Where can I check a journal quickly?

Start with the archive, then verify indexing in official databases such as NLM Catalog, Scopus, Web of Science, or DOAJ as appropriate.

Is Google Scholar enough?

No. Google Scholar visibility does not prove peer review, editorial quality, or official indexing.

Who can help if I am unsure?

A university librarian or research office is usually the safest next step.

Verification sources

Where can I check predatory journals?

There is no single database that can safely answer every “is this journal predatory?” question. The strongest method uses several sources, each for the specific claim it is designed to verify.

Maintained by the Beallslists.com editorial review team · Evidence reviewed: August 24, 2026 · Current verification cycle: 2026

8 useful places to check

Beall’s historical archive: useful for historical screening of publisher or standalone-journal names.
ISSN Portal: useful for journal identity and ISSN records.
NLM Catalog: useful for biomedical journal records and NLM indexing information.
Scopus source information: useful for checking Scopus coverage and years.
Clarivate Master Journal List: useful for Web of Science coverage.
DOAJ: useful for checking whether an open-access journal is included in the directory.
Crossref metadata: useful for DOI and publisher metadata checks.
The journal's own policies: peer review, fees, editorial board, corrections, licensing and archiving must still be evaluated.

Match the source to the claim

Claim	Best place to verify
“We are in PubMed/MEDLINE”	NLM records and the relevant NLM service.
“We are indexed in Scopus”	Scopus source information and coverage years.
“We are in Web of Science”	Clarivate Master Journal List.
“We have an Impact Factor”	Clarivate Journal Citation Reports/official journal record.
“Our DOI proves we are indexed”	Crossref can confirm DOI metadata, but DOI registration is not the same as indexing or quality certification.

What not to rely on alone

Do not rely only on a copied logo, certificate, Google result, social-media post, screenshot or one blacklist/whitelist. Reproduce important claims yourself and record the date.

For a full workflow, use the Predatory Journal Checker.

Sources and further verification

Think. Check. Submit. — researcher-focused journal and publisher due diligence
Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing — journal transparency principles from DOAJ, COPE, OASPA and WAME

Historical records are useful context, but journal ownership, indexing, policies and websites can change. Verify current claims at the original source before making a submission, hiring, promotion or funding decision.