OPEN ACCESS CHARGES – CONTINUED CONSOLIDATION AND INCREASES
MARCH 19, 2024  |    DAN POLLOCK AND HEATHER STAINES

This month we look at the latest data about Article Processing Charges (APCs). Per article pricing is a fundamental building block for all paid publishing models, so our review provides an invaluable insight into how costs of open access continue to evolve. This year, prices in general are increasing, some significantly. Important nuances in the distribution of prices continue to affect the value and cost of paid publishing models.

Background

Each year we survey the list Article Processing Charges (APCs) of a sample of major and significant publishers. Covering over 20,000 titles, and going back to 2016, our data set represents one of the most comprehensive reviews of open access pricing.

To compare like for like, we analyze non-discounted, CC BY charges. We take a snapshot at the end of every January, so we can track yearly changes while controlling for the different times of year that publishers may update prices.

Headline Changes

Going into 2024, we have seen significant price increases.

* Fully OA list prices across our sample have risen by around 9.5% compared with those set a year ago.
* Hybrid list prices have risen by an average of 4.2% over the same period.
* Maximum APCs for Fully OA journals remain at $8,900.
* Maximum APCs for Hybrid journals now top out at $12,290 (up $600 from last year).
* The last big jump in prices happened in 2020-2021, when the high-impact journals started offering OA options for the first time. This served to drag up average price increases. They subsequently fell back to averages.

Underlying trends continue