Scholars have more options than ever when it comes to how they would like to publish their work, open access publishing is one of those options. In addition this, traditional publishing models exist. The growth of open access academic publishing, however, has become widely accepted across disciplines globally.
Here we explain what open access publishing is and how it differs from traditional publishing models. The advantages and disadvantages of each are considered. It will also provide an overview of how OA benefits the work of scholars and academia more broadly.
What is open access publishing?
Over the past 25 years, open access (OA) publishing has been consistently growing, accelerating scientific communication and knowledge dissemination. OA makes scientific research more accessible to a wider readership by being published in online journals that are free to access.
Open access, under the broader open science movement, aims to reduce financial or other barriers to publishing, reading, and reusing emerging research. The more author- and reader-friendly copyright and licensing regulations enable scholars to more easily share and use each other’s work.
One of the most significant differences between the two models is the use of article processing charges (APCs). This requires authors, or their institution, to cover the cost of each publication. This replaces the paywall that exists with subscription-based journals.
Open access versus traditional publishing
So, why publish open access? How does open access compare to traditional publishing models?
A big part of why OA publications are easier to access and distribute is that they are all published online. The acceleration of scholarly communications has helped to streamline various aspects of the publication process, including peer review and timelines to release.
Historically, subscription-based journals put out hard copies, which by nature are more difficult to disseminate on a practical level. Many of these journals continue to produce printed copies, which are often in addition to the paywalled online version.
Key factors to consider
A good strategy for scholars is to pursue both open access and traditional subscription-based publications, depending on the specific context and situation. In order to make the best decision, there are various factors to keep in mind:
Cost to publish
Open access research is published with a required article processing charge (APC). Either the author or a sponsoring institution can pay the fee.
Publication timeline
The traditional publishing process has markedly longer timelines than open access academic publishing. Each journal has its own regulations, but, in general, OA takes weeks or months to publish, rather than the often years-long process of traditional publishing.
Availability, sharing, and reuse
Most open access journals aim to publish articles as quickly and widely as they can. In most cases, finalized papers are freely available to share and reuse upon publication. Authors can also post a preprint on an online repository before this, and then update it to the new version.
Licensing and copyright
Under most OA models, authors retain the copyright and licensing rights. If restrictions do exist, they are usually temporary or removed under an open license copyright.
Types of OA
The aim of open access academic publishing is to make publications as freely and easily accessible as possible to as many people as possible. The open science movement
As you move through different parts of your career, certain forms of publishing might offer more benefits than others. This might include pursuing various forms of OA in line with your personal and professional goals.
The types of open access are represented through a coded system, as briefly explored below.
Gold
Currently, gold OA is the standard for a lot of academic open access journals, including across MDPI’s catalogue of hundreds of publications. Under this model, an APC is paid, and the author retains full copyright over their work. Once the published article is released by the journal, it is immediately and permanently available to be used and reused for free.
Green
Scholars can upload their own work on an online depository with green OA, known as self-archiving. Authors can upload a preprint version of their work for the use of readers before updating it with the finalized peer-reviewed publication. The finalized publication is not made available right away, and the copyright is retained by the publisher.
Hybrid
This type offers a mixture of open and closed access. Some journal articles are available to those with a subscription, and some are made open access if an APC has been paid by the author or affiliated institution.
Diamond or platinum
Articles under this model are typically published fully OA, without requiring the author or the reader to pay a fee. This open access research is typically made possible by external funding from public or private institutions.
Bronze
These articles are not typically available for reuse, but they are free to read on the publisher’s official page.
Black
This includes making available unauthorized digital copies of closed access literature. This often involves the uploading and sharing of PDF versions of paywalled research.
Gratis
This type includes free online access to read, but not reuse, scientific research papers.
Libre
With this model, readers have free online access to read academic work, with some reuse rights.
Ultimately, open access academic publishing has helped scholars to increase the reach and impact of their work. The opening up of academic research to more authors and readers has diversified engagement with scientific conversations. This continues to create more possibilities for collaborative and community-driven knowledge, which further the principles of open science.
Last updated on: July 25, 2026