Impact of open access on academic visibility: a systematic review of the literature

Purpose This study systematically reviews the impact of open access (OA) on academic visibility, focusing on how different OA models affect citations, altmetrics, downloads and page views. It aims to clarify whether OA provides a consistent visibility advantage and under which disciplinary, geographic and methodological conditions it emerges. Design/methodology/approach A systematic search of the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection was conducted on March 15, 2025, identifying 157 records. After screening and eligibility assessment, 45 peer-reviewed articles published between 2006 and 2024 were included. Data analysis combined descriptive statistics with bibliometric methods using Microsoft Excel and R Bibliometrix (Biblioshiny). Trends in publications, journals and authors were examined alongside international collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence maps and temporal keyword evolution. A structured synthesis table summarized study characteristics, methodologies and findings. Findings The evidence shows that OA enhances academic visibility but in a heterogeneous manner. Green OA and preprints consistently increase citations and accelerate readership, while Gold OA produces mixed outcomes: positive in medicine and biology, but neutral or negative in economics, library science, and translation studies. Altmetrics highlight OA's broader societal impact, especially in the humanities and social sciences, where freely available works attract attention from social media, blogs and policy documents. International collaboration strengthens the OA advantage, while disparities remain across regions, particularly in Africa and Asia. Publication costs, repository infrastructure and editorial practices further influence outcomes. Originality/value By integrating bibliometric and altmetric perspectives, this review reframes OA visibility as a multidimensional construct rather than a universal effect. The findings provide nuanced insights for researchers, publishers and policymakers seeking to maximize impact and equity in scholarly communication.