Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

MAXQDA

maxqda.com

From $41/mo Free plan WebWindowsmacOSBrowser extension
Visit maxqda.com
Spec score 8.9 #1 of 35 in Academic Research Databases

What it is

MAXQDA is desktop software for qualitative and mixed methods research, including literature reviews, content analysis, interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups. Its tools include qualitative and mixed methods analysis, quantitative text analysis with MAXDictio, and statistical analysis with Stats. Analytics Pro can import and connect Excel or SPSS data and includes descriptive statistics, crosstabs, ANOVA, independent-samples t-tests, cluster analysis, Pearson and Spearman correlations, and scale calculations. MAXQDA Transcription can automatically transcribe audio and video in over 50 languages without a MAXQDA license, though analyzing transcripts in MAXQDA requires a valid MAXQDA or Analytics Pro license. TeamCloud provides a protected cloud workspace with 25GB storage for one team lead and up to four team members per license. The desktop product runs on Windows and Mac with the same interface and functions on both. A 14-day free trial is available for either system. The page does not expose prices for MAXQDA licenses or Analytics Pro; AI Assist has Free and Premium options, with limited capacity.

Spec sheet

What it does
MAXQDA is qualitative and mixed-methods research software for organizing, coding, analyzing, visualizing and reporting text, multimedia, survey and bibliographic data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Purpose
MAXQDA is qualitative data analysis software for qualitative and mixed methods research, including literature reviews, content analysis, interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Trial
The maker offers a 14-day free MAXQDA trial for Windows and Mac.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Integrations
Documented integrations include EndNote, Mendeley, Citavi, Zotero, SurveyMonkey, SPSS, Excel, YouTube and REFI-QDA exchange files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Security
MAXQDA says AI Assist processes data in real time, deletes it immediately, stores encrypted data in the EU and operates under GDPR compliance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Support
Free online support is provided for the current and preceding versions, with context-sensitive help linked from dialog windows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Headquarters
Berlin, GermanyRead 28 Sep 2026 · maxqda.com
Founded
1989Read 28 Sep 2026 · maxqda.com
Company
MAXQDA is distributed by VERBI GmbH, and the maker describes VERBI as focused on qualitative data analysis innovation since 1989.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
AI add-on limit
AI Assist is available as Free or Premium; the maker says capacity is limited and unusually high or automated usage may be capacity-controlled.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
AI Assist
AI Assist provides summaries, paraphrases, code and subcode suggestions, AI coding, reports, explanations, translations and data chat.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Analysis tools
MAXQDA supports qualitative and mixed methods analysis, quantitative text analysis with MAXDictio, and statistical analysis with Stats.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Analytics Pro
MAXQDA Analytics Pro adds a Stats module with descriptive and inferential statistics and Excel/SPSS dataset support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Browser extension
The free MAXQDA Web Collector Chrome extension saves whole pages or selections as PDFs, images or text for MAXQDA import.Read 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Coding
Users can code by drag and drop, search-word autocoding, colors, symbols, emojis, keyboard shortcuts, weights and comments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Company history
VERBI says the first MAX version for personal computers was released in spring 1989 and that the business remains family-owned.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Data types
It imports text, PDFs, transcripts, audio, video, images, spreadsheets, SPSS surveys, websites, emails, YouTube comments and bibliographic records.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Documentation
MAXQDA publishes an online manual, a 30-page getting-started guide, videos, specialized analysis chapters, trainer network and user forum.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
File-based extensibility
Official documentation describes project, codebook, REFI-QDA, Excel, SPSS, HTML, Word, PDF and other import/export formats rather than a public programming SDK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.maxqda.com
Licence
MAXQDA is proprietary commercial software rather than open-source software.Read 15 Oct 2026 · en.wikipedia.org
Limit: data collection
A GetApp reviewer says cleaning Twitter data after using the integrated import tool is difficult.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Limit: performance and security complaints
Trustpilot review text mentions performance problems in older versions and asks for reconsideration of security features.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Limit: platform coverage
