While both practices are problematic, bribes are categorically worse. A flat fee only gatekeeps people who don't have enough money, whereas bribes gatekeep peop

While both practices are problematic, bribes are categorically worse. A flat fee only gatekeeps people who don't have enough money, whereas bribes gatekeep people who are ethical. Furthermore, an author who pays a fee will still have their paper will still go through a (hopefully rigorous) review process involving input from independent peer reviewers as well as the editor. Paying the journal a fee does not directly and intentionally subvert the review process, whereas bribing the editor does.