Direct comparison
Doaj Vs Doab: Key Differences & Comparison | CASRAI
DOAJ and DOAB are complementary community directories of open-access content. DOAJ (the Directory of Open Access Journals) indexes peer-reviewed open-access journals against quality criteria; DOAB (the Directory of Open Access Books) indexes academic open-access books and is closely linked to the OAPEN infrastructure.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | DOAJ | DOAB |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Directory of Open Access Journals | Directory of Open Access Books |
| Content type | Open-access journals (and their articles) | Open-access academic books and chapters |
| Scope of listing | Peer-reviewed open-access journals | Peer-reviewed scholarly open-access books |
| Quality criteria | Journals must meet defined inclusion criteria | Books/publishers must meet peer-review and quality standards |
| Governance | Community-run, not-for-profit service | Run in close connection with the OAPEN Foundation |
| Related platform | A standalone discovery index | Closely linked to the OAPEN Library for hosting |
| Purpose | Discover and trust open-access journals | Discover and trust open-access books |
| Cost to read | Indexed content is free to read (open access) | Indexed content is free to read (open access) |
| Used by | Authors, libraries, funders checking journal status | Libraries and readers discovering OA monographs |
Common questions
FAQ
What is the core difference between DOAJ and DOAB?+
They index different output types: DOAJ is the directory for open-access journals (and their articles), while DOAB is the directory for open-access academic books. Both apply quality and peer-review criteria for inclusion, so they are complementary rather than competing.
Does being listed in DOAJ indicate a trustworthy journal?+
DOAJ requires journals to meet defined inclusion criteria, including transparent peer review and publishing practices, so listing is widely treated as a signal of a legitimate open-access journal. It is one useful check among several, not an absolute guarantee.
How does DOAB relate to OAPEN?+
DOAB is operated in close connection with the OAPEN Foundation. DOAB provides discovery and indexing of open-access books, while the OAPEN Library provides hosting and dissemination — together supporting trustworthy open-access monograph publishing.
Going deeper
