MAXQDA
Don’t want to install MAXQDA? Drop the file here.
The first 20 minutes of any recording are transcribed free: a recording up to 20 minutes transcribes in full, a longer one is previewed, and a pack from $6 (500 minutes) transcribes the rest and opens every export, and credits never expire.
Qualitative + mixed-methods research with built-in transcription tooling.
Best for researchers in Europe who prefer MAXQDA's UI and mixed-methods workflow for interview coding. Pricing: subscription.
What it is
MAXQDA from VERBI Software is the qualitative analysis suite popular in European universities. It bundles a manual-transcription workbench with hotkeys and foot-pedal support; AI ASR is offered through a MAXQDA Transcription add-on.
Watch out for: Built-in transcription is manual-aided (foot-pedal, hotkeys); AI ASR requires an add-on plan.
What people actually do with MAXQDA-style transcription
The tool is the means. These are the jobs — each one priced at published rates, each one wired up on its own page.
Features
| Speaker diarization | No |
| Word-level timestamps | Yes |
| Streaming / real-time | No |
| Languages supported | None |
| HIPAA eligible | No |
MAXQDA vs Whipscribe
| Feature | MAXQDA | Whipscribe |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Desktop apps | Transcription APIs |
| Pricing | subscription | $6–$24 one-time packs (credits never expire) · first 20 minutes free |
| Speaker identification | — | Named in the summary, key quotes and chapters |
| Word timestamps | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming | — | No |
| Languages | — | 99 |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Web, API, MCP |
Alternatives to MAXQDA
Frequently asked about MAXQDA
How much does MAXQDA cost?
MAXQDA is a paid product. Pricing changes; verify on the vendor's own page before budgeting.
Does MAXQDA work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
MAXQDA runs on Windows and macOS. It is not listed for other platforms; check the vendor for anything beyond Windows and macOS.
How do I get started with MAXQDA?
There is nothing to install — MAXQDA is used in the browser. Create an account on the vendor's site and upload or connect your audio.
Does MAXQDA identify different speakers?
No. MAXQDA does not label speakers; a conversation comes back as one continuous text. If you need speaker labels, that is a separate tool or a different service.
Does MAXQDA give word-level timestamps?
Yes — MAXQDA produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can MAXQDA transcribe live audio?
No — MAXQDA works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is MAXQDA HIPAA compliant?
MAXQDA does not claim HIPAA compliance. For PHI, run it on infrastructure you control or choose a service that will sign a BAA.
What are the limitations of MAXQDA?
Built-in transcription is manual-aided (foot-pedal, hotkeys); AI ASR requires an add-on plan.
Who is MAXQDA best for?
Researchers in Europe who prefer MAXQDA's UI and mixed-methods workflow for interview coding.
Does MAXQDA run offline?
MAXQDA runs on your own machine as a desktop app. Check whether the model runs locally or calls a cloud service — some desktop tools do both.
Can I use MAXQDA in the browser?
No — MAXQDA is a Windows and macOS application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Who makes MAXQDA?
MAXQDA is made by VERBI Software.
What kind of tool is MAXQDA?
In this directory MAXQDA is filed under qual research as a desktop app.
What are the alternatives to MAXQDA?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/maxqda-alternatives comparing MAXQDA with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.
Can I automate MAXQDA-style transcription without running it myself?
Yes. If what you want is transcripts rather than the tool itself, Whipscribe does the same job as a hosted API: submit a file or URL, poll a job id, pull the result as txt, json, srt, vtt or docx. $0.012 a minute — about $0.72 an audio hour — bought as credits that never expire. The automation recipes on this site show it wired to Drive folders, Zoom recordings, S3 buckets and no-code platforms.
Whipscribe is a hosted transcription service. If you want transcripts without running infrastructure, paste a URL or drop a file in the form below — you'll have a transcript in seconds.
Transcribe your recordings
Using MAXQDA today? Send your next recording here and compare the transcript. Transcribe any language, any recording · Transcription services from $0.29 an hour · Transcribe from any meeting or recording platform · How to transcribe, step by step
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Long recording to get through?
One file up to 10 hours, as an upload or a link: see how to transcribe an MP3 of any length, a podcast episode as text from its link and an SRT subtitle file from any recording.
Looking at paid options?
Before you choose a transcription tool or service: see an honest roundup of the best transcription services, affordable transcription priced per hour and our transcription service with prices and turnaround.