Journal decision profile

Communications Biology

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine

Communications Biology's 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.0, ranking Q1 in Cognitive Neuroscience and 1 other subfield. Two-year citation average from OpenAlex data, updated August 2026.

Nature PortfolioUnited KingdomeISSN 2399-3642
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Bookmark this page — track observed submission-to-acceptance timing, FWCI and field-normalized citation data for this journal in one view.

Journal Metrics Score
i
Journal Metrics ScoreThe raw score is citations received in the latest complete year by works from the two previous years, divided by the number of those works. It is calculated from OpenAlex open data (CC0) and is not a percentage grade.
2026
6.0

Journal Metrics Score 2026 · 2021–2024 window citedness 6.79.

Review & acceptance time
i
Review & acceptance timeCalendar days between the received and accepted dates reported in recent PubMed records. This interval includes editorial handling and author revisions, so it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
PUBMED
228 daysmedian

Middle 50%: 183–295 days

100 of 100 PubMed-indexed articles · 100% coverage · 2024–2025

Communications Biology accepts papers a median of 228 days after submission, including peer review and revisions. That is slower than 97% of comparable journals with PubMed timing data.

Indicative APC
i
Indicative APCThis journal-level estimate comes from the OpenAlex source record. It is not a verified quote and may exclude taxes, waivers, society discounts, or article-type charges. Check the journal's official website before deciding.
OPENALEX · VERIFY
$3,690

Journal-level estimate only. Verify current charges, taxes, waivers, discounts, and article-type fees with the journal.

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Does your manuscript fit Communications Biology?

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At a glance

Journal decision profile

Each spoke is a 0–100 percentile within a comparable journal cohort—not a percentage grade or a single black-box rating.

Relative profile

Metrics ScoreThe raw 2026 Journal Metrics Score is the recent two-year citation average shown above. The radar converts it to a 0–100 cohort percentile: farther out means a higher score than more comparable journals. It is not a percentage grade.iSource outputThe raw rank compares lifetime output inside the journal’s leading-topic source set. The radar then compares that rank position across Decision Profile journals in the same primary OpenAlex field; when that field has too few profiles, it uses the broader profile set. Farther out means relatively more output, not better research quality.iTop 10% shareThe share of recent papers in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield. The radar converts that share to a 0–100 cohort percentile; it does not predict how a new paper will perform.iMedian FWCICitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected citation level for comparable papers; the radar shows its 0–100 cohort percentile.iSubmission-to-acceptanceCalendar days from the received date to the accepted date in recent PubMed records. This includes editorial handling and author revisions, so it is not the time to first decision and not pure peer-review time. The radar uses a 0–100 cohort percentile with shorter observed timing plotted farther out; it does not measure review quality.iOutput volumeAverage works published per year in the recent analysis window, converted to a 0–100 cohort percentile. Farther out means the journal publishes more papers; it does not mean those papers are better.i
Cost is intentionally excluded. Missing APC data is never converted to a zero-dollar fee or a fabricated cost score.

Raw values behind the shape

Always visible
Metrics Score
i
Metrics ScoreThe 2026 raw Journal Metrics Score shown above. The bar is its 0–100 percentile within the radar's comparable journal cohort; it is not a percentage score.
6.02026 · OPENALEX
Source output rank
i
Source output rankThis lifetime journal-wide output rank compares works published by the OpenAlex source with sources associated with the journal’s leading topic. More output does not mean higher quality.
#60 / 1,086LIFETIME OUTPUT
Highly cited papers
i
Highly cited papersShare of recent works in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield.
38.4%FIELD-NORMALIZED TOP 10%
Field-normalized impact
i
Field-normalized impactCitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected level for comparable work.
2.01MEDIAN FWCI
Submission-to-acceptance
i
Submission-to-acceptanceReceived-to-accepted calendar days from qualified PubMed records. It includes editorial handling and author revisions; it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
228 daysIQR 183–295 DAYS
Recent output
i
Recent outputAverage works published per year across the complete analysis window. This is a volume measure, not a quality score.
1466 / yr2021–2024 AVG
Field-normalized top 10% share38.4%

2255 of 5,865 works · same type, year & subfield

Field-normalized top 1% share3.3%

191 works · same type, year & subfield

Median FWCI2.01×

Above field-year expectation

Source output rank#60

of 1,086 topic-associated OpenAlex sources by lifetime output

What does Median FWCI mean?

