What Is PLOS Biology Used For: Features, Reviews & Alternatives
Open-access journal for significant biology research.
Editorially updated Oct 25, 2025
The overview
What PLOS Biology is for
1Core Capabilitie
- Article search interface with advanced filtering (e.g., author, keyword, publication date, article type)
- Full-text HTML article viewer with embedded figures, tables, and reference
- PDF download option for offline reading and annotation
- Citation export functionality (e.g., BibTeX, RIS, plain text)
2Specialized Workflow
- Manuscript submission portal for author
- Peer review status tracking for submitted article
- Data availability statements and links to associated dataset
- Article-level metrics display (e.g., views, downloads, citations)
Who it helps
Useful ways to use PLOS Biology
A practical path
Locate a Specific Research Article
Navigate to the homepage. Use the main search bar or the 'Advanced Search' link to input keywords, author names, or a DOI. For example, type 'CRISPR off-target effects' and press Enter
External signals
Reviews & reputation
Aggregated review score
Highly regarded open-access journal providing critical, peer-reviewed biological research. Praised for its commitment to data transparency, broad accessibility, and rigorous editorial standards, making it an essential resource for researchers and educators. Some authors note the significant APCs, though waivers are available.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
1What are the Article Processing Charges (APCs) for publishing in PLOS Biology?⌄
PLOS Biology charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) to cover the costs of publication, including peer review, editorial work, production, and hosting. The standard APC is $5,500 USD. Waivers and discounts are available for authors from low-income countries or those with insufficient funding, which can be applied for during the submission process.
2How can I access the raw data associated with a published article?⌄
PLOS Biology mandates that authors make all data underlying the findings described in their manuscript fully available without restriction. Data availability statements are included in each article, typically linking to public repositories (e.g., NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus, Figshare, Dryad) where the raw data can be downloaded or accessed.
3Is there a way to receive alerts for new articles in my specific research area?⌄
Yes, you can set up email alerts. After performing a search for your specific keywords (e.g., 'microbiome gut-brain axis'), look for an 'RSS' or 'Email Alert' option on the search results page. You can subscribe to receive notifications when new articles matching your criteria are published.
4What is the licensing policy for content published in PLOS Biology?⌄
All articles published in PLOS Biology are open access and distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. This allows for broad reuse in educational materials, derivative works, and data mining.
5Can I submit a pre-print version of my manuscript to PLOS Biology?⌄
Yes, PLOS Biology encourages authors to post preprints of their work to recognized preprint servers (e.g., bioRxiv, medRxiv) prior to or concurrent with submission. This practice is fully compatible with the journal's submission policies and can help accelerate the dissemination of research findings.
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