Free tool · Journals
Journal checker
Test a journal’s ISSN and jump straight to the official records that show whether it is really indexed.
This tool checks if an ISSN is well formed, using the check digit rule defined in ISO 3297. Then it opens the journal’s record in the ISSN Portal, the Web of Science Master Journal List, Scopus Sources and DOAJ. So you see the indexing at the source itself and not on the journal’s own website. A valid ISSN is needed, but it is not enough by itself, because clone and hijacked journals many times reuse a real ISSN only.
Run the check before you pay any publication fee. Run it again before you put a paper in your annual progress report. And whenever some journal mails you without you asking, check that journal also.
Method
How this tool works
An ISSN has eight characters. The last character is a check digit, and it is calculated from the first seven. Because of that, most typing mistakes and made-up numbers fail the check. Take the first seven digits and multiply them with 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2. Add those products and divide by 11 for the remainder. Take this remainder away from 11 and you get the check digit. If you get 11, the digit becomes 0, and if you get 10, it is written as X.
See one example, 0317-8471. The products come to 0, 21, 6, 35, 32, 12 and 14, and the total is 120. When you divide 120 by 11, remainder is 10, and 11 − 10 = 1. The check digit printed on the number is also 1, so this ISSN is well formed.
If the number passes you get four links, one per register, and each one is checking a different thing.
- ISSN Portal: shows if this ISSN was really assigned to this title, and to which publisher.
- Master Journal List: tells you whether Web of Science covers the journal today, and under which index.
- Scopus Sources: here you see if Scopus covers the journal now or if its coverage was discontinued. Scopus does not allow a search inside the link, so the tool copies the ISSN and you paste it there.
- DOAJ: for an open access journal, check that it is listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals.
Please check for clone journals also. A clone site takes the name and ISSN of a real journal. So the ISSN passes and the register shows a proper record. Only the website is different. So take the URL given in the official record and compare it with the site that mailed you or collected your fee. Our guide on how to spot a predatory journal covers the other points to look at.
Limits
What this tool can’t do
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does a valid ISSN mean the journal is genuine?
No. A valid ISSN only means the number is well formed. Getting an ISSN is a paperwork step and nobody checks the quality at that stage, so predatory journals also have real ISSNs. Open the official record and see that the title, publisher and website are all matching.
Why does the ISSN fail the check?
Mostly it is a typing mistake. Copy the number once more from the journal’s cover or masthead. Check for a letter O typed in place of zero, or an X that got changed into a digit. Sometimes the ISSN printed on the journal’s own site itself fails. In that case the number is probably not registered, so search it in ISSN Portal before you submit your paper.
How do I check Scopus coverage dates?
Search the ISSN in Scopus Sources and open the journal’s page. There you can see the years covered and whether the coverage is continuing. Elsevier also publishes a list of discontinued titles. Suppose your paper came out after the coverage stopped. Then your paper is not indexed, even though the earlier issues are. The Scopus indexing guide has more detail on this.
Is the UGC-CARE list still used?
No. UGC discontinued the UGC-CARE list in 2025. The final list came out in July 2025, and it is for reference only. Now universities are judging journals against UGC’s suggestive parameters. What you should check instead is explained in our UGC-CARE guide.
What is a hijacked or clone journal?
A hijacked or clone journal is a website that copies a real, indexed journal. The site uses the real journal’s title and ISSN, and some of them copy the old issues also. Scholars reach to the site through an email or a search result and pay the fee. After that the paper never appears in the real journal. Check the website address against the record in the ISSN Portal. Most of these fake sites get caught with that one check itself.
Keep reading
Related guides and services
How to spot a predatory journal
A checklist to run before you submit anywhere — and what to do if you’ve already submitted.
Scopus indexing, explained
How to verify a journal in Scopus Sources step by step — and why coverage dates matter more than logos.
The UGC CARE list, explained
What the list is, what the groups mean, how to verify a journal — and how to recognise clone journals.
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