Definition · Plain-language
What is an Article Processing Charge (APC)?
An Article Processing Charge (APC) is a fee charged by scholarly publishers to make an article permanently and freely available online under an open-access license. The APC covers the costs of editorial management, peer review coordination, publishing infrastructure, typesetting, and long-term digital archiving.
The step most authors miss
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Why Do Publishers Charge APCs?
Publishers charge APCs to cover the operational costs associated with producing high-quality academic publications. In subscription-based models, these costs are covered by library subscription fees. In open access, since readers access the work for free, publishers cover costs such as maintaining online submission systems, organizing peer review, copyediting, typesetting, generating XML files, and ensuring long-term digital archiving of the articles.
How Researchers Fund APCs
Most researchers do not pay APCs out of their own pocket. Funding typically comes from research grants, as major funding bodies (such as Plan S or UKRI) allow authors to allocate grant funds for open-access fees. Additionally, many universities have dedicated open-access funds managed by the library. Increasingly, institutions enter into 'transformative' or 'read-and-publish' agreements with publishers, where library subscriptions are converted into packages that cover APC costs for institutional authors.
The Debate Surrounding APCs and Equity
While APCs succeed in making research free for readers, they have created a new barrier for authors, particularly those in underfunded institutions or low- and middle-income countries. Critics argue that high APCs restrict who can publish in prestigious journals, potentially cementing global inequalities in knowledge production. This has led to the rise of Diamond Open Access (no fees for authors or readers) and calls for more comprehensive waiver policies.
Key facts
At a glance
- APCs are paid after a paper is accepted for publication, never as a submission fee (which would indicate predatory practices).
- Fees can be substantial, with top-tier journals charging upwards of £8,000 per article.
- Hybrid journals charge APCs for individual open-access articles while still charging subscription fees for the rest of the journal.
- Many funding bodies mandate open-access publishing and allow grant funds to be used to cover APCs.
- Diamond Open Access journals do not charge APCs to authors or subscription fees to readers, relying instead on institutional subsidies.
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: Paying an APC guarantees that your paper will be accepted.
Actually: The peer review process is completely independent of the payment process; APCs are only invoiced after peer review is completed and the paper is accepted.
Often heard: Only low-quality or predatory journals charge APCs.
Actually: Highly prestigious journals published by Nature, Elsevier, and Oxford University Press charge APCs for their open-access options.
Often heard: Authors must always pay APCs out of their own pockets.
Actually: APCs are typically funded by research grants, university libraries, or through national transformative agreements, not personal funds.
