Is Elsevier now officially a predatory publisher?

No, Elsevier isn't officially labeled "predatory" by major watchdog lists, but it faces significant criticism and accusations of predatory-like practices, particularly regarding high Article Processing Charges (APCs) in its Open Access journals, journal quality issues (like those in Procedia), high profits, and past unethical practices, leading many researchers to boycott them, though some argue they're no worse than other large publishers.

Is Elsevier a credible publisher?

High standards of peer review: Elsevier is well-known for its strict process of checking research papers, which helps ensure that only high-quality work gets published. Global presence: Elsevier has offices and representatives all over the world to support scientists internationally.

What is the Elsevier controversy?

Elsevier controversies center on its high journal prices, "double-dipping" subscription/open-access fees, and perceived unethical business practices, leading to boycotts (like the UC system's) and mass editorial resignations. Researchers protest unpaid peer review, author rights, and perceived lack of quality control despite high fees, with ongoing concerns about climate-related data services and potential manipulation in peer review. 

How can you tell if a publisher is predatory?

Predatory publishers often list leading scholars in a field among their editorial boards without their knowledge or consent, and may also falsify their expertise. The metrics listed for the journal are not verifiable.

Who is Elsevier owned by?

Elsevier is a Dutch publishing and analytics company specialized in scientific, medical and technical contents. It belongs to RELX Group.

Predatory Publishing - an update

Which one is better, Springer or Elsevier?

Elsevier, Springer Nature, and others are giant academic publishers, with Elsevier known for broad, high-impact journals like The Lancet and strong citation metrics, while Springer Nature (formed from Springer Science & Business Media and Macmillan) excels in STEM with its Nature brand and extensive Open Access (OA) options, both publishing vast collections of journals, books, and databases, with key differences lying in specific journal focus, editorial policies (like AI usage), and author-reader accessibility. 

Is Mdpi a predatory publisher?

As of 2020, MDPI was the largest publisher of open access papers in the world and the 5th largest publisher overall in terms of journal paper output. MDPI was included on Jeffrey Beall's list of predatory open access publishing companies in February 2014.

Is 2.5 a good impact factor for a journal?

Yes, a 2.5 impact factor (IF) is generally considered good or decent, falling into the respectable range for many fields, though it's not "top-tier" like journals with IFs of 10+; it signifies that articles in that journal are cited reasonably often, but its actual quality depends heavily on the specific research discipline, as averages vary significantly.
 

Are there lists of predatory journals?

The DOAJ is a list of quality open-access publishers. It conducts quality checks and regularly purges the list of suspected predatory journals.

What are some vanity publishers to avoid?

You should avoid vanity publishers like Author Solutions (and its imprints: Archway, AuthorHouse, Balboa Press, LifeRich, WestBow Press, Traford), Page Publishing, Xlibris, iUniverse, Austin Macauley, Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie, and Olympia Publishers, as they charge authors high fees for services traditional publishers provide for free, often deliver poor quality, and fail to market books effectively, with red flags including upfront payments, unsolicited contact, and grand promises. Writer Beware and other author advocacy groups maintain lists of these companies, often operating under multiple names or as "hybrid" publishers, so always research a publisher's name plus "scam," "review," or "Writer Beware" before paying for publishing services. 

Which is better, Elsevier or Wiley?

Neither Wiley nor Elsevier is definitively "better"; they are both major, reputable academic publishers, but differ in scale, focus (Elsevier is larger), and specific journal quality, so the choice depends on the specific journal's reputation and fit for the research, not just the publisher. Elsevier publishes more journals and articles, while Wiley partners with more societies, with both offering high-quality content but varying in impact factor and reach. 

Is Elsevier better than MDPI?

Elsevier generally carries broader institutional prestige and long-standing credibility. MDPI offers faster, open-access visibility. Choose Elsevier for reputation and depth of peer review; choose MDPI for rapid, widely accessible publication.

What is the Elsevier boycott?

The Elsevier boycott is a movement by academics to protest the high costs and restrictive practices of the major scientific publisher Elsevier, urging researchers to stop publishing, peer-reviewing, or editing for its journals to push for lower prices and greater open access to research. Key drivers include excessive subscription fees, high article processing charges (APCs), and "bundling" of journals, leading institutions to pay heavily for content they provide for free, with some research even showing Elsevier's profit margins exceeding Google's. 

Which journals are owned by Elsevier?

Search

• AACE Endocrinology and Diabetes. ...
• AACE Endocrinology and Diabetes. ...
• AACN Advanced Critical Care. ...
• AEÜ - International Journal of Electronics and Communications. ...
• AI Open. ...
• AI Thermal Fluids. ...
• AJO International. ...
• AJO-DO Clinical Companion.

Who is the CEO of Elsevier?

The CEO of Elsevier is Kumsal Bayazit, who took over the role in February 2019, leading the global information analytics company in its mission to support science and health professionals. She previously held leadership positions within Elsevier's parent company, RELX, and at Bain & Company, bringing extensive strategy and management experience to her leadership.
 

Can impact factor be manipulated?

However, impact factors may be manipulated by editors. According to the ex- planatory statements and announcements made by the authors submitting their work to the journals, the impact factor is still being di- rectly manipulated [4–6].

What is a respectable impact factor?

In general, an impact factor of 10 or higher is considered remarkable, while 3 is good, and the average score is less than 1. Example. The very prestigious journal Nature had an impact factor of 69.504 in the year 2021. ➡️ Learn more: What is a good h-index?

Is an impact score of 30 good?

Impact scores run from 10 to 90, where 10 is best. Generally speaking, impact/priority scores of 10 to 30 are most likely to be funded; scores between 31 and 45 might be funded; scores greater than 46 are rarely funded.

Why do people still publish in MDPI?

The one upside to MDPI is that people who publish in it are typically early-career and desperate for collaborators to help build up their own research profile.

Is Frontiers in Oncology a predatory journal?

The Frontiers series is on the list of predatory publishers—and does have a diverse array of journal titles.

Is MDPI predatory in 2025?

Some journals published by MDPI have also been noted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Norwegian Scientific Index for lack of rigor and possible predatory practices, as of 2025, CAS no longer lists any MDPI journals on its Early Warning List.

What is the reputation of Elsevier?

Elsevier is a leading publisher of some of the most well-respected science journals in the world. Hence publishing a research in Elsevier will be widely disseminated. Because of this, Elsevier journals are a smart choice for scientific authors. Elsevier journals also have a high journal impact factor overall.

Are Springer and Elsevier the same?

Key context: Elsevier manages over 2,700+ journals and owns platforms like Scopus and ScienceDirect, while Springer (Springer Nature) publishes around 3,000+ journals and operates SpringerOpen for fully open-access publishing. Both are COPE members and follow strict publication ethics.