Open Access (OA) publishing comes in several forms, including Diamond , Gold, Green, and Hybrid models. Each model offers a different approach to how research is made freely available and who covers the cost of publishing. Understanding these models can help you make informed decisions about where and how to publish your work
Diagram by Jamie-farquharson - https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21598179, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=125787281
The Diamond model refers to journals that are entirely funded by non-profit organizations or universities, and do not charge authors any APCs to publish their articles. These journals are often run by volunteers and rely on the support of the academic community to cover their operating costs. Diamond open access journals are considered to be a more sustainable and equitable model of open access, as they do not place any financial burden on authors or readers.
Pros:
Free for authors and readers: No article processing charges (APCs) or subscription fees.
Equitable access: Removes financial barriers, supporting more inclusive publishing.
Community-driven: Often supported by academic institutions, libraries, or scholarly societies.
Non-commercial focus: Typically prioritizes scholarly communication over profit.
Cons:
Limited funding: Sustainability can be a challenge without consistent institutional or grant support.
Fewer journal options: There are fewer Diamond OA journals compared to other models, especially in some disciplines.
Potential for slower processes: Limited resources may impact editorial and publishing speed or infrastructure.
Visibility and indexing: Some Diamond OA journals may have lower visibility or not be indexed in major databases.
Gold open access refers to articles that are made freely available by the publisher immediately upon publication. So In this model, the publisher bears the cost of publishing and the article is made available to readers at no cost. To cover the costs of publishing, the author or their institution usually pays an article processing charge (APC). The APC can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the journal
Pros:
Immediate, full access: Articles are freely available on the publisher’s website as soon as they’re published.
Wide reach and visibility: Enhances discoverability and citation potential.
Professional publishing standards: Typically includes peer review, editing, and formatting services.
Compliance: Often meets funder and institutional OA mandates.
Cons:
Cost to authors: Article Processing Charges (APCs) can be expensive, especially without funding support.
Equity concerns: Researchers from underfunded institutions or low-income countries may face barriers to publishing.
Predatory journal risk: Some publishers exploit the APC model without offering legitimate editorial services.
Perception issues: Some still view APC-funded models with skepticism regarding quality and integrity.
Green open access refers to the practice of making a version of a scholarly article available in an institutional or subject repository, or on a personal website. This is known as self-archiving. The deposited version can be either the preprint (before peer-review) or the post-print (after peer-review, but before publisher's formatting) and generally This type of open access usually does not involve payment of any fees to the publisher
Pros:
Free to publish: No cost to authors or readers.
Author control: Authors can deposit their work in institutional or subject repositories.
Supports long-term access: Repositories often ensure ongoing preservation and access.
Compliance: Can help meet funder OA requirements, especially when publisher allows self-archiving.
Cons:
Embargo periods: Publishers may delay when the archived version can be made publicly available.
Version differences: Often only the accepted manuscript (not the final published version) can be shared.
Discoverability: Articles in repositories may be less visible than those on publisher websites.
Rights and policies vary: Navigating publisher self-archiving policies can be complex.
Hybrid open access refers to journals that offer both subscription-based access to articles as well as the option for authors to pay an APC to make their individual articles openly available. In other words, the journal offers a hybrid model where some articles are only available to subscribers while others are available to all readers. This allows publishers to continue generating revenue from subscriptions while also providing authors with an option to make their work open access.
Pros:
Flexibility: Authors can choose to make individual articles open access in a traditional subscription journal.
Increased visibility: Open access articles are freely available to all readers.
Supports compliance: Can meet open access requirements from funders or institutions.
Reputation: Often published in well-established, high-impact journals.
Cons:
High costs: Article Processing Charges (APCs) are often expensive—and subscription fees still apply to the journal overall.
Double-dipping concerns: Institutions may pay both APCs and subscription fees, raising ethical and financial concerns.
Limited transformation: Hybrid models may slow progress toward full open access by maintaining traditional publishing structures.
Complex policies: Navigating hybrid options and licensing terms can be confusing for authors.
