AS Cloud is Academic Stack's self-service publishing platform that allows anyone — individual scholars, research groups, or institutions — to create and manage Open Access journals in minutes. No technical experience or server setup required.

What is AS Cloud?

AS Cloud is a fully hosted SaaS solution that simplifies the process of launching an academic journal. Editors can register, enter basic journal details, upload a cover, and get an instantly accessible journal site — complete with a submission and peer review system, on a subdomain or custom domain with HTTPS enabled.

The platform is designed with ease-of-use and scalability in mind. From intuitive editorial workflows to customizable homepage sections, AS Cloud offers a professional publishing environment for journals at any stage — whether you're launching your first title or expanding a growing portfolio.

AS Cloud is best suited for publishing a single journal or personal-led journals. For institutions or publishers managing multiple titles, we recommend upgrading to AS Enterprise, which supports multi-journal dashboards and centralized control.

Key Features

  • Instant Journal Setup — Create a journal with just a few steps: name, logo, domain slug.

  • Custom Domains + HTTPS — Use our subdomain or bind your own domain with automatic SSL.

  • Built-in Peer Review System — Author registration, submission tracking, reviewer assignments, editorial workflow.

  • Fully Hosted Platform — No need to install, upgrade, or maintain any software.

  • Journal Homepage Generator — Prebuilt theme with sections for Aims & Scope, Editorial Board, Articles, and Announcements.

  • Article Management Tools — Editors can manage manuscripts, revisions, decisions, and production notes within a single interface.

User Roles and Permissions

AS Cloud supports a structured and flexible role system divided into internal editors and external editors:

  • Internal Editors are assigned by the journal founder and include roles such as:

    • Publisher – Full control over all journal settings and user management

    • Managing Editor – Manages editorial workflows and oversees peer review

    • Assistant Editor – Supports submission handling and communications

  • External Editors are added via invitation and may include:

    • Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members – Assigned by invitation, can participate in reviews and decisions

    • Reviewers – Invited to review, and may automatically gain limited editorial permissions based on participation history

This structure ensures transparency, collaboration, and editorial oversight — all while keeping access permissions secure and manageable.

Who is it for?

AS Cloud is designed for:

  • Editors or scholars starting a journal for the first time

  • Research teams launching new OA titles

  • Societies and institutions that need a quick and professional publishing presence without developer involvement

  • Emerging publishers seeking a low-maintenance, scalable solution

Why Choose AS Cloud?

  • Fast — Create a functioning journal site in under 10 minutes.

  • Affordable — Low-cost or free trial options for budget-conscious startups.

  • Modern — Clean design, mobile responsive, and built with the latest publishing needs in mind.

  • Integrated — Compatible with DOI services, ORCID login, and external indexing support.

  • Scalable — Upgrade to Academic Stack Enterprise anytime to manage multiple journals under one umbrella.

Whether you're an academic visionary or a small publishing team, AS Cloud lets you bring your journal to life — instantly, professionally, and independently. It’s the perfect entry point into the world of Open Access publishing, backed by the infrastructure and support of Academic Stack.