Navigating academic publishing often feels like managing a budget rather than focusing purely on research quality. High Article Processing Charges APCs can quickly become a barrier for PhD scholars, early career researchers, and independent academics seeking to share their work with the global scientific community.
When we built our vision at Tholga and launched The Journal Selection Guide series, our primary goal was simple: to make indexed, reputable publishing pathways more transparent and accessible. You should not have to compromise on visibility or stretch your research budget to make your work accessible.
That is where Diamond Open Access OA models come in. Unlike Traditional Open Access where authors pay an APC or Subscription models where readers pay paywalls, Diamond OA journals are completely free for both authors to publish and readers to access.
As part of our journal selection process, we shortlist journals based on the relevant academic discipline rather than selecting journals arbitrarily. For this series, we have focused on journals listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) that offer free open access to authors and readers.
For the Marketing and Management discipline, we have identified the following journals that meet these criteria. Researchers can also search directly on DOAJ to find open access journals that best match their specific research area and requirements.
In this first blog of our weekly series, we present free Diamond Open Access journals in Marketing and Management for 2026.
Open Access Journals Without Payment Diamond OA
Here is an overview of some indexed Diamond OA venues, along with their primary indexing and current performance metrics:
1. Spanish Journal of Marketing ESIC
Focus Area: Broad marketing research, consumer behavior, and strategic marketing.
Indexing and Metrics: Indexed in Scopus Q1 and Web of Science SSCI Q1. Impact Factor: 5.3 | CiteScore: 11.7 85th Percentile.
2. Istanbul Business Research
Focus Area: Emerging trends in business, marketing strategies, and regional economics.
Indexing and Metrics: Indexed in Web of Science ESCI Q4. Impact Factor: 0.6.
3. International Journal of Management Studies IJMS
Focus Area: Multidisciplinary management studies, organizational behavior, and strategic management.
Indexing and Metrics: Indexed in Scopus Q3 and Web of Science ESCI Q4. CiteScore: 1.4 38th Percentile | Impact Factor: 0.5.
Understanding the Practical Differences
When determining where to submit your manuscript, evaluating objective scope and indexing databases helps match your publication strategy with your career or institutional requirements:
Spanish Journal of Marketing ESIC provides dual high quartile coverage Scopus Q1 / WoS SSCI Q1, making it suitable for authors whose institutions require premier journal metrics and broad global exposure.
Istanbul Business Research focuses on business developments with a strong Eurasian context, providing an alternative venue for studies geared toward emerging market dynamics.
International Journal of Management Studies offers broad interdisciplinary management coverage, accommodating research that crosses traditional marketing boundaries into general organizational management.
What Scholars Should Check Before Submitting
While Diamond OA journals remove financial barriers, rigorous evaluation of target venues remains essential:
- Verify Database Coverage: Indexing statuses can change. Double check the journal’s current listing directly on the official Scopus Master Journal List or Web of Science Master List.
- Review Scope and Guidelines: Ensure your manuscript’s research questions directly fit the journal’s recent aims and scope to reduce the risk of immediate desk rejection.
- Assess Turnaround Times: Review recently published issues to gauge average timeline expectations from submission to peer review and decision.
Disclaimer:
- Tholga is not affiliated with any of these journals, nor does it receive any remuneration from the listed publications. This initiative aims solely to share factual information about indexed diamond open access venues for researchers.
- Authors are advised to verify indexing status, impact metrics, and submission guidelines directly on Scopus, Web of Science, or the official journal homepages before submitting.