FWCI compares papers with the same publication year, type, and field. 1.0 is the world average; above 1.0 is above expectation. This journal's median is 2.01, so its typical recent paper runs about 101% above its field benchmark.

What does Top 10% Share mean?

38.4% of recent papers rank in the global top 10% after field normalization. This is easier to compare across specialties than raw citation totals.

Publishing pattern

Publication volume and article mix

Volume is separated from citation accumulation so newer papers are not presented as weaker simply because they are newer.

Works published by year

OpenAlex source records · 2018–2025

2532018
4652019
7922020
14232021
14212022
13012023
17202024
19942025

Recent work-type mix

5,865 OpenAlex works · 2021–2024

Article96%
Erratum3.7%
Letter0.2%
Review0.1%
OpenAlex article is broader than “original research.” PubMed Publication Types can add case-report and clinical-study detail.
Fit signals

Topics and medical subject coverage

OpenAlex topics show research communities; MeSH keeps the medical taxonomy recognizable.

Major MeSH signals

PubMed-indexed works

Select a MeSH signal to see how much Communications Biology publishes on it, from PubMed counts for the last five complete years.

Leading OpenAlex topics

2021–2024 works
Functional Brain Connectivity Studies122
Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics108
Neural dynamics and brain function96
SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research88
CRISPR and Genetic Engineering77
Epigenetics and DNA Methylation68
Gut microbiota and health58
RNA Research and Splicing54
Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies52
Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research49
Methodology: OpenAlex snapshot 2026-08-12. FWCI, percentile badges, topics, and type mix use 5,865 works published 2021–2024. Radar normalization is versioned in the cached profile, and no cost score is assigned without reliable APC data.

Subject Category Quartiles

Quartiles computed within each OpenAlex subfield
CategoryQuartile
Cognitive NeuroscienceQ1
Molecular BiologyQ1

Is Communications Biology a good journal?

Yes. A Q1 journal by citation data

Yes. By citation data, Communications Biology is a strong journal: it is Q1 in Cognitive Neuroscience and 1 other subfield and ranks #73 of 1,171 Neuroscience journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 7%). Communications Biology's 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.0. Recent papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance, according to PubMed dates. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $3,690 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Cognitive Neuroscience and Molecular Biology, so check that your topic fits its scope.

Best quartile
Q1
Cognitive Neuroscience
Rank in Neuroscience
#73 of 1,171
Top 7%
2026 Journal Metrics Score
6.0
Acceptance rate
Not published
By the journal or publisher
Submission to acceptance
228 days
Median, PubMed records
Open access fee (APC)
$3,690
OpenAlex, verify with the journal
Papers published in 2025
1,994
OpenAlex works

Check before you submit

  • Confirm the current article processing charge, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website; the OpenAlex figure is indicative.
  • Confirm the journal is indexed where your institution or funder requires (for example Scopus or PubMed) before you submit.

Verdict from citation data only: quartile and field rank by Journal Metrics Score (OpenAlex), publisher-reported acceptance rates, and PubMed submission and acceptance dates. See how we rank journals and how to verify indexing.

Q1
Subfield Quartile
B1
CAS Block

Ranking and source check

#73
of 1,171 Neuroscience field journals
#73
among Q1 Neuroscience journals

Confirm the exact title and ISSNs against the publisher homepage before a high-stakes submission decision.

Journal Details

OpenAlex Works
10,700
H-Index
145
Fully Open Access
Yes
Recent OA Works
10,670
Subject Areas
Cognitive NeuroscienceMolecular Biology

Source: the current OpenAlex source record. OpenAlex works can include multiple work types. Fully Open Access is a source-level flag. Recent OA Works is summed from OpenAlex's counts_by_year series (up to the latest ten years); it is not a lifetime OA percentage. Any APC shown here is an indicative OpenAlex value—verify current charges on the journal's official website.