A Software Advice reviewer says MAXQDA lacks Linux support and a web version, while collaboration is precarious.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
Limit: price and licensing
Software Advice reviews call the product expensive, cite restrictive licensing and object to student licences expiring after graduation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
Limit: subscription change
A G2 reviewer criticizes the end of perpetual licensing after MAXQDA 22 and prefers a permanent licence option.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: usability
Reviewers report that the many options can feel overwhelming and that some advanced functions require substantial tutorial time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
Local AI
AI Assist Premium can use a model running on the user's computer or organization's server, including OpenAI-compatible endpoints such as Ollama, llama.cpp or LM Studio.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Maker headquarters
VERBI lists Invalidenstraße 74, 10557 Berlin, Germany as its address.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Maker legal name
The maker is VERBI Software. Consult. Sozialforschung. GmbH, registered in Berlin as HRB 78781.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Maker size
LinkedIn lists MAXQDA in the 51–200 employee range.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Memos
Memos can be attached to documents, codes or data segments, searched in a dedicated workspace, linked to data and exported.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Mixed methods
It links qualitative codes to demographic variables, quantifies code frequencies and compares qualitative and quantitative groups.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Platform availability
The MAXQDA desktop product is described as available for Windows and Mac, with an identical interface and functions on both systems.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Praise: coding and visualization
Independent reviewers repeatedly praise the coding system, visualization tools and MAXMaps for turning complex datasets into understandable insights.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
Praise: learning resources
Reviewers highlight the large number of free tutorials, learning opportunities and responsive customer service.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Praise: versatility
Trustpilot reviewers describe MAXQDA as versatile and easy to use across text, image, video and audio analysis.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Rating on Capterra
4.8 out of 5 from 25 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on Chrome Web Store
5 out of 5 from 1 ratingRead 15 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Rating on G2
4.5 out of 5 from 38 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp
4.8 out of 5 from 25 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Rating on Software Advice
4.8 out of 5 from 25 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
Rating on Trustpilot
4.5 out of 5 from 42 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Release news
MAXQDA 26.1, released February 10, 2026, added multi-document AI coding, AI translation and suggested subcodes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Search and retrieval
The software supports project-wide searches, regular expressions, synonym and Boolean searches, coded-data queries and interactive retrieved-segment views.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Statistics
Analytics Pro includes descriptive statistics, crosstabs, ANOVA, independent-samples t-tests, cluster analysis, Pearson and Spearman correlations, and scale calculations.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Subprocessors
For cloud and AI functions, MAXQDA lists providers such as AWS and says it uses GDPR Article 28 agreements and appropriate safeguards including Standard Contractual Clauses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Support and learning
The maker offers online support, tutorials, guides, webinars, workshops, courses, and a live product demo.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
System requirements
MAXQDA 26 on Windows requires Windows 11, at least 4 GB RAM and a two-core 1.6 GHz processor; macOS 11 through macOS 27 is listed with the same minimum RAM and processor.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Team collaboration
TeamCloud provides a protected cloud workspace with 25GB storage and one team lead plus up to four team members per license.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
TeamCloud
TeamCloud provides protected cloud storage, work-status exchange, a change log and external-file exchange, but does not support simultaneous editing of one project.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.maxqda.com
Transcription
MAXQDA Transcription automatically transcribes audio and video in over 50 languages and can be used without a MAXQDA license, though analyzing transcripts in MAXQDA requires a valid MAXQDA or Analytics Pro license.Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
Visualization
MAXQDA includes MAXMaps, Code Matrix Browser, Codeline, word and code occurrence dashboards and other interactive visual tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com

