What DOIs Cost: Crossref, DataCite and Other Agencies Compared
What journals and repositories pay for DOIs, how the fees work, and what the money buys.
Every DOI registration agency charges its members in some way, because keeping identifiers working forever costs money. The amounts and the way they’re charged differ a lot. Here’s how it works for the agencies a journal is likely to consider.
Crossref
- Yearly membership fee, in tiers based on your publishing revenue or expenses. The smallest publishers pay the least.
- One-time registration fee per DOI, lower for back content than for current content.
- Fee-free for publishers in countries on the GEM list.
- Crossref has announced lower registration fees, and none for back content, from 2027.
Current figures: crossref.org/fees.
DataCite
DataCite members join directly or, more often, through a national or university consortium. In 2026 DataCite announced a new fee model without per-DOI fees, with costs adjusted by country. Details: datacite.org.
Through a sponsor
Many small publishers join Crossref through a sponsor, which pays Crossref and bills you. Sponsors can add their own charge for their services and support, so compare what’s included.
Other agencies
mEDRA, JaLC, KISTI, CNKI and Airiti each set their own fees for their regions. If you’re considering one, ask for its current price list and check that your platform can register with it.
What the money buys
- A DOI that resolves for as long as the agency exists, with your own prefix.
- Your metadata shared with discovery services, reference managers and indexes.
- With Crossref: reference linking, Cited-by and optional services such as Similarity Check (charged separately).
Budget for the yearly fee plus DOIs for each issue, and register back issues when it suits you: they cost less. Not sure which agency? Read DOI registration agencies compared.
This guide is independent and isn’t endorsed by Crossref, DataCite, Zenodo or the DOI Foundation. Fees, rules and screens are theirs to change: the details here were checked in October 2026, so confirm them on the official site before you budget or apply.
Questions
Why do DOIs cost money?
Agencies keep the identifiers, the metadata and the linking infrastructure running permanently. Members’ fees pay for that.
Is Crossref cheaper through a sponsor?
Not always. The sponsor covers Crossref’s fees but may charge for its own services. Ask for the full yearly cost before you choose.
Do I pay again if I update a DOI?
No. Updating the metadata or the address of a registered DOI doesn’t cost extra with Crossref.
Last updated on October 9, 2026