Tool profile
ATLAS.ti: cost, fit and limits
ATLAS.ti is a qualitative data analysis program made by ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH of Berlin, now owned by Lumivero, that codes text, audio, video and images and adds AI coding, summaries and chat. Researchers use it on Windows, Mac, the web and mobile devices.
What to know first
ATLAS.ti describes a single flat-fee license that covers every feature and platform, with no feature tiers or platform add-ons. The pages read show no price, only license types: individual, multi-user, campus and non-profit. AI coding, summaries and suggestions are opt-in and may carry additional fees. The vendor named OpenAI's GPT for Intentional AI Coding, which is rarer than the vague wording on most competitor pages.
ATLAS.ti at a glance
| Maker | ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH, Germany |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Qualitative Data Analysis Software in 2026, rank 7 of 10 |
| Website | atlasti.com |
Who ATLAS.ti is best for
Researchers who switch devices
One license is described as covering Windows and Mac desktop, web and iOS and Android mobile, and projects can move between platforms.
Users who want a local AI link
The MCP Server in release 26.1 connects Claude Desktop, Claude Code or LM Studio to a desktop project and, per the page, keeps Lumivero's servers out of the exchange.
Reviewers of scientific literature
Paper Search on the web version gives free access to more than 200 million scientific papers with AI summaries, which helps when a project mixes interviews and literature.
Multilingual interview teams
AI auto-transcription converts audio and video to text in 43 or more languages, and sentiment and opinion mining work across many documents.
ATLAS.ti plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Individual license | Price not shown on the pages read | One flat-fee license covering all features and platforms, with no feature tiers, managed through the vendor's licensing portal, with a free trial available. |
| Multi-user license | Quote or shop price, not shown | Described as having no limits on people, seats or machines, aimed at groups sharing one license arrangement. |
| Campus and non-profit | Discounted, price not shown | The page lists campus licenses and non-profit discounts as separate license types alongside the individual and multi-user options. |
Checked November 2026.
What ATLAS.ti does
- Intentional AI Coding
- The tool generates codes from the researcher's stated intent and goals, using OpenAI's GPT. The vendor says it can cut coding and analysis time by up to 90 percent, a claim to test on your data.
- Conversational AI
- Chat works with one document or many, on both desktop and web, which lets a researcher ask what a set of transcripts says about a topic before writing a code.
- AI summaries
- Summaries can be produced for documents, codes and materials, which helps in the middle of a project when a coding scheme has grown beyond what one person can keep in mind.
- MCP Server
- Included with active desktop subscriptions at no extra cost, it connects an external AI tool to a desktop project and runs locally, so the data handling follows the AI client you pick.
- AI Regions
- A setting lets you choose United States or Europe for AI processing, though the page says analysis also runs on OpenAI and trusted provider systems elsewhere in the world.
How ATLAS.ti handles your data
ATLAS.ti's AI data page says AI features use OpenAI's GPT models through an API and are opt-in, with 256-bit AES encryption at rest and TLS 1.2 or 1.3 in transit. You can select the United States or Europe for AI processing. OpenAI states API data is not used for training, but the page notes OpenAI may fine-tune on submitted data unless you have opted out, and limited OpenAI personnel may view content for abuse or security reasons. A data processing agreement with Standard Contractual Clauses is in place. Retention periods and certifications are not stated.
Where ATLAS.ti falls short in practice
- AI may carry extra fees. The AI data page says the AI features are opt-in and may carry additional fees, even though the main license is described as flat. Ask what the AI add-on costs.
- A third party sits in the loop. Cloud AI runs through OpenAI. The page admits limited OpenAI staff and contractors can view content in defined cases, which some ethics boards will not accept.
- No stated retention or certification. The AI data page gives no retention period and names no ISO or SOC 2 certification, so a security review will need further documents from the vendor.
Works with
Alternatives to ATLAS.ti
ATLAS.ti: common questions
Which AI model does ATLAS.ti use?
The AI information page names OpenAI's GPT models for Intentional AI Coding, accessed through an API. It does not name models for the other features, such as summaries and chat, so ask which ones apply. It works only when AI Coding is switched on.
Can ATLAS.ti AI work without sending data to the cloud?
The MCP Server in release 26.1 connects a local client such as LM Studio to a desktop project. The page says Lumivero's servers are not part of that exchange, and with a locally hosted model there is no data exposure.
Does ATLAS.ti AI cost extra?
The AI data page says AI Coding, AI Summaries and AI Code Suggestions are opt-in and may carry additional fees. The MCP Server is included with active desktop subscriptions at no extra cost. Request a written price for the AI items.
Where does ATLAS.ti process AI requests?
You can choose the United States or Europe through AI Regions. The page adds that analysis also runs on OpenAI and trusted provider systems elsewhere, and some content may reach contractors for data annotation and safety. Ask for the sub-processor details.
Who owns ATLAS.ti?
ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH is owned by Lumivero, which acquired it in September 2024, according to the AI information page. The privacy policy gives its address as Bergmannstrasse 68 in Berlin, Germany. The company's own name appears in two variants in the policy.