How to Get Free Access to Medical Journals and Research

Top Websites to Access All Medical Articles for Free

1. PubMed (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

• One of the most widely used medical databases, maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
  
  
• Offers millions of research articles, case studies, and systematic reviews.
  
  
• Some articles require journal subscriptions, but many are available for free under Open Access.
  
  
• A must-visit platform for medical students, researchers, and healthcare professionals.
  

2. Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) (doaj.org)

• A free and comprehensive database of peer-reviewed medical journals.
  
  
• Provides access to high-quality articles covering multiple medical disciplines.
  
  
• Ensures that all listed journals follow strict open-access policies.
  
  
• Ideal for physicians seeking reputable sources without subscription fees.
  

3. Google Scholar (scholar.google.com)

• A powerful search engine for academic and medical literature.
  
  
• Allows users to find free full-text versions of research papers through institutional repositories.
  
  
• Links to PDFs hosted on university websites and open-access databases.
  
  
• A great starting point for literature reviews and general research.
  

4. ResearchGate (researchgate.net)

• A networking platform for scientists and medical researchers.
  
  
• Many authors upload full-text versions of their articles for free access.
  
  
• Allows users to request full papers directly from the authors if they are not openly available.
  
  
• An excellent source for finding cutting-edge medical research and discussions.
  

5. Sci-Hub (sci-hub.se) [Use with discretion and ethical considerations]

• Provides access to millions of paywalled research papers.
  
  
• Used by students and professionals who lack institutional access to medical journals.
  
  
• Controversial but widely utilized in low-income countries where access to medical literature is limited.
  
  
• Encourages a broader discussion on open-access policies in scientific publishing.
  

6. PMC (PubMed Central) (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc)

• A free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.
  
  
• Contains millions of research articles available for unrestricted access.
  
  
• Particularly useful for clinicians looking for evidence-based medicine sources.
  
  
• Directly affiliated with the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
  

7. MedlinePlus (medlineplus.gov)

• A free medical resource from the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  
  
• Offers patient-friendly and professional-level articles on diseases, conditions, and treatments.
  
  
• Provides links to free full-text journal articles and medical guidelines.
  
  
• Ideal for both medical professionals and patients seeking reliable information.
  

8. Open Access Button (openaccessbutton.org)

• Helps users find free versions of paywalled medical articles.
  
  
• Searches repositories and requests access from authors directly.
  
  
• Encourages open-access publishing by connecting researchers with readers.
  
  
• Useful for obtaining journal articles that are otherwise inaccessible.
  

9. BMC (BioMed Central) (biomedcentral.com)

• A publisher of high-quality, peer-reviewed open-access journals.
  
  
• Features research articles in medicine, healthcare, and life sciences.
  
  
• All articles are freely available, making it a go-to platform for medical research.
  
  
• Ensures rigorous peer review for credibility and scientific accuracy.
  

10. WHO Institutional Repository (iris.who.int)

• A collection of publications, reports, and guidelines from the World Health Organization.
  
  
• Provides access to global health research, epidemiological studies, and disease control strategies.
  
  
• Essential for public health professionals and researchers in global medicine.
  
  
• All content is available free of charge and updated regularly.
  

11. ClinicalTrials.gov (clinicaltrials.gov)

• A registry of clinical trials worldwide, maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  
  
• Offers detailed descriptions of clinical trials, including study outcomes and findings.
  
  
• Some trials provide full-text publications related to their research.
  
  
• Useful for understanding emerging treatments and ongoing medical research.
  

12. PLOS (Public Library of Science) (plos.org)

• A nonprofit publisher offering high-quality open-access medical and scientific journals.
  
  
• Covers a wide range of topics, including infectious diseases, public health, and surgery.
  
  
• Ensures free access to research without subscription barriers.
  
  
• A major advocate for global open-access medical literature.
  

13. ERIC (eric.ed.gov)

• A research database focusing on medical education and healthcare training.
  
  
• Includes full-text articles, teaching resources, and academic papers.
  
  
• Provides access to studies on medical education, residency programs, and professional training.
  
  
• Useful for medical educators and students looking for educational materials.
  

14. CORE (core.ac.uk)

• Aggregates open-access research papers from universities worldwide.
  
  
• Provides millions of freely available full-text journal articles.
  
  
• Covers various medical disciplines, including clinical medicine, neuroscience, and pharmacology.
  
  
• Helps researchers access high-quality literature without paywalls.
  

15. arXiv (arxiv.org)

• A preprint repository offering free access to early-stage medical and scientific research.
  
  
• Hosts research papers before they undergo peer review and journal publication.
  
  
• Particularly useful for staying updated on new discoveries and innovations.
  
  
• Covers medicine, physics, biology, and other scientific fields.
  

16. HINARI (who.int/hinari/en) [Limited to eligible low-income countries]

• A World Health Organization initiative providing free access to medical journals.
  
  
• Available to institutions in developing countries to support healthcare research.
  
  
• Offers thousands of peer-reviewed medical articles at no cost.
  
  
• Designed to bridge the knowledge gap in global healthcare.
  

17. ScienceOpen (scienceopen.com)

• A discovery platform offering free access to open-access journal articles.
  
  
• Connects researchers with global medical publications.
  
  
• Users can filter by impact factor, citations, and relevance.
  
  
• A valuable resource for peer-reviewed medical research and case studies.
  

18. OpenMD (openmd.com)

• A medical research aggregator that connects users to open-access articles.
  
  
• Pulls data from PubMed, DOAJ, and other trusted medical sources.
  
  
• Provides a user-friendly way to search for free medical literature.
  
  
• Useful for both healthcare professionals and researchers.
  

19. JAMA Network Open (jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen)

• An open-access journal from the American Medical Association (AMA).
  
  
• Publishes high-quality research in clinical medicine and healthcare policy.
  
  
• All articles are freely accessible without a subscription.
  
  
• Offers rigorous peer-reviewed studies for evidence-based practice.
  

20. Free Medical Journals (freemedicaljournals.com)

• A database listing medical journals that offer open-access content.
  
  
• Categorized by specialty, making it easy to find relevant publications.
  
  
• A great starting point for students and professionals looking for free research.
  
  
• Regularly updated with newly available open-access journals.