Open Journal Systems
Open Journal Systems: A free, open-source system for managing journal submissions through publication. Ranked #4 of 32 in Manuscript Submission Software by our editors (8.9/10); pricing: Free plan; best for journals wanting free, end-to-end publishing workflows.
At a glance
- Editor score8.9 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forJournals wanting free, end-to-end publishing workflows
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Conference submissionsYes
- Facts checked22 Oct 2026
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
Our verdict on Open Journal Systems
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 editorial production to online issue and article publishing. A configurable submission wizard guides authors, while editors can assign reviewers, set due dates, and send reminders. Its scope makes it a fit for organizations that want journal operations and publishing in one system, rather than a tool focused only on collecting manuscripts.
OJS can run on cloud infrastructure or be self-hosted, including on shared hosting, on-premise servers, VPS, and cloud providers. A single installation can operate multiple journals. The platform also exposes an API and supports metadata distribution through OAI-PMH and discovery services. Integrations include Google Scholar, Crossref, DOAJ, DataCite, and PubMed, along with ORCID authentication and ROR affiliation integration. These connections suit organizations that need journal workflows to fit into scholarly discovery and researcher-identification ecosystems.
OJS itself is free GPL software; PKP separately offers hosting and other paid services. The system also includes article-level statistics, editorial metrics, and long-term preservation integrations, including the PKP Preservation Network, CLOCKSS, and LOCKSS. Its support channels are community and documentation, so organizations should consider who will manage their installation and operational needs. OJS supports conference workflows through its flexible editorial process, but conference registration and scheduling may call for separate tools. Journals seeking an end-to-end publishing workflow with multi-journal support should consider OJS; teams primarily needing a dedicated conference-management system may prefer a more conference-focused option.
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Open Journal Systems pricing
Open Journal Systems fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Conference submissions | Yes |
| Multi-journal management | Yes |
| Configurable intake forms | Yes |
| Automated email notices | Yes |
| ORCID integration | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 11 integrations: Google Scholar, Crossref, DOAJ, DataCite, PubMed, OAI-PMH … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | pkp.sfu.ca |
| Facts checked | 22 Oct 2026 |
Open Journal Systems integrations
Open Journal Systems lists 11 integrations on its own site.
- Google Scholar
- Crossref
- DOAJ
- DataCite
- PubMed
- OAI-PMH
- ORCID
- ROR
- PKP Preservation Network
- CLOCKSS
- LOCKSS
Alternatives to Open Journal Systems
- EasyChairA web-based conference system spanning submissions, review, scheduling, and proceedings.9.3
- Microsoft CMTA free conference workflow spanning submissions, peer review, and presentation planning.9.1
- OpenReviewA free, configurable review workflow for conferences, journals, workshops, and symposia.9.0
See all Open Journal Systems alternatives →
Open Journal Systems vs the competition
- Open Journal Systems vs EasyChair
- Open Journal Systems vs Microsoft CMT
- Open Journal Systems vs OpenReview
- Open Journal Systems vs Sciencesconf
- Open Journal Systems vs Scholastica
- Open Journal Systems vs ConfTool
Compare Open Journal Systems with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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