MAXQDA vs Transana
MAXQDA
maxqda.comTransana
transana.comSide by side
| Figure | MAXQDA | Transana |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $41/mo | $30/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 8 |
| Spec score · Text Analytics Software | 9.0 (#3) | 7.7 (#17) |
| Spec score · Qualitative Data Analysis Software | 9.0 (#2) | 7.7 (#11) |
| Spec score · Text Analysis Software | 8.9 (#3) | 7.7 (#9) |
| Spec score · Video Annotation Software | 8.8 (#6) | 7.7 (#23) |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany | Madison, Wisconsin, United States |
| Integrations | Documented integrations include EndNote, Mendeley, Citavi, Zotero, SurveyMonkey, SPSS, Excel, YouTube and REFI-QDA exchange files. | Transana Professional can explore non-confidential data with OpenAI ChatGPT or Anthropic Claude, and confidential data with embedded Ollama models. |
| Purpose | MAXQDA is qualitative data analysis software for qualitative and mixed methods research, including literature reviews, content analysis, interviews, questionnaires, and focus groups. | Transana is qualitative analysis software for analyzing video, audio, image, text, PDF, and survey data. |
| Support and learning | The maker offers online support, tutorials, guides, webinars, workshops, courses, and a live product demo. | Transana Basic and Professional include an online tutorial and built-in manual, and the website offers tutorial videos and consultation options. |
| 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. | Transana offers automated transcription and manual transcription tools with keyboard shortcuts. |
Plans
MAXQDA
- AI Assist FreeFree
- MAXQDA Tailwind Free TrialFree
- MAXQDA Tailwind Pro$41 a month
- AI Assist Premium (12 months)Priced on request
- AI Assist Premium (6 months)Priced on request
- MAXQDAPriced on request
- MAXQDA Analytics ProPriced on request
- MAXQDA Tailwind EnterprisePriced on request
- MAXQDA TeamCloudPrice not published
Transana
- Transana DemoFree
- Transana Trial$25, paid once
- Transana Cloud Service$50 a month
- Transana Basic for Students$85, paid once
- Transana Basic$170, paid once
- Transana Cloud Service$360 a year
- Transana Professional$395, paid once
- Transana MultiuserPriced on request
In their own words
MAXQDA
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.
Transana
Transana is qualitative analysis software for video, audio, image, text, PDF, and survey data on Windows and macOS. It provides automated transcription and manual transcription tools with keyboard shortcuts. Users can categorize and code material, then examine coded data through text and graphical reports, searches, and word clouds. Transana Professional handles up to four simultaneous video files and five transcripts, and supports imports including plain text, Word or RTF documents, online survey data, and still images. Professional can use ChatGPT or Claude with non-confidential data, or embedded Ollama models with confidential data. Speechmatics and Deepgram receive audio for automated transcription only after a user approves sharing each time; Faster Whisper processes audio locally. Basic and Professional store data on the user's computer and do not share user files or database information with Transana.com. Multiuser supports simultaneous work on shared data over an internet connection. The free demo has tight limits and is not intended for real analysis. The fully functional Professional trial costs $25, paid once and expires one month after purchase. Professional costs $395, paid once.