Last Updated on July 16, 2026 by Dr. Bhagat
JOURNAL METRICS·Updated June 2026
Heliyon Impact Factor 2025
Heliyon Impact Factor 2025 is 3.4 (Q1, Multidisciplinary, Cell Press). Established in 2015, Heliyon is Cell Press’s fully open-access, multidisciplinary platform, publishing scientifically sound research across all disciplines without editorial bias toward perceived impact.
OPEN-ACCESS MODELHeliyon’s Inclusive Publishing Philosophy
Heliyon (ISSN: 2405-8440) represents a deliberate departure from the traditional high-impact selective model. Launched by Cell Press in 2015, Heliyon operates on the principle that all scientifically sound research deserves publication, regardless of whether editors judge it to be “high impact.” This inclusive approach has attracted authors from fields and regions historically underrepresented in elite journals.
The journal is fully open access, meaning all articles are immediately and permanently free to read. The 3.4 Impact Factor, while modest compared to selective Cell Press siblings, demonstrates that an inclusive model can still achieve respectable citation performance. For a journal that accepts across all disciplines, this metric is a meaningful achievement.
HISTORICAL DATAImpact Factor Progression
| Year | Impact Factor | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.6 | → |
| 2021 | 2.5 | ↓ |
| 2022 | 3.0 | ↑ |
| 2023 | 2.7 | ↓ |
| 2024 | 3.0 | ↑ |
| 2025 | 3.4 | ↑ |
Heliyon’s metrics show the natural growth curve of a young, multidisciplinary journal. Starting from 2.6 in 2020, the IF has climbed steadily to 3.4. This growth reflects increasing author familiarity, improved indexing visibility, and the gradual accumulation of a citation base across diverse research fields.
Key Takeaways
- Heliyon’s 2025 Impact Factor is 3.4, ranked Q1 in Multidisciplinary.
- Cell Press’s open-access, multidisciplinary journal accepting all scientifically sound research.
- CiteScore of 5.2 and SJR of 0.65 confirm steady citation growth.
- The inclusive editorial model attracts authors from underrepresented fields and regions.
SCOPETruly Multidisciplinary Coverage
Heliyon publishes across the entire research spectrum: agricultural and biological sciences, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, business and economics, chemical engineering, chemistry, computer science, earth and planetary sciences, energy, engineering, environmental science, immunology and microbiology, materials science, mathematics, medicine, neuroscience, pharmacology, physics, psychology, and social sciences. This extraordinary breadth is what makes the 3.4 IF notable.
IF EXPLAINEDInterpreting Heliyon’s Impact Factor
Impact Factor averages citations across all citable items. For a multidisciplinary journal like Heliyon, the 3.4 figure is shaped by the citation patterns of dozens of different fields. Some articles in high-citation-density areas (like biomedical science) may attract dozens of citations, while others in smaller fields attract fewer. The average of 3.4 reflects this diversity.
FAQFrequently Asked Questions
What is the Heliyon Impact Factor 2025?
The 2025 Impact Factor is 3.4, placing it in Q1 for Multidisciplinary.
Is Heliyon a predatory journal?
Absolutely not. It is published by Cell Press (Elsevier), is indexed in SCIE and Scopus, and follows rigorous peer review standards.
Is Heliyon open access?
Yes, it is fully open access. Authors pay an article processing charge (APC) upon acceptance.
What is the acceptance rate?
Heliyon accepts all scientifically sound research regardless of perceived novelty, so the acceptance rate is higher than selective journals. Quality standards for methodology and reporting are strictly enforced.
How does Heliyon compare to PLOS ONE?
Both are multidisciplinary open-access journals. Heliyon’s IF of 3.4 compares favorably to PLOS ONE’s ~2.8, reflecting Cell Press’s editorial infrastructure and brand recognition.
