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Head-to-head · Manuscript Submission Software

Open Journal Systems vs Scholastica

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Open Journal Systems #4 in Manuscript Submission Software 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit site
Scholastica #6 in Manuscript Submission Software 8.7/10 Paid ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Scholastica

Open Journal Systems leads on 1 check, Scholastica on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreOpen Journal Systems · 8.9/10
  • Free planonly Open Journal Systems

Open Journal Systems scores higher on our rubric for manuscript submission software: 8.9 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

Open Journal Systems offers free plan; Scholastica doesn't.

Open Journal Systems is the better fit for journals wanting free, end-to-end publishing workflows. Scholastica is the better fit for journals seeking a supported paid peer-review platform.

  • Open Journal Systems fits best

    Journals wanting free, end-to-end publishing workflows

  • Scholastica fits best

    Journals seeking a supported paid peer-review platform

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Open Journal Systems 8.9/10 Visit ↗ Scholastica 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.9 8.7
Ranking #4 in Manuscript Submission Software #6 in Manuscript Submission Software
Best for Journals wanting free, end-to-end publishing workflows Journals seeking a supported paid peer-review platform
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan $500/unit/yr
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Community, Docs Email, Docs
Integrations 11 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market
Features Open Journal Systems 5/5 · Scholastica 5/5
Conference submissions ✓ ✓
Multi-journal management ✓ ✓
Configurable intake forms ✓ ✓
Automated email notices ✓ ✓
ORCID integration ✓ ✓
Our review
Pros
  • Connects submission, peer review, editorial work, and production in one workflow
  • Runs one or many journals from a single installation
  • Supports indexing, researcher identifiers, and preservation integrations
  • Configurable forms support file requirements, instructions, and CRediT fields
  • Reviewer management, reminders, and manuscript versioning support editorial workflows
  • ORCID, ROR, and Crossref Similarity Check integrations support metadata workflows
Cons
  • Conference registration and scheduling may require separate tools
  • Self-hosting requires an infrastructure choice and installation
  • Support channels are community and documentation
  • Peer Review System pricing combines an annual fee with a per-submission charge
  • Production Service pricing varies by word count, figures, tables, and equations
  • The service is cloud-based and web-only
Our verdict

Open Journal Systems (OJS) is an open-source web platform for scholarly journals, intended for universities, scholarly societies, libraries, and publishing organizations. It covers the path from author submission through peer review and…

Read the review →

Scholastica provides journal-focused software for collecting submissions and managing peer review, with additional production and open-access publishing services available. It suits scholarly journals and law reviews that need configurable…

Read the review →
  1. Open Journal SystemsManuscript Submission Software 8.9Free plan
  2. ScholasticaManuscript Submission Software 8.7Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Open Journal Systems — where it wins

    • Connects submission, peer review, editorial work, and production in one workflow
    • Runs one or many journals from a single installation
    • Supports indexing, researcher identifiers, and preservation integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Conference registration and scheduling may require separate tools
    • Self-hosting requires an infrastructure choice and installation
    • Support channels are community and documentation

  • Scholastica — where it wins

    • Configurable forms support file requirements, instructions, and CRediT fields
    • Reviewer management, reminders, and manuscript versioning support editorial workflows
    • ORCID, ROR, and Crossref Similarity Check integrations support metadata workflows

    Where it doesn't

    • Peer Review System pricing combines an annual fee with a per-submission charge
    • Production Service pricing varies by word count, figures, tables, and equations
    • The service is cloud-based and web-only
  • Open Journal Systems8.9/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source system for managing journal submissions through publication.

    Visit siteFull verdict →
  • Scholastica8.7/10 · Paid

    A journal-focused peer-review system with configurable workflows and annual plus per-submission fees.

    Visit ScholasticaFull verdict →

More comparisons

All manuscript submission software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update