quality), B3 (good quality), and B4 (standard quality). This classification considers not only citation metrics but also journal reputation, review process quality, and historical significance in the field.

A two-year citation window balances recency and stability: it is long enough to accumulate meaningful citations, but short enough to reflect a journal's current activity. Fields with longer citation cycles (humanities, social sciences, mathematics) accumulate citations more slowly, so two-year averages there run lower. That is one more reason to compare journals only within the same subfield, where the quartile already accounts for field-level differences.

We rebuild the Journal Metrics Score from a fresh OpenAlex snapshot periodically. The current release is the August 2026 snapshot, which uses 2025 citations to works published in 2023-2024. OpenAlex itself is updated continuously, so values on this site reflect the snapshot date rather than live data.

Citation averages vary between fields due to different citation practices and publication cultures. Some fields (like biomedical sciences) have more researchers, faster publication cycles, and higher citation rates. Other fields (like mathematics) have fewer researchers, longer review times, and papers remain relevant for decades with slower citation accumulation. This is why comparing raw scores across different disciplines is not meaningful—always compare within the same field.

Not necessarily. While highly cited journals offer prestige, consider these factors: 1) Journal scope and audience match with your research, 2) Review time and publication speed, 3) Open access options and fees, 4) Acceptance rates and rejection history, 5) Whether the journal reaches your target readership. A well-matched mid-tier journal may provide better visibility for your specific research than a prestigious but poorly-matched high-scoring journal.

Citation metrics differ in three main ways: the underlying database, the citation window, and which document types count. The Journal Metrics Score uses OpenAlex (CC0) data with a 2-year window; other providers use proprietary databases with 2-, 3-, or 4-year windows and different source coverage. The same journal can rank differently in each system, so never mix numbers from different systems in one comparison, and check which metric your institution actually uses.

Use our free search tool on this website—simply type the journal name, abbreviation, or ISSN and get instant results with the Journal Metrics Score, subfield quartile, and CAS classification. You can also browse by field in the Journal Explorer, or check the journal's OpenAlex record via the source link on its profile page.

A journal without a score may be: 1) Newly launched, with too few published works in the two-year window to compute a meaningful average, 2) Missing or incomplete in OpenAlex, 3) Focused on a niche field with limited citation coverage, 4) A predatory or low-quality journal (be cautious). Always verify journal legitimacy through other means: publisher reputation, editorial board, peer review process, and coverage in established databases.

Generally, yes. Highly cited journals typically have: lower acceptance rates (often below 10% for top journals), more rigorous peer review, longer review times, and more rounds of revision. However, they also offer greater visibility, more citations, and enhanced reputation. Balance your publication strategy with realistic expectations and consider backup journal options.

Journal self-citation occurs when articles in a journal cite other articles from the same journal. While some self-citation is natural (journals often cover specific topics), excessive self-citation can artificially inflate any citation average, including the Journal Metrics Score, which does not exclude self-citations. When a journal's score looks unusually high for its field, check its quartile, its publisher, and its citation pattern before relying on the number.

Our search results show: 1) The Journal Metrics Score from the August 2026 OpenAlex snapshot, based on 2025 citation data, 2) Subfield quartiles (Q1-Q4) computed within OpenAlex subfields, 3) CAS Block (B1-B4), 4) canonical, print, and electronic ISSNs, and 5) source links. Use these details together—a Q1 ranking in your subfield often matters more than the raw score when choosing where to publish.