PLOS ONE Impact Factor (2024): Around 2.6 — with a 5-year IF near 3.2
What is the PLOS ONE impact factor?
The 2024 impact factor is approximately 2.6 according to Web of Science and corroborated by multiple databases. The 5-year impact factor is higher, around 3.2—a nod to how articles mature over time.
But here’s the fun part: PLOS doesn’t lead with that number. In fact, their journal information page flat-out says they don’t consider impact factor a reliable marker for individual articles—and they’d rather you look at more nuanced metrics like Article-Level Metrics (ALMs), SJR, CiteScore, or h-index.
Does PLOS ONE flaunt its impact factor?
Nope. You won't spot a badge plastered on their website saying *“Our IF is awesome!”*. Instead, they steer you toward metrics that reflect the value of each paper:
- Article-Level Metrics (ALMs) — how your individual paper is performing
- SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) — measuring prestige-weighted citations
- CiteScore and h-index — alternative citation impact indicators
In fact, their open-science philosophy is sort of like a chef saying, “Taste it yourself,” rather than showing you Yelp stars.
Is PLOS ONE a high-impact journal or just… average?
Now, if you're comparing to giants like Nature or Cell, sure, an IF of ~2.6 seems modest. But for a mega-journal pumping out thousands of papers every year? That’s not shabby.
Let’s dig into the trend:
| Year | Impact Factor (IF) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | ~3.7 |
| 2023 | ~2.9 |
| 2024 | ~2.6 |
You can see that it's dipped a bit recently (Bioxbio, Resurchify).
Here’s the catch: bigger journals like this simply can’t sustain ultra-high IFs because the sheer volume of articles “dilutes” the average, regardless of individual quality.
PLOS ONE was once riding high—with early IFs over 3, even close to 4. But as it grew, the average naturally drifted lower.
How does PLOS ONE uphold its IF?
Surprisingly, it’s not just by letting anything through.
- They enforce technical and methodological soundness, even if novelty isn’t the bar.
- Open access plus indexing in platforms like PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science ensures broad discoverability—so citations keep happening.
- The mega-volume effect: some articles fetch tons of attention, while many get moderate citations—that balances out.
So, when someone asks, *“How does PLOS ONE maintain its impact factor?”*, part of the answer lies in this interplay of quality control, access, and sheer scale.
But where does PLOS ONE fall in journal quartiles?
Ah, the ever-popular Q1 vs Q2 question—often applied to rankings by discipline.
According to SCImago, PLOS ONE’s SJR for 2024 is 0.803, and it's classified as Q1 in the Multidisciplinary category.
Yet, when you look at Web of Science, the Percentile Rank across all Multidisciplinary Sciences is about 67.4%, which puts it solidly high—but maybe not elite.
In short: in some disciplines it’s Q1; in others, maybe Q2 depending on the field and database.
Is PLOS ONE predatory? Let’s be clear: absolutely not.
This question pops up mostly because of misunderstandings around open access and fees. PLOS ONE:
- Is fully indexed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and more (PLOS
- Follows rigorous peer review, albeit focused on soundness rather than novelty
- Charges article processing charges (APC) , but has institutional support, waivers, and equity programs (PLOS)
Basically, it’s legit—and the fees support an open-access model and editorial infrastructure, not vanity publishing.
How much does it cost to publish in PLOS ONE?
This is where some folks raise eyebrows—but transparency helps.
- Standard APC for “all other articles” (regular research) is **$2,382 USD**.
- Under Plan S reporting, PLOS ONE’s APC was sometimes quoted at $1,805, with detailed cost allocation for peer review and platform services.
- Waivers are available, and time to publication is usually around 24 weeks.
It's not cheap—but it’s straightforward, and institutional agreements can offset the cost.
What kind of articles are in PLOS ONE?
PLOS ONE publishes all scientifically sound research regardless of perceived impact, provided the methodology is solid. Article types include:
- Research Articles — primary data-driven work in any discipline
- Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses — structured syntheses of existing evidence
- Protocols — detailed methodological papers allowing reproducibility
- Data Notes — papers focused on dataset description and reuse potential
- Registered Reports — peer-reviewed study plans, reducing publication bias
Because PLOS ONE’s scope is so broad, you’ll see everything from molecular biology to social science in the same issue. It’s multidisciplinary by design.
How long can a manuscript be for PLOS ONE?
Technically, there’s no strict page limit. PLOS ONE accepts long manuscripts as long as they are clear, well-structured, and scientifically justified.
- Most research articles fall in the 3,000–7,000 word range, but some exceed 10,000 words when necessary.
- Figures, tables, and supplementary material are unlimited in principle, though editors encourage concise presentation.
- What matters is clarity and completeness—not hitting an arbitrary word count.
So if your paper needs extra space to fully describe experiments or data, that’s usually fine.
Should researchers still care about impact factors?
Here’s the thing: IF is like judging a buffet by the average taste of every dish on the table. It gives you a snapshot—but misses the marquee items that stand out.
For early-career researchers, IF can matter. Committees, funders, and institutions still look at it. But the smarter move? Focus on article-level metrics: downloads, citations, Altmetric attention—each paper’s story counts.
PLOS has nudged this narrative for years, aligning with broader pushes like **DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment)**.
A Few Real Talk Notes (because this is “written in the moment”)
You know what? It’s freeing to say: PLOS ONE is not elite, and that’s okay. You’re getting:
- Broad reach (open access)
- Reliable peer review
- High transparency and indexing
- Metrics that let your work shine individually
Sure, if you're only chasing prestige, you might go elsewhere. But if you're after visibility, real science, and a platform where your paper matters on its own terms—PLOS ONE is solid.
FAQs (natural tone, long-tail keywords)
What is the current PLOS ONE impact factor 2024?
About 2.6, with a 5-year IF around 3.2, per Web of Science.
Is PLOS ONE impact factor Q1 or Q2?
It’s Q1 in SCImago for Multidisciplinary Science (SJR = 0.803), but can appear as Q2 in certain Web of Science categories.
What is the PLOS ONE journal article processing charge?
$2,382 USD for most research articles, with waivers and institutional discounts available.
Is PLOS ONE a predatory journal?
No. It’s fully indexed (PubMed, Scopus, WoS), rigorously peer-reviewed, and transparent about editorial practices.
How has PLOS ONE’s impact factor trended over time?
It peaked around **3.7 (2022), dropped to 2.9 (2023)**, then to 2.6 (2024) as mega-journal growth naturally diluted citation averages.
What kind of articles are in PLOS ONE?
Anything scientifically sound: research articles, systematic reviews, protocols, data notes, registered reports—across all disciplines.
How long can a manuscript be for PLOS ONE?
No strict limit. Most fall between 3,000–7,000 words, but longer papers are accepted if well-justified. Supplementary data is unrestricted.
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