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Best Qualitative Data Analysis Software in 2026

Qualitative data analysis software helps organize, code and interpret text, media and other research material. This list is for people comparing tools by cost, analysis features and working setup.

  1. 1

    Avidemux

    Free plan Open source LinuxMacWeb+1
    9.3 Free plan Visit site
  2. 2

    CATMA

    Free plan Open source APILinuxMac+3

    CATMA brings collaborative markup, analysis, and export options to qualitative text research.

    9.2 Free plan Visit site
  3. 3

    Collattice

    Free plan APILinuxMac+3

    Collattice combines a self-hosted kanban board with MCP and REST access, live updates, and webhook support. Its upload limits differ between browser and API use, so check them against your file needs.

    7.6 Open source Visit site
  4. 4

    QualCoder

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows

    QualCoder brings qualitative coding and reporting tools to three desktop platforms at no software cost.

    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    Taguette

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2

    Taguette provides document coding, exports and a choice of desktop, hosted or server use at no charge.

    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  6. 6

    Qualitati

    Free plan Web

    Choose Qualitati if you need a web-based research platform combining AI interviews or focus groups with qualitative analysis.

    6.7 Free plan · paid from €9/mo Visit site
  7. 7

    Dedoose

    Free trial LinuxMacWindows

    Choose Dedoose if your research combines qualitative and quantitative material or spans multiple media types, especially when real-time collaboration matters.

    6.3 From $12.95/mo · 30-day trial Visit site
  8. 8

    MAXQDA

    Free trial ExtensionMacWeb+1

    MAXQDA offers research analysis tools across qualitative, mixed methods, and statistical work.

    6.3 14-day trial Visit site
  9. 9

    ATLAS.ti

    Free trial MacWebWindows

    ATLAS.ti covers a wide range of research materials and includes both AI analysis features and reference-manager imports.

    6.2 20-day trial Visit site
  10. 10

    HyperTRANSCRIBE

    by HyperTRANSCRIBE
    Free trial MacWindows

    HyperTRANSCRIBE focuses on keyboard-driven transcription with timestamp support, multiple export formats, and removable-drive installation.

    6.0 From $199 Visit site
  11. 11

    OpenQDA

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.0 Free plan Visit site
  12. 12

    Quirkos

    Free trial AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

    Quirkos offers a visual coding and query workflow, with cloud collaboration and several export options.

    6.0 From $5/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
  13. 13

    Delve

    Free trial Web

    Delve combines transcript coding, team collaboration, and AI assistance for qualitative analysis. Check the paid-seat rule and education eligibility before selecting a plan.

    5.9 From $50/user/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
  14. 14

    QDAcity

    Free plan Web
    5.9 Free plan · paid from €12/mo Visit site
  15. 15

    webQDA

    Free trial AndroidiPhoneWeb

    webQDA brings varied media analysis, coding, queries, collaboration, and export into a browser workspace. Review its file limits and fixed license periods when planning larger projects.

    5.7 From €52 · 7-day trial Visit site
  16. 16

    zotQDA

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.7 Free plan Visit site
  17. 17

    Transana

    Free trial MacWindows

    Transana combines transcription, coding, and reporting for qualitative analysis across several data types. Check the demo limits and license terms before choosing a plan.

    5.6 From $50/mo Visit site
  18. 18

    NVivo Transcription

    by NVivo Transcription
    Paid Web

    NVivo Transcription combines multilingual transcription with exports and features for organized research or employer workflows.

    5.3 30-day trial Visit site
  19. 19

    QDA Miner

    Paid LinuxMacWindows

    QDA Miner presents a document-focused analysis tool with sentiment and entity features across 68 languages. The trial provides a short evaluation window, while continued use requires a paid plan.

    4.5 14-day trial Visit site
  20. 20

    HyperRESEARCH

    Paid MacWindows
    4.4 Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Check whether a tool has a free plan, trial or open-source licence that fits your needs. Before deciding, look at platform support, coding, audio and video handling, teamwork, mixed-methods work and whether transcription is included.

Questions

Are free qualitative data analysis tools available?

Yes. Avidemux, CATMA, Collattice and OpenQDA list free plans. Collattice also lists open-source code.

Which tools list a free trial?

Trial periods listed are 20 days for ATLAS.ti, 30 days for Dedoose, and 14 days for both Delve and MAXQDA.

What paid starting prices are listed?

The listed starting rates are $12.95 per month for Dedoose, $50 per user per month for Delve, and €12 per month for QDAcity.

Which platforms are covered?

Across the listings, supported options include Windows, macOS, web, Linux, self-hosted setups and iOS.

Does the list compare transcription?

Yes. Transcription included is one of the comparison fields, so check the listing for the tool you are considering.

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