The Transformation of Open-Access Scientific Publishing: A Comparative Analysis of MDPI, Frontiers, Hindawi, Bentham, and WSEAS


Authors: Audrey Richards, Paul Nelson

Abstract: The rapid expansion of open-access publishing has fundamentally transformed the global scientific communication ecosystem. While open-access models have increased the accessibility and dissemination of research, they have simultaneously generated significant debate concerning peer-review integrity, publication ethics, commercialization, editorial quality, and academic reputation. This article presents an extended comparative analysis of five influential open-access publishing groups: MDPI, Frontiers, Hindawi, Bentham Science Publishers, and WSEAS. The study investigates their historical development, business models, editorial practices, indexing status, controversies, academic perception, and role within the evolving landscape of scholarly publishing. The findings demonstrate that contemporary academic publishing cannot be reduced to simplistic classifications such as “predatory” or “legitimate.” Instead, substantial heterogeneity exists within publishers themselves, and journal-level evaluation remains essential for researchers, institutions, and policymakers.

Pages: 1-5

DOI:

International Journal of Computers, E-ISSN: 1998-4308, Volume 20, 2026, Art. #

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