ACM Digital Library: Evolving Access to Support Open Research
As ACM advances its commitment to Open Access, we are evolving our licensing model to better support both accessibility and sustainability. To support this shift, ACM is introducing two levels of access - Digital Library Premium and Digital Library Basic - designed to balance our mission of openness with the need to maintain a world-class publishing program.
Why the Change?
For decades, ACM has provided institutions with access to one of the most comprehensive collections in computing research. As Open Access becomes the standard, we are evolving our licensing model to continue delivering value to subscribing institutions while supporting equitable access to knowledge.
The new model offers more transparency and consistency in pricing, encourages longer-term commitments with built-in incentives, and reflects a fairer, more sustainable approach to licensing.
Two Levels of Access
Digital Library Premium
Digital Library Premium is a full-featured institutional subscription providing:
- Unrestricted access to ACM’s complete Digital Library and Guide to Computing Literature (ACM’s robust indexing service covering more than 8,000 publishers)
- AI-assisted search, citation tools, and research analytics
- Bulk downloads, saved searches, alerts, and personalized recommendations
- Collaboration features and full integration with institutional profiles
Institutions participating in ACM Open will receive ACM Digital Library Premium access automatically beginning in January 2026.
For more information on Digital Library Premium, visit Frequently Asked Questions.
Digital Library Basic
Digital Library Basic provides public access to ACM content with limited features. While it supports the Open Access model, Digital Library Basic does not include the Guide to Computing Literature, advanced discovery tools, research insights, or institutional engagement features.
Without Premium access, institutions and researchers lose valuable research insights, efficiency-boosting tools, and seamless access to computing literature. Learn more about the Digital Library platform and features.
Supporting Long-Term Sustainability
This new structure helps ACM sustain a high-quality publishing program while keeping research openly available. The Digital Library Premium license is designed to support institutions in driving research forward - with advanced tools that enhance discovery, engagement, and collaboration.
Our updated pricing model encourages multi-year commitments, and eliminates inconsistencies present in prior models. This approach ensures fair, predictable pricing aligned with ACM’s broader publishing and Open Access goals.
Academic Pricing1: Effective January 2026
| Academic Tier2 | Digital Library Premium License - Annual Subscription (USD) |
| 1 | 12,500 |
| 2 | 7,500 |
| 3 | 6,000 |
| 2-Year Colleges | 2,000 |
| *Current Customer* | Current DL Read customers pay the lower option between their existing price plus a 4% inflationary increase or the above tier pricing |
1Please refer here for corporate and government pricing.
2For new Digital Library Premium customers, tier placement is determined based on the institution’s average article publication output over the previous three years. Contact us at [email protected] for a tailored pricing proposal.
Multi-year agreements benefit from reduced annual increases.
| Length of Agreement | Percent Increase Applied to 2025 DL Read Price |
| 1 Year | 4% |
| 2 Years | 3% |
| 3+ Years | 2% |
Available Discount:
3–5% discount is available for full upfront payment of a multi-year agreement.
Value and Impact of the Digital Library
ACM’s Digital Library provides access to a rich and trusted corpus of computing research and resources, supporting teaching, learning, and discovery at institutions around the world. With high usage by faculty, students, and researchers, and extensive global reach, the platform is recognised as a leading resource in the field - placing the Digital Library in a class of its own.
ACM partners with academic library consortia to provide Digital Library access to thousands of institutions globally. For a list of participating consortia, please visit this page.
To learn more about ACM’s transformative agreement program, ACM Open, or to subscribe to Digital Library Premium, please contact your consortium manager or ACM account manager directly. If you're unsure of your point of contact or do not have an existing ACM Digital Library agreement, please email us at [email protected].
ACM Open Video
An Introduction to ACM Open
