Scopus vs Web of Science vs UGC Care Journals: Key Differences Explained

October 14, 2025

Scopus Indexed Journals

Are you unsure whether to submit the paper to Scopus, Web of Science indexed journals, or UGC Care journals? In this blog, we will discuss the difference between these three journals to help you choose the best for your paper.

Indexed means that a journal is listed within reputable textbook quality data bases. Indexation indicates that the journal’s research articles are of high quality, peer reviewed and easily available to global readers.

Final words 

FAQs

What is the Web of Science (WoS)?

Web of Science is one of the earliest and most reputable research databases in the world. It provides indexing of high quality academic journals, conference proceedings and books in nearly all subject disciplines, science, technology, medicine, social sciences, etc.

• Web of Science journals have a strict evaluation process for publishing and citation standards.
• With it’s Journal Impact Factor (JIF) you can find papers you can trust and get a sense of how your work is wowing the research community.
• Publishing paper in Web of Science journals 2026 will offer you strong academic credibility.

How much does it cost to publish a paper in WoS?

There isn’t a single cost for publishing in a Web of Science (WoS) indexed journal, as publication costs depend on whether you choose a subscription journal (often free to the reader but may have APCs) or an open access (OA) journal (which charges Article Processing Charges or APCs). So, whether it costs money or not depends entirely on the journal’s model, not on WoS itself.

​​The Publication Charges are to be paid after acceptance of the paper. There is no submission charge for this journal.

What is UGC Care List journals?

The UGC CARE List is an initiative which is run by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India to mitigate the increasing inclusion of predatory or pseudo journals.

• It offers an accredited list of disposable journals in different fields which complies to basic quality criteria and the norms of publication ethics.
• For Indian researchers, Ph.D. students, or scholars, publishing in a UGC CARE–approved journal is essential.
• It is basically a trusted checklist that prevents you from wasting time and money for publishing in non-recognized journals.

Which papers are indexed in UGC Care List?

The UGC CARE List includes only those papers that are published in journals approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It covers research articles, review papers, case studies, and other scholarly works across different disciplines, but only if they appear in journals officially listed under UGC CARE.

What is Scopus 

Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed research literature. It includes sources from journals, books, and conference proceedings and covers such areas as science, technology, medicine, social sciences, and arts & humanities.

• Scopus indexed journals provide coverage and advanced analytics tools to help you evaluate journal quality, track citations, and global research trends.
• Universities and other bodies rely on Scopus data for rankings, research impact, and funding allocation.
• You will have higher chances of citations and getting noticed in academic world, and international presence and visibility.

Which papers are indexed in Scopus?

Scopus indexes only peer-reviewed and scholarly content that meets its strict selection criteria. This includes research articles, review papers, conference proceedings, and book chapters from journals that follow ethical publishing practices and demonstrate consistent quality.

Not every journal is automatically included—only those approved by Scopus’s Content Selection & Advisory Board (CSAB) get indexed. So, if your paper is published in a Scopus-approved journal, it will automatically appear in the Scopus database.

How much does it cost to publish a paper in Scopus?

The cost to publish in Scopus indexed journals 2026 vary from journal to journal. Some Scopus journals are open access and may require an Article Processing Charge (APC). Also, there are some free Scopus journals that you can choose to get your paper published. In short, publishing in Scopus can be free or paid, depending entirely on the journal’s policy—not on Scopus itself.

Scopus vs Web of Science vs UGC Care: Key Differences

Selecting the right journal is one of the most critical decisions for a researcher, student, scholar, academician, and everyone else. With so many options available, you often get confused between Scopus, Web of Science journal search, and UGC Care journals with low publication charges. Here are some key differences between them that will help you make a wise decision.

Citation and metrics

Citation helps you measure the research influence. While all three platforms support this in some way, here are some differences.

• Scopus: It offers best metrics like CiteScore, h-index, and SNIP.
• WoS: This is known for Journal Impact Factor (JIF) and advanced citation analysis.
• UGC Care List: It does not provide any global citation metrics.

Evaluation and quality

The stricter the evaluation policy is the better the quality of papers in that journal. So, your paper needs to pass the journal’s evaluation process to get published. Also, quality journals only get indexed after strict checks. However, the level of scrutiny varies depending on the platform.

• Scopus: These journals follow high-quality publishing ethics and performance standards.
• WoS: It has extremely stringent evaluation. The journals of this platform have consistent citation impact and reputation.
• UGC Care: Designed to protect Indian researchers from predatory journals; focuses more on legitimacy than global ranking.

Global recognition

The journal you choose actually decides how far your research or work can go. While some indexing platforms are globally respected, others serve more regional reach.

• Scopus: It is one of the highly recognized international journal; widely used by universities for rankings and research evaluation.
• WoS: Web of science journals 2026 offers research credibility worldwide, especially in high-impact research.
• UGC Care: Primarily recognized in India; often required for academic promotions, Ph.D. submissions, and teaching positions.

Coverage and size

Not all journals are equally large. Some focus on broad inclusion, while others focus on selectivity and quality.

• Scopus: The largest database, covering more than 27,000 active journals across multiple disciplines.
• WoS: Smaller but more selective, indexing about 21,000 journals with a strong focus on quality and citation metrics.
• UGC Care: Not as vast; its aim is to filter and approve credible journals relevant for Indian academia.

Tabular comparison of these three journals

Feature / Aspect	Scopus	Web of Science	UGC Care
Managed By	Elsevier	Clarivate Analytics	University Grants Commission, India
Coverage	40,000+ journals worldwide	Highly selective, reputed journals	Indian & international journals
Recognition	Global	Global (prestigious, selective)	Primarily India-focused
Indicators Provided	CiteScore, h-index, SJR	Impact Factor, h-index	Compliance with UGC guidelines
Best For	International recognition, global collaborations	High-impact research careers	PhD submissions & academic promotions in India

 

Final Words 

There is no one “best” platform for academic publishing — it depends on what your goals are for your research. If you want to be worldwide known and cited, Web of Science journals are the most prestigious ones and Scopus ones have the broadest coverage and this is a great visibility. On the other hand, if all you want to do is tick the boxes for academic qualifications in India, publishing in a UGC CARE–approved journal is critical.