How to submit to Communications Biology

  1. 1

    Check the scope

    OpenAlex classifies Communications Biology's papers in subfields including Cognitive Neuroscience and Molecular Biology. Read the aims and scope page and a few recent papers close to your topic before you prepare the manuscript.

  2. 2

    Follow the author guidelines

    Article types, word and figure limits, reference style, and the required statements (data availability, ethics, conflicts of interest, author contributions) are set by the journal. Prepare the cover letter and files to match them.

    Communications Biology homepage ↗
  3. 3

    Submit online

    Use the submit link in Communications Biology's author guidelines; Nature Portfolio runs the submission site. Every author usually needs an ORCID iD, and the corresponding author needs an account on the submission site.

  4. 4

    Plan for costs

    OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $3,690 USD for this open-access journal. Check the current fee, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website.

  5. 5

    Know what to expect

    Recent accepted papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance, including revisions (PubMed dates). Communications Biology does not publish an acceptance rate.

Common questions about Communications Biology

Is Communications Biology a good journal?

Yes. By citation data, Communications Biology is a strong journal: it is Q1 in Cognitive Neuroscience and 1 other subfield and ranks #73 of 1,171 Neuroscience journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 7%). Communications Biology's 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.0. Recent papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance, according to PubMed dates. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $3,690 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Cognitive Neuroscience and Molecular Biology, so check that your topic fits its scope.

What is Communications Biology's Journal Metrics Score in 2026?

Communications Biology's 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 6.0, from the August 2026 data release. The score is a two-year citation average 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.

What is the acceptance rate of Communications Biology?

We have not found an official acceptance rate published by Communications Biology or its publisher, and Journal Metrics does not estimate one because submission counts are not public. What recent PubMed records do show is speed: accepted papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance. To judge selectivity, compare Communications Biology's quartile and score with similar journals, or ask the editorial office.

What quartile is Communications Biology in?

Communications Biology's best quartile is Q1. By OpenAlex subfield: Q1 in Cognitive Neuroscience; Q1 in Molecular Biology. Quartiles rank journals by Journal Metrics Score within each subfield.

Is the Journal Metrics Score the same as other journal citation metrics?

No. Journal Metrics computes the score independently from OpenAlex open data. Other providers use different citation databases, document types, and counting rules, so their published figures for Communications Biology will not match this score exactly. Compare journals using one source at a time.

How long does Communications Biology take to accept a paper?

Communications Biology accepts papers a median of 228 days after submission across 100 recent PubMed records with both dates; the middle half took 183–295 days. This includes peer review, editorial handling, and revisions.

How long is the peer review time at Communications Biology?

PubMed records when a manuscript was received and accepted, not the individual review stages, so peer review time on its own is not available. The full time from submission to acceptance at Communications Biology, which includes peer review and revisions, has a median of 228 days. For the time to a first decision, check the journal's own website.

Is Communications Biology faster than similar journals?

Communications Biology's median of 228 days from submission to acceptance is slower than 97% of comparable journals with PubMed timing data.

How much does it cost to publish in Communications Biology?

OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $3,690 USD for Communications Biology. This journal-level estimate may exclude taxes, waivers, discounts, or article-type fees, so confirm the current charge on the journal's website.

Which journals are alternatives to Communications Biology?

Comparable journals include Cell, Nature Communications, Cell Research, and Molecular Biomedicine. Compare their scores, acceptance times, and costs in the recommended alternatives on this page before choosing where to submit.

How do I submit a paper to Communications Biology?

Submit online through the link in Communications Biology's author guidelines on the journal homepage. Before submitting, check the scope, follow the author guidelines for article type, length, and required statements, and prepare a cover letter. Accepted papers took a median of 228 days from submission to acceptance in recent PubMed records.

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