NVivo
Don’t want to install NVivo? 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 research software with auto-transcription for interviews and focus groups.
Best for academic and market researchers coding qualitative interviews, with transcripts as the working surface. Pricing: subscription.
What it is
NVivo from Lumivero (formerly QSR International) is one of the dominant qualitative-research platforms in universities and applied research. NVivo Transcription is a metered ASR add-on producing speaker-attributed transcripts that flow directly into NVivo's coding canvas.
Watch out for: Auto-transcription is metered minutes via NVivo Transcription add-on; not unlimited.
What people actually do with NVivo-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 |
NVivo vs Whipscribe
| Feature | NVivo | 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 NVivo
Frequently asked about NVivo
How much does NVivo cost?
NVivo is a paid product. Pricing changes; verify on the vendor's own page before budgeting.
Does NVivo work on Mac, Windows and Linux?
NVivo 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 NVivo?
There is nothing to install — NVivo is used in the browser. Create an account on the vendor's site and upload or connect your audio.
Does NVivo identify different speakers?
No. NVivo 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 NVivo give word-level timestamps?
Yes — NVivo produces timing per word, which is what subtitle cues and clip boundaries need.
Can NVivo transcribe live audio?
No — NVivo works on finished files, not a live stream.
Is NVivo HIPAA compliant?
NVivo 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 NVivo?
Auto-transcription is metered minutes via NVivo Transcription add-on; not unlimited.
Who is NVivo best for?
Academic and market researchers coding qualitative interviews, with transcripts as the working surface.
Does NVivo run offline?
NVivo 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 NVivo in the browser?
No — NVivo is a Windows and macOS application, not a web app. You install it rather than sign in to it.
Who makes NVivo?
NVivo is made by Lumivero (formerly QSR International).
What kind of tool is NVivo?
In this directory NVivo is filed under qual research as a desktop app.
What are the alternatives to NVivo?
There is a side-by-side page at /tools/nvivo-alternatives comparing NVivo with the closest tools in the same category on price, platform and features.
Can I automate NVivo-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 NVivo 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 transcribing a long MP3 or M4A, how to transcribe a podcast and an SRT subtitle file from any recording.
Looking at paid options?
Before you choose a transcription tool or service: see how the best transcription services compare, cheap transcription services and the real cost per hour and transcription services from $6.