Plans and prices

AI Assist Free Free Free add-on; page does not expose a price Single prompts · Limited capacity for occasional use Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
MAXQDA Tailwind Free Trial Free 7 days · 1 project · 5 documents · 20 topics per project · unlimited summary tables · 5 chat conversations · 5 reports Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
MAXQDA Tailwind Pro $41 a month automatic renewal; cancel anytime unlimited projects · 50 documents per project · 20 topics per project · unlimited summary tables · 100 chat conversations · 100 reports Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
AI Assist Premium (12 months) Priced on request 12 months; price not exposed on page Frequent prompts · Limited capacity for extensive use Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
AI Assist Premium (6 months) Priced on request 6 months; price not exposed on page Frequent prompts · Limited capacity for extensive use Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
MAXQDA Priced on request Annual subscription, 3-year license, or 5-year license; page does not expose a price 1 to 20 licenses · More than 20: personalized quote Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
MAXQDA Analytics Pro Priced on request Annual subscription, 3-year license, or 5-year license; page does not expose a price 1 to 20 licenses · More than 20: personalized quote Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
MAXQDA Tailwind Enterprise Priced on request custom license bundle for organizations Read 15 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com
MAXQDA TeamCloud Price not published Annual subscription; page does not expose a price 25GB cloud storage · 1 team lead and up to 4 team members per license Read 3 Oct 2026 · maxqda.com

Every MAXQDA plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Covers qualitative and mixed methods analysis.
  • Analytics Pro connects Excel or SPSS data.
  • Transcription supports more than 50 languages.
  • TeamCloud provides 25GB of workspace storage.

Limits

  • No free plan for MAXQDA is listed.
  • License prices are not exposed on the page.
  • Transcript analysis requires a valid MAXQDA license.
  • AI Assist capacity is limited.

Who it suits

MAXQDA suits researchers working with qualitative or mixed methods material, including interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups. Teams may find TeamCloud useful when shared project space is needed.

MAXQDA in depth

Read the full write-up

MAXQDA is a desktop analysis package for qualitative and mixed methods research. It suits researchers working with documents, interviews, questionnaires, or focus groups who also want optional statistics or team collaboration. Its breadth is useful, but those add-ons and licensing choices make it important to match the purchase to the work.

Overview

MAXQDA supports literature reviews, content analysis, and analysis of interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups. Qualitative and mixed methods tools sit alongside MAXDictio for quantitative text analysis, so it can serve projects that move between interpreting material and examining text quantitatively. Analytics Pro adds statistical analysis rather than making those tools part of every MAXQDA license.

The analysis sources are documents. Sentiment and topic analysis are supported, but entity extraction and intent detection are not. The product is on-premise desktop software distributed by VERBI GmbH, which has focused on qualitative data analysis since 1989.

Key features

Analysis and statistics

Analytics Pro can import and connect Excel or SPSS data sets. Its statistics include descriptive statistics, crosstabs, ANOVA, independent-samples t-tests, cluster analysis, Pearson and Spearman correlations, and scale calculations. That makes it the better fit for projects combining qualitative analysis with these statistical methods; researchers who only need qualitative or mixed methods work need not assume they require this tier.

Transcription

MAXQDA Transcription automatically transcribes audio and video in more than 50 languages and can be used without a MAXQDA license. The division matters: transcribing can stand alone, but analyzing the resulting transcripts in MAXQDA requires a valid MAXQDA or Analytics Pro license.

Teamwork and AI

TeamCloud provides a protected cloud workspace with 25GB of storage and one team lead plus up to four team members per license. That gives small teams a defined collaboration option, while larger groups should not assume the same seat allocation will cover them.

AI Assist has Free and Premium options. Free is for occasional single prompts; Premium is for frequent prompts, with six- and twelve-month terms. Capacity is limited, and unusually high or automated usage may be capacity-controlled, so it is not a sound basis for assuming unrestricted AI throughput.

Pricing

MAXQDA is paid software with no free plan. The maker offers a 14-day free trial for Windows and Mac, which gives prospective buyers a short evaluation period before choosing a license.

MAXQDA: custom pricing, with annual subscription, 3-year license, or 5-year license terms. One to 20 licenses are available; more than 20 requires a personalized quote. This is the core choice for researchers who do not need Analytics Pro statistics.

MAXQDA Analytics Pro: custom pricing, on the same annual, 3-year, or 5-year terms and license-count structure. Choose it when the added statistical analysis and Excel or SPSS data connections are needed.

AI Assist Free: free, billed Free add-on, for single prompts and occasional use with limited capacity. It is the lower-commitment option, but not the frequent-prompt tier.

