Does the open access option of the journal require additional fees?

Many journals offer optional open access publication, which typically requires authors to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC). These charges constitute the primary business model for sustaining open access journals or optional open access pathways within subscription journals. The APC fee enables the journal to make the article freely available immediately upon publication. Charges generally range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, varying significantly between journals and publisher policies. Fee waivers or discounts based on institutional affiliations, society memberships, location, or financial hardship may be available. Authors should always verify the exact costs, waiver eligibility, and payment mechanisms during submission and before accepting publication. APCs provide the funding necessary to cover editorial processes, peer review management, platform maintenance, and long-term archiving while removing subscription barriers for readers. Successful payment secures permanent, unrestricted global access to the final published article, often meeting funder mandates for open dissemination. Institutions increasingly support authors through central funds or participation in transformative agreements that cover these costs.