Free journal verification workspace
Journal Checker: verify a journal before you submit
Enter a journal title, ISSN or website. The checker will organize the official-source searches and evidence you should review. It does not issue an automatic “predatory / legitimate” verdict.
Maintained by the Beallslists.com editorial review team · Tool reviewed:
Printable researcher resource
Journal Verification Checklist - one-page PDF
Prefer a printable checklist for a supervisor meeting, library guide or manuscript decision? Use the 15-point researcher checklist.
1. Identify the journal
Use as much information as you have. ISSN is especially useful because journal titles can be similar.
Automatic evidence lookup
2. Run NLM + Crossref checks
These lookups use public official APIs. Results are evidence to review—not an automatic verdict.
NLM Catalog
Not run
Checks the NLM Catalog using the journal ISSN when available, otherwise the journal title.
Crossref journal metadata
Not run
Checks Crossref journal metadata by ISSN. Crossref confirms deposited scholarly metadata; it does not certify journal quality.
Verification workspace
3. Review independent evidence
Journal identity / ISSN
Match the exact title, ISSN, publisher and medium. A valid ISSN identifies a serial; it does not certify journal quality.
PubMed / MEDLINE / PMC
Use NLM records. Finding an article in PubMed does not automatically mean the journal is currently indexed for MEDLINE.
Scopus
Confirm the exact source and coverage years. Historical coverage is not the same as current forward coverage.
Web of Science
Use Clarivate’s Master Journal List and note the exact Core Collection index, such as SCIE or ESCI.
DOAJ (for open-access journals)
DOAJ inclusion is useful evidence for an OA journal, but absence does not automatically mean a journal is predatory.
DOIs / Crossref metadata
Check whether DOI metadata points to the same journal and publisher. DOI registration is not the same as indexing or a quality certificate.
Journal Impact Factor / metrics
Record the exact metric name, provider and year. A generic “impact factor” is not automatically the Clarivate Journal Impact Factor.
Editorial board
Independently verify several editors through institutional pages, ORCID or recent publications. Do not rely only on names shown on the journal site.
Peer review
Look for a clear review model, reviewer independence, decision authority, conflicts and appeals. Guaranteed acceptance deserves scrutiny.
APCs and author charges
Check APCs, taxes, optional services, waivers, refunds and withdrawal terms before submitting.
Policies and recent articles
Review corrections, retractions, authorship, conflicts, licensing, archiving and several recent papers.
Invitation / website identity
If you received an email, compare sender and reply-to domains with the official journal website. Watch for look-alike or hijacked sites.
4. Evidence summary
5. Verification notes
Important: This is a research aid, not accreditation, legal advice, or a definitive classification. Database inclusion, absence, or historical list status should be interpreted in context.
Why this checker does not give a “predatory score”
Journal quality and trustworthiness are not well represented by an arbitrary point total. One serious identity conflict can matter more than several cosmetic website problems. The purpose of the checker is to help you document evidence, identify unresolved claims and decide what needs further verification.
How to use the result
- No significant conflicts found: continue your normal subject-fit and institutional checks.
- Some evidence is unclear: ask the journal for clarification and verify the answer independently.
- Multiple important conflicts: do not submit or pay until the conflicts are resolved.
- Possible impersonation: stop and verify the authentic journal domain before sending a manuscript, login or payment information.