The Preprints.org community is a global network of scholars committed to advancing scientific communication. It brings together authors, readers, and advisory board members who share a common goal of making research more accessible and collaborative.
Over the past decade, preprints have become an increasingly valued part of the scholarly ecosystem. Although they are not formally peer‑reviewed, they allow researchers to share early findings, receive feedback, and establish precedence long before journal publication.
Preprints.org is now celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of growth in open access knowledge sharing. What began as a small initiative has evolved into a global platform that supports rapid dissemination across disciplines.
Today, preprints are read, cited, and discussed by researchers globally, demonstrating their growing influence on the future of scholarly publishing. This article provides an overview of our community, including who it involves and how you can join.
Growth of preprints authors
Preprints.org has continued to grow substantially. In 2017, the platform hosted more than 2,000 preprints, authored by over 5,400 contributors. This early momentum signalled a strong desire for faster, more transparent dissemination of research.
By 2018, more than 30,000 researchers were contributing to the platform, reflecting a broader shift in academic culture. Researchers were increasingly seeking ways to share work quickly, receive early feedback, and increase the visibility of their findings.
Today, our community includes over 400,000 researchers worldwide. This highlights the increasing trust placed in preprints as a legitimate and valuable part of the research lifecycle.
Global distribution of our authors
One of the defining strengths of Preprints.org is its global reach. Over the past decade, the platform has attracted authors from every region of the world, creating a diverse and internationally representative research community.
Current data shows a balanced distribution of participation:
- Asia accounts for the largest share of authors, at 24.8%.
- Europe follows closely at 24.4%.
- North America, South America, Africa, and Oceania also show strong and growing engagement.
This global spread demonstrates the platform’s ability to support international collaboration and ensure that research is not limited by geography or institutional access. It also reflects the broader movement toward open science.
Research visibility and readership
As the author community has grown, so has the platform’s readership. Engagement on Preprints.org has increased steadily, with manuscript page views rising significantly over the past several years.
This trend continued even after the pandemic, a period during which global interest in rapid scientific communication surged. Despite a temporary dip in readership in 2023, the recovery was fast.
By 2025, manuscript views reached nearly 5.8 million, the highest level recorded in the dataset. This upward trajectory highlights the platform’s expanding visibility and its role in supporting open access to research.
These metrics show not only the scale of readership but also the growing demand for early‑stage research across disciplines.
Joining a preprints advisory board
The advisory board at Preprints.org plays a crucial role in guiding the platform’s development and ensuring its academic integrity. Established in 2016, the first board included 92 distinguished scientists representing a wide range of fields.
Their expertise helped shape the platform’s early direction and standards. Since then, the advisory board has expanded significantly. Today, it includes 328 members across 11 subject areas, reflecting both the platform’s multidisciplinary scope and its growing recognition within the global research community.
Members contribute by offering guidance on editorial practices, supporting community engagement, and helping maintain the platform’s commitment to open research. Explore our list of advisory board members and register to join.
Becoming part of the preprints community
Whether you are an author, a reader, or an advocate for open science, there are many ways to participate in the preprints community.
You can share your work by submitting a preprint or engage with research by reading, commenting, or discussing new findings. You can also contribute your expertise by joining an advisory board or supporting community initiatives.
As Preprints.org enters its second decade, it aims to support rapid, open, and global research communication. The continued growth of its community demonstrates the power of collective knowledge sharing and the importance of making research accessible to all.
