Researchers often search for Scopus-indexed journals without APC because they need recognised indexing without an author-facing publication charge. The useful shortlist is smaller than a raw index: the journal must also match the paper.
The entries below combine the catalog’s Scopus flag with a strict no-APC record. They are starting points for verification, not guarantees of current coverage, acceptance, or publication speed.
Quick answer: Use Scopus indexing as one verification layer, not as the only reason to submit. Confirm current source coverage, journal scope, fee policy, and official author instructions.
Journal list and current catalog signals
The table presents 12 examples from 1,421 matching catalog records. SJR, H-index, and quartile refer to the linked SCImago data year in the catalog. Fees and policies must be verified on the official journal website.
| Journal | Quartile | SJR | H-index | Fee | Country | Pre-review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Reviews in RelativitySpringerOpen | Q1 | 14.227 | 107 | No APCPublication fee | Germany | Pre-review |
| Living Reviews in Solar PhysicsSpringer | Q1 | 8.871 | 79 | No APCPublication fee | Switzerland | Pre-review |
| International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher EducationSpringerOpen | Q1 | 7.947 | 97 | No APCPublication fee | United Kingdom | Pre-review |
| Military Medical ResearchKeAi Communications Co., Ltd. | Q1 | 5.898 | 68 | No APCPublication fee | China | Pre-review |
| Organization TheorySAGE Publishing | Q1 | 4.852 | 43 | No APCPublication fee | United Kingdom | Pre-review |
| International Journal of Extreme ManufacturingIOP Publishing | Q1 | 4.098 | 73 | No APCPublication fee | United Kingdom | Pre-review |
| Nano Research EnergyTsinghua University Press | Q1 | 4.016 | 49 | No APCPublication fee | China | Pre-review |
| Journal of Sport and Health ScienceElsevier | Q1 | 3.715 | 87 | No APCPublication fee | Netherlands | Pre-review |
| Journal of the European Mathematical SocietyEMS Press | Q1 | 3.687 | 73 | No APCPublication fee | Germany | Pre-review |
| Journal of Statistical SoftwareFoundation for Open Access Statistics | Q1 | 3.677 | 199 | No APCPublication fee | United States | Pre-review |
| Opto-Electronic ScienceEditorial Office of Opto-Electronic Journals, Institute of Optics and Electronics, CAS, China | Q1 | 3.494 | 33 | No APCPublication fee | China | Pre-review |
| Energy Material AdvancesAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) | Q1 | 3.459 | 39 | No APCPublication fee | United States | Pre-review |
Data note: Scopus and SCImagoJR are related but not interchangeable interfaces. Verify coverage at the original source before relying on an indexing claim. Search the complete Journal Finder.
How to choose from this list
Check current Scopus coverage
A historical Scopus record does not replace a current source check. Verify the title and ISSN in the latest available source record.
Read aims and recent papers
Confirm that the journal publishes work with comparable topics, methods, evidence, and audiences.
Inspect the publishing model
Determine whether the journal is diamond open access, sponsored open access, hybrid, or subscription-based without an APC.
Avoid guaranteed-indexing claims
No independent directory can promise future indexing or acceptance. Treat unsupported guarantees as a warning sign.
Check the manuscript against the journal you selected
PapeReview evaluates clarity, methods, evidence, contribution, limitations, and journal-target fit before you enter the publisher submission system.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Scopus-indexed journal publish without an APC?
Yes. Journals can be institutionally funded, society-supported, subscription-based, or subsidised through other models.
Is every journal in this list open access?
Not necessarily. No APC describes author cost, while open access describes reader access. Check both fields.
Should I choose the highest quartile?
Choose the strongest realistic scope match. Quartile should refine a shortlist, not override relevance.
Sources and verification
PapeReview combines catalog fields from journal and publisher records with DOAJ and SCImagoJR-linked information. These services answer different questions: DOAJ focuses on open-access journal records, while SCImagoJR presents Scopus-based citation indicators. PapeReview adds filtering and a manuscript pre-review workflow but does not replace official publisher verification.