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Transana
What Transana is
Transana is qualitative analysis software for working with video, audio, images, text, PDFs, and survey data on Windows and macOS. It offers automated transcription alongside manual transcription tools with keyboard shortcuts. Users can categorize and code material, then examine coded data through reports, searches, and word clouds. Transana Professional supports up to four simultaneous video files and five transcripts, and can import documents, survey data, and still images. Its AI options include ChatGPT or Claude for non-confidential data and embedded Ollama models for confidential data. For automated transcription, Speechmatics and Deepgram receive audio only when the user approves sharing for each instance; Faster Whisper processes audio locally. Basic and Professional store data on the user's computer. Multiuser supports teams working at the same time over an internet connection. The free demo has tight limits and is not intended for real analysis. The Professional trial costs $25, paid once and expires one month after purchase; Professional costs $395, paid once.
Who it suits
Transana suits researchers and teams analyzing mixed media and survey material. Multiuser is for teams that need to work simultaneously on shared data.
What it does well
- Analyzes video, audio, images, text, PDFs, and surveys
- Includes automated and manual transcription tools
- Professional supports up to four simultaneous media files
- Basic and Professional store data on the user's computer
- Multiuser enables simultaneous team work
What to know first
- Free demo has strict data limits
- Professional costs $395, paid once
- Purchases are final and non-refundable
- Windows and macOS are the listed platforms
Limits
The free demo is limited to five episodes, five episode transcripts, five documents, five snapshots, 20 quotes, 20 clips, and 15 keywords. It disables multiple media files and transcripts as well as media conversion. The Professional trial is fully functional but expires one month after purchase.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transana Demo | Limited demo · Windows or macOS · tight data limits; not intended for real analysis | Free |
| Transana Basic | Perpetual per-copy license · one device at a time · single-user · basic video and audio | $170, paid once |
| Transana Trial | Fully functional, time-limited Transana Professional trial · expires one month after purchase | $25, paid once |
| Transana Cloud Service | 12 months; US $360 total ($30 per month) · US $50 initial setup fee · Hosted server subscription for Transana Multiuser · project database and user accounts | $360 a year |
| Transana Professional | Perpetual per-copy license · one device at a time · up to four simultaneous media files · up to five transcripts | $395, paid once |
| Transana Cloud Service | 1 month; US $50 total ($50 per month) · Hosted server subscription for Transana Multiuser · project database and user accounts | $50 a month |
| Transana Basic for Students | Non-upgradable · personal use · proof of current student status required | $85, paid once |
| Transana Multiuser | Perpetual per-project license · requires a server · 12 authorization codes provided; contact Transana for more | On request |
As transana.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Transana website.
- Choose the free demo, the $25.00 USD one-time Professional trial, or a license.
- Use a Windows or macOS computer to run the software.
- For team access to shared data, choose Multiuser and arrange a server.
- Use the online tutorial or built-in manual included with Basic and Professional.
Verdict
Transana combines transcription, coding, and reporting for qualitative analysis across several data types. Check the demo limits and license terms before choosing a plan.
Questions
Does Transana have a free plan?
There is no free plan. A free demo is available with limits on episodes, transcripts, documents, snapshots, quotes, clips, and keywords.
How much does Transana cost?
The listed plans include a $25.00 USD one-time Professional trial, Basic for Students at $85.00 USD once, Basic at $170.00 USD once, and Professional at $395.00 USD once. Cloud Service is $50 a month; no Multiuser price is listed.
Which platforms does Transana support?
Transana is available for macOS and Windows.
Can teams use Transana together?
Transana Multiuser lets team members work simultaneously on shared data over an internet connection and requires a server. The Cloud Service provides hosted project databases and user accounts.
Where is Transana data stored?
Basic and Professional store data on the user's computer. The Cloud Service uses a separate database for each project, permission-controlled access, and encrypted connections.
What are the license terms?
Basic and Professional are perpetual per-copy licenses, and Multiuser is a perpetual per-project license. Purchases are final and non-refundable; most purchasers can upgrade free to a version released within one year of purchase, with reduced-fee upgrades for versions released in years two and three.
Facts from Transana's own pages
- Cloud security
- The Cloud Service page says each project has its own database and user accounts, access requires permission, and all connections are fully encrypted. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Coding and reports
- Users can categorize and code data and explore coded data through text reports, graphical reports, searches, and word clouds. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- Transana Multiuser lets team members work simultaneously on shared data over an internet connection. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Data import
- Transana Professional supports importing plain text, Word or RTF documents, online survey data, and still images. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Madison, Wisconsin, United States · transana.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Transana Professional can explore non-confidential data with OpenAI ChatGPT or Anthropic Claude, and confidential data with embedded Ollama models. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- License terms
- Basic and Professional are perpetual per-copy licenses, while Multiuser is a perpetual per-project license; purchases are final and non-refundable. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The free demo is limited to five episodes, five episode transcripts, five documents, five snapshots, 20 quotes, 20 clips, and 15 keywords; multiple media files and transcripts and media conversion are disabled. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Local data storage
- Transana Basic and Professional store data on the user's computer and the software does not share user data files or database information with Transana.com. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Multimedia analysis
- Transana Professional supports up to four simultaneous video files and up to five transcripts. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Transana is qualitative analysis software for analyzing video, audio, image, text, PDF, and survey data. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Support and learning
- Transana Basic and Professional include an online tutorial and built-in manual, and the website offers tutorial videos and consultation options. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Transcription
- Transana offers automated transcription and manual transcription tools with keyboard shortcuts. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Transcription services
- For automated transcription, the Basic and Professional privacy page says Speechmatics and Deepgram receive audio only after the user approves sharing each time, while Faster Whisper processes audio locally. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Upgrade window
- Most purchasers of Basic, Professional, or Multiuser can upgrade free to a version released within one year of purchase and at a reduced fee to versions released in years two and three. · transana.com, 9 Oct 2026
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