Scopus and Web of Science are the two largest scientific databases. Publishing in both services is considered prestigious and necessary to achieve the main scientific goals: obtaining academic positions, scientific titles and grants. Choosing between the two can be difficult. In this article, we look at the key differences between Scopus and Web of Science to help scientists make the right choice.
History and scope of the databases
The history of Scopus began in 2004, when Elsevier Publishing founded an abstract database of peer-reviewed scientific literature. Today it is one of the largest scientometric databases (DB).
Scopus covers more than 29,000 peer-reviewed journals, including international and regional publications, as well as conference proceedings and books. The database includes scientific publications in a wide range of disciplines: from humanities and social sciences to natural and technical subject areas.
Web of Science has a deeper history, dating back to the 1960s. The database includes more than 21 thousand unique international journals.
The basis of WoS is Web of Science Core Collection, which includes 7 main indices that cover different scientific disciplines:
- Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) - natural, exact and technical sciences
- Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) - social and behavioral sciences
- Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) - arts and humanities
- Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) - all disciplines
- Book Citation Index (BCI) - all disciplines
- Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI) - all disciplines
- Current Chemical Reactions (CCR) and Index Chemicus (IC) - chemical sciences.
Scopus vs. Web of Science: basic criteria for comparing the two databases
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Scopus |
Comparison criteria |
Web of Science |
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Scopus includes publications in the following major subject areas: natural sciences, technology, engineering, medicine, biology, social sciences and humanities. Scopus is known for its broad coverage of publications, including regional journals, making it useful for researchers in various fields of study. |
Areas of Sciences |
Most of the publications are concentrated in the field of natural sciences. But at the same time, part of Web of Science Core Collection indexes cover social, behavioral, humanities, and art.
Significant attention is paid to chemical disciplines, as well as interdisciplinary research. |
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Coverage |
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330 |
Number of disciplines |
254 |
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CiteScore, h-Index, SNIP, SJR, quartile, percentile |
Main scientometric indicators |
Impact factor, JCR, quartile, percentile, h-Index |
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14 to 90 days. Indexation of scientific papers is faster. |
Time of article indexing |
From 20 to 90 days. More rigorous article indexing process. |
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Scopus Preview provides free familiarization with some features of the platform, as well as access to some scientific materials. |
Cost of access to the database |
Payment of a subscription is required to get full functionality of searching for articles, authors and journals. |
In contrast to Scopus, Web of Science focuses on a narrower range of high quality journals and is traditionally considered more rigorous in the selection of materials.
Main criteria for choosing between the giants of science - Scopus and Web of Science
1. Research topic
As we indicated earlier, when choosing between the two main databases, it is important to consider the research topic. Web of Science indexes a larger number of journals in the natural, mathematical, physical and technical sciences. While most of Scopus is made up of scientific journals publishing research in the social sciences and humanities.
2. Prestige
Web of Science traditionally adheres to more stringent criteria for selecting journals, which guarantees high quality of published materials. Therefore, publication in a journal indexed in WoS is often perceived as more prestigious and valuable in the academic environment.
3. Reaching the scientific target audience
The Scopus database has a greater reach than Web of Science, which makes it more attractive to scientists seeking to increase the visibility of their work. As of 2024, the Scopus database indexesmore than 29 thousand scientific journals, while WoS includes 24 thousand publications.
4. Key metrics
The two databases differ in the scientometric metrics used to evaluate scientific publications, journals, and authors. Scopus is more focused on integral metrics such as SJR and SNIP, which take into account the citation context and subject area. Web of Science emphasizes classical impact factor and provides more detailed citation reports, making it preferable for in-depth analysis of the impact of individual journals and articles.
5. Cost and accessibility
The cost of accessing databases is also an important factor in making a choice. Scopus often offers more affordable subscription options, making it popular among universities, research institutes and scientists with limited budgets. In addition, Scopus Preview access provides an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the service, its several tools, and test the database for various scientific purposes, be it finding co-authors or preparing for future research.
The choice between Scopus and Web of Science depends on your specific goals and priorities. If you want to maximize your audience reach and convenience, Scopus may be the best choice. It provides access to a large number of journals and offers convenient tools for analyzing scientific publications.
If your priority is high quality and prestige of publication, as well as accurate citation analysis, Web of Science will be the preferred option. Publishing in WoS-indexed journals will ensure your high academic status and recognition in the scientific community.
We recommend that you consider both options and choose the one that best suits your long-term academic and professional goals.
Having trouble choosing a journal or a suitable database for publication? The experts at Scientific Publications are ready to help you choose a publication and a scientometric platform suitable for your scientific goal. To learn more about our special offers "Publication in Scopus" and "Publication in Web of Science", leave your contact details in the form below. A personalized manager will contact you within a business day.
