Alternative Outputs and Platforms

For decades, academic publishing has followed a familiar script: Conduct research → write a paper → submit to a journal → (wait) → peer review → (revise) → maybe get accepted → finally, publish. Yet, this traditional model is increasingly under scrutiny, as several structural issues have become difficult to ignore including limited access, costs shift to authors, filtered content, narrow credit, opaque peer review and so on. As a result the term alternative publishing has gained momentum within open science communities.

As means of motivation we here give several examples of alternative publishing outputs and -platforms and compare them across factors such as output type, costs, indexing, licencing and so on. To read more on this topic please see our newitem on Rethinking Publishing: Alternative Outputs and Platforms. 

Open Repositories

Open repositories allow researchers to share their output freely: online accessible for anyone and (often) without costs. They support a wide range of materials, including preprints, datasets, code, protocols, and more, and frequently issue permanent Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), ensuring permanent access.

Researchers can use open repositories to complement traditional publications, make paywalled articles accessible, or as standalone, citable outputs. Open repositories can be more discipline-specific (e.g., PsychArchives for psychology-related output) or cover a broader range of disciplines. Below are some examples. 

If you would like more information or help in choosing/using a platform, you can always email the CDS or the Open Access team.

Modular Publishing Platforms

Modular publishing platforms share some similarities with open-access repositories in that they support the publication of research outputs beyond the final manuscript. However, they go a step further by encouraging researchers to break their work into smaller, discrete components and publish these modules throughout the research process. Each module is a standalone, citable unit, linked in a chronological chain and assigned its own DOI. This structure allows contributors to receive individual credit for their specific roles in the research and allows for immediate knowledge dissemination.

Alternative Peer Review Systems

Other alternative platforms and journals are rethinking traditional peer review models. Rather than requiring peer review before publication, many now adopt post-publication peer review, allowing research to be shared rapidly while still undergoing evaluation. Another model is the registered report, where peer review happens before data collection. Some platforms go further by publishing peer reviews openly and making them citable scholarly outputs. Other examples beyond those listed below include eLife (for life sciences and biomedicine) and MetaROR (for metaresearch).

Diamond Open Access Journals

Diamond open access journals are entirely free, for both authors and readers. They remove all paywalls and APCs, making publishing accessible regardless of funding or institutional support. While often following traditional journal structures, some also incorporate innovative features like open peer review or modular components.