Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform dedicated to making early versions of research outputs permanently available and citable. The content includes original research articles, comprehensive reviews, case reports, hypotheses and other scholarly works. It offers the latest developments and emerging ideas across all disciplines. These can be continuously updated until the research is accepted for publication or formally published online.
Preprints are not peer-reviewed, but they can receive ongoing feedback from readers. This makes them a good choice for early-career academics looking to develop their research before submitting to a journal. In this article, we explore how Preprints.org started and discuss the value of preprints in the scholarly community.
What are preprints?
A preprint is a full academic manuscript shared publicly before journal peer review. Preprints are immediately available without paywalls or registration, making them more accessible to scholars and members of the public. Authors can upload revised versions as their work evolves, ensuring consistent transparency in the research process.
Preprints.org hosts submissions across a range of subject areas, including STEM, social sciences, and humanities. This offers broad visibility, making it an inclusive platform for everyone. Additionally, preprints can be shared before undergoing the traditional, lengthy peer review process. Meaning academics can make real-time contributions to their field of research.
Where preprints.org came from
The idea behind Preprints.org dates to 1998, when MDPI first registered Preprints.net. The intention was to create a platform for sharing draft manuscripts at no cost to readers and authors. Preprints.org went live in May 2016, with the first preprint published on 11 May by Prof. Ahmed Al‑Amiery, Dr Hasan Obayes, Mohammed S. Ali, and Ghadah H. Alwan.
By August 2016, researchers had already shared their first 100 preprints. Preprints.org supported Crossref’s early testing of DOIs for preprints and began assigning them across all submissions. A decade later, Preprints.org has evolved into a worldwide hub where researchers share work, exchange feedback, and advance open knowledge together.
Preprints.org builds on decades of informal manuscript sharing. From the beginning, the platform adopted a multidisciplinary scope to support broader preprint adoption across research communities and encourage cross-disciplinary exchange. The platform has seen growing preprint submissions across disciplines over the past decade, with strong increases in areas such as biomedical sciences and computer science, as well as in fields with less preprint history, including agriculture and earth sciences.
The increased popularity of preprints also reflects the broader shift toward rapid, open knowledge exchange. This is evident as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Preprints.org, which has grown into a global space for researchers to share work, exchange feedback, and advance open research together.
Why preprints matter
Work posted on Preprints.org is indexed, discoverable, and citable, boosting early research impact. It helps scholars share their findings more widely and build a name for themselves before publishing in a journal. Authors can receive comments and suggestions to help improve their work and start building a research community in their chosen field.
Posting on Preprints.org timestamps discoveries, ensuring that research remains traceable. The platform shows the full research lifecycle, including revisions and updates. This means there is a track record of who discovered what and when, helping to maintain authorship. Public visibility also invites wider community feedback, strengthening scientific transparency and refinement.
Preprints can look good on job and funding applications, demonstrating your commitment to open knowledge exchange. They show that you are well-prepared to pursue further study and showcase your academic writing skills.
How preprints.org supports researchers
Preprints.org enables researchers to connect, critique, and build on each other’s work. Free posting and reading reduce barriers for researchers in low‑resource settings. Early visibility also helps with grant applications, job searches, and showcasing productivity. The broad scope of preprints also helps expose work to audiences beyond traditional journals.
All preprints on Preprints.org are published under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license, ensuring authors retain copyright and receive credit for their work. Furthermore, Preprints.org encourages clear labelling of non‑peer‑reviewed work to maintain academic integrity and trust. The platform is transparent and easy to use, making it a great choice for preprint sharing.
