A Journal Management System (JMS) is software that helps manage every part of the academic publishing process. From manuscript submission and peer review to editorial decisions and online publishing, it’s all handled in one place.
Whether you’re running a university journal, an independent research publication, or launching a new title, a JMS saves time, keeps workflows organized, and ensures a smooth experience for authors, editors, and reviewers.
Why You Need the Right Journal Management Software
In 2025, journals are expected to be fast, professional, mobile-optimized, and index-ready. Let’s look at the best software options that help you achieve that.
- Editorial efficiency
- Reviewer communication
- Search engine visibility
- Analytics and reporting
- Author satisfaction
Top 5 Best Journal Management System Software
Discover the top journal management system software tools designed to streamline academic publishing workflows in 2025. From free open-source platforms like Open Journal Systems to premium hosted solutions, find the best fit for your journal’s needs. Plus, learn how Amsotics can help you manage and optimize your Open Journal Systems setup with expert support and SEO-ready customization.
🥇 Open Journal Systems (OJS)
A powerful, free, and open-source platform trusted by thousands of universities and nonprofit journals worldwide for managing peer review and publishing workflows.
Best for: Universities, nonprofit journals
Pricing: 💰 Free (open-source)
- Complete peer review and publishing workflow
- Built-in SEO and indexing tools
- Multilingual support and extensive plugin ecosystem
- Widely used by over 30,000 journals globally
🥈 Scholastica
An easy-to-use, fully hosted platform offering peer review, typesetting, and open access publishing for academic publishers.
Best for: Academic publishers seeking ease of use
Pricing: 💰 Paid, starting around $100/month
- Peer review, typesetting, and open access publishing in one
- Cloud-hosted — no installation needed
- Analytics, integrations with ORCID and Crossref
🥉 Editorial Manager (Aries Systems)
A robust editorial management system designed for large publishers needing advanced workflows and automation.
Best for: Large-scale, complex journal operations
Pricing: 💰 Custom pricing
- Advanced editorial workflows and automation
- Built-in reviewer database and automated communications
- Integration with ORCID, Crossref, funders, and more
⭐ Manuscript Manager
A flexible, user-friendly system ideal for small to mid-size journals, with drag-and-drop features and mobile-friendly design.
Best for: Small-to-mid-size journals needing flexibility
Pricing: Free tier + affordable premium options
- Intuitive drag-and-drop editor workflow
- Automated reviewer assignments and email templates
- Mobile-friendly dashboard and submission system
🚀 ARPHA (by Pensoft)
An end-to-end publishing platform with XML-first workflows, perfect for open access and scientific journals.
Best for: Journals seeking end-to-end publishing solutions
Pricing: 💰 Custom pricing
- Peer review, typesetting, hosting, and publishing in one platform
- XML-first workflow for enhanced metadata and citations
- DOI, Crossref, and PubMed integration
Pros and Cons Comparison Table
Meet Amsotics – Your Trusted OJS Service Provider
🔧 What is Amsotics ?
Amsotics is a professional service provider that helps journals run on Open Journal Systems with ease. Whether you’re starting a new journal or migrating an existing one, they take care of the technical side so you can focus on editorial excellence.
- OJS installation and configuration
- Secure hosting and server setup
- Responsive OJS theme customization
- DOI, Crossref, ORCID, and indexing integration
- Regular updates and full support
- SEO and Google Scholar optimization
It’s completely free and open-source, making it accessible to journals of all sizes and budgets
Offers a full-featured peer review and publishing workflow trusted by over 30,000 journals worldwide
Provides excellent SEO and indexing support to help your journal get discovered
Backed by a large global community and supported by service providers like Amsotics, making setup and management easier
Highly customizable and scalable, suitable for universities, nonprofits, and beyond
If you want a reliable, flexible, and cost-effective platform that grows with your journal, Open Journal Systems (OJS) is the top choice for 2025