AI Assist Premium (6 months): custom pricing, billed for 6 months; intended for frequent prompts and extensive use, with limited capacity.

AI Assist Premium (12 months): custom pricing, billed for 12 months; it has the same frequent-prompt positioning and capacity limit as the six-month option, over a longer term.

MAXQDA TeamCloud: custom pricing, billed annually. Each license includes 25GB and one lead plus up to four team members, making the stated allocation most directly suited to small teams.

The paid license and add-on prices are custom pricing. Buyers should distinguish the MAXQDA license from Analytics Pro, TeamCloud, and AI Assist rather than treating the core license as a bundle of every capability.

Platforms

The desktop product runs on Windows and Mac, with an identical interface and functions on both systems. Its on-premise deployment suits work centered on a desktop application rather than a web-based analysis environment. MAXQDA also offers online support, tutorials, guides, webinars, workshops, courses, and a live product demo.

Who it's for

MAXQDA is a strong match for researchers conducting document-based qualitative or mixed methods work across literature, interviews, questionnaires, or focus groups. It is particularly compelling when quantitative text analysis is useful, or when a project can justify Analytics Pro's statistics or TeamCloud's small-team workspace. It is less suitable for buyers seeking a free core product, entity extraction, intent detection, or an unqualified assumption of high-volume AI capacity.

Pros and cons

Pro: Qualitative, mixed methods, and quantitative text analysis address a broad range of document-based research workflows.

Pro: Analytics Pro includes a substantial set of named statistical methods and Excel or SPSS data connections.

Pro: Transcription can be used without a MAXQDA license and supports more than 50 languages.

Con: Transcript analysis still requires a valid MAXQDA or Analytics Pro license, so transcription alone does not cover the full workflow.

Con: No free MAXQDA plan is offered, and a free trial lasts 14 days.

Con: Entity extraction and intent detection are unsupported, while AI Assist capacity is limited.

Con: TeamCloud's stated allocation covers one lead and up to four members per license, not an unrestricted team.

Alternatives

For broader research discovery or access to literature rather than desktop qualitative analysis, consider these options:

Academic Research Databases are a category to consider when the priority is finding research databases rather than analyzing source material in MAXQDA.

Text Analytics Software is a category worth comparing when text analytics, rather than a broader qualitative research workflow, is the main need.

Video Annotation Software is a category to consider when video annotation is the primary task.

CORE offers a free API and web or extension access; choose it when free access to its research service matters more than MAXQDA's document-analysis workflow. Its API access is rate-limited to one batch request or five single requests per 10 seconds.

The Lens offers free anonymous browsing and an Academic Workspace; consider it for free research access rather than MAXQDA's qualitative analysis tools.

EconLit has free courtesy access for AEA members; it is a more targeted choice for members seeking its bibliographic database, not a general substitute for MAXQDA analysis.

JSTOR offers limited free reading and paid JPASS access; choose it when accessing scholarly content is the aim rather than analyzing documents in a dedicated desktop product.

Embase AI is a paid research option with pricing available by demo request; consider it when that service is a better fit than MAXQDA's research-analysis workflow.

OpenAlex has a free tier and API access; it is an alternative to consider for research discovery and API use rather than MAXQDA's desktop analysis.

APA PsycInfo is a paid option for psychology-focused research access; choose it when that focus takes precedence over MAXQDA's analysis toolkit.

Europe PMC is free and provides access to life sciences literature and related tools; consider it when that literature access is the requirement.

Verdict

Choose MAXQDA if your work depends on document-based qualitative or mixed methods analysis and you value the option to add statistics, transcription, or a small-team workspace. Its main advantage is that range; its main reason to look elsewhere is the paid, tiered licensing, alongside missing entity extraction and intent detection. The 14-day trial is a sensible way to confirm that the core workflow fits before committing.

Verdict

MAXQDA brings research analysis, transcription, and team workspace options into a Windows and Mac desktop product. Check licensing requirements for transcript analysis and request pricing details before selecting a license.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to MAXQDAAll alternatives →