Direct comparison
Diamond Vs Gold Open Access: Key Differences & Comparison | CASRAI
Diamond and Gold open access both make the version of record immediately free to read. They differ in who pays: Gold OA is commonly funded by Article Processing Charges (APCs), while Diamond OA is free to read and free to publish, with costs covered by communities, institutions, or funders.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Diamond OA | Gold OA |
|---|---|---|
| Free to read | Yes — immediate at the version of record | Yes — immediate at the version of record |
| Charge to authors | No — no Article Processing Charge | Commonly an Article Processing Charge (APC) |
| Who funds it | Communities, institutions, libraries, learned societies, funders | Authors, institutions, or funders via APCs (or transformative deals) |
| Also known as | Platinum open access | Author-pays / APC-based open access |
| Where published | Fully OA, often scholar-led or society journals | Fully OA journals or hybrid journals offering an OA option |
| Equity considerations | No author-side cost barrier | APCs can be a barrier without waivers or institutional deals |
| Policy context | Encouraged by cOAlition S; OA Diamond Journals Study (2021) | A recognised Plan S compliant route (incl. transformative arrangements) |
| Licence | Typically open (e.g. CC BY) | Typically open (e.g. CC BY) |
| Sustainability | Depends on collective / institutional funding | Revenue tied to publication volume via APCs |
Common questions
FAQ
Is Diamond OA just Gold OA without a fee?+
In effect, yes — both deliver immediate open access at the version of record, but Diamond charges neither readers nor authors. The difference is the funding model: Diamond is supported collectively (institutions, societies, funders), whereas Gold commonly relies on Article Processing Charges.
Does Diamond OA mean lower quality?+
No. The funding model is independent of editorial standards. Many Diamond journals are scholar-led or society titles with full peer review; quality depends on the journal’s practices, not on whether an APC is charged.
How does this relate to Plan S?+
cOAlition S’s Plan S recognises compliant OA routes, and the coalition has actively supported Diamond OA — including commissioning the 2021 OA Diamond Journals Study — as a way to achieve open access without author-side charges.
Going deeper
