Tool profile
MAXQDA: cost, fit and limits
MAXQDA is a qualitative and mixed methods analysis program made by VERBI GmbH of Berlin that codes interviews, documents, surveys and media files, with an optional AI Assist layer for coding suggestions, summaries and chat. Academic researchers, evaluators and market researchers use it.
What to know first
MAXQDA keeps its AI layer separate from the main license. AI Assist has a Free tier with limited prompts and single-document coding, and a Premium subscription with more prompts, coding across multiple documents and Local AI. The pricing page shows license types and periods but no amounts, which appear in the shop. A buyer should budget for the base license and the AI subscription as two lines.
MAXQDA at a glance
| Maker | VERBI GmbH, Germany |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Qualitative Data Analysis Software in 2026, rank 5 of 10 |
| Website | maxqda.com |
Who MAXQDA is best for
Researchers under strict data rules
AI Assist processes data on a Frankfurt server with an EU model server, the provider deletes it after processing, and Premium can use a model on your own machine.
Teams that need a documented method
AI Report drafts reports linked to source passages, and coding suggestions come with explanations, so a team can show how each AI-suggested code was judged.
Graduate students testing AI cautiously
The Free AI Assist tier gives a few prompts for occasional use, which allows a trial of AI coding on one document before paying for Premium.
Group leaders with several license seats
The pricing page offers single-user licenses from 1 to 20 and network licenses from 5 to 20 seats, with 6 or 12 month periods.
MAXQDA plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| MAXQDA license | Shown in the shop, not on the pricing page | Single-user license (1 to 20) or network license (5 to 20 seats) for 6 or 12 months, with the standard coding and analysis tools. |
| MAXQDA Analytics Pro | Shown in the shop, not on the pricing page | Offered in the same single-user and network forms and periods as the base license, as the higher edition of the program. |
| AI Assist Free | $0 | Limited prompts for occasional use and coding across single documents only, with all AI features optional and off by default. |
| AI Assist Premium | Subscription, price not shown | More prompts, coding across multiple documents and Local AI, sold for 6 months, 12 months or the remaining license time with a minimum of 40 days. |
Checked November 2026.
What MAXQDA does
- AI Coding with explanations
- AI Coding suggests codes for passages and explains each suggestion, so the researcher can accept or reject it with a reason, and results are labeled as AI generated.
- Code suggestions and grouping
- The tool proposes new codes and subcodes and can sort a flat list into a structured code system. Summaries and groupings can be produced in a chosen language.
- AI Report
- AI Report drafts a report whose statements link back to source passages, which lets a reviewer check each claim against the underlying data before it goes into a paper.
- Chat with your data
- A chat feature answers questions about the project, and the assistant can explain or translate terms and summarize content, though the page lists no limits on languages supported.
- Local AI
- On Premium, MAXQDA connects to a language model hosted on your own computer or server, and you can switch models for different tasks, keeping the text off the cloud.
How MAXQDA handles your data
MAXQDA's AI data protection page says that in the cloud version only the minimum necessary data goes to its AWS server in Frankfurt, which passes it to an AI service provider with a model server in the EU. The provider deletes the data after processing and, per the page, it is never used for AI training. Providers are listed in a subprocessor document, not on the page itself. AI features are optional, off by default and labeled. Local AI on Premium keeps data on your own infrastructure.
Where MAXQDA falls short in practice
- Two purchases, not one. The base license and the AI Assist Premium subscription are sold separately, with the AI term chosen on its own. A project running longer than the AI period needs a renewal.
- Prices hidden behind the shop. The pricing page lists license types and currencies but no amounts, so a budget request needs a shop visit or a quote before it can go to finance.
- Free tier codes one document at a time. Free AI Assist limits prompts and codes single documents only. Comparing a pattern across forty interviews requires Premium. Comparing patterns across a large set of transcripts is therefore a Premium task.
Works with
Alternatives to MAXQDA
MAXQDA: common questions
Where does MAXQDA AI Assist process my data?
The cloud version sends the minimum necessary data to a MAXQDA server on AWS in Frankfurt, which passes it to a model server in the EU. Provider names sit in a linked subprocessor list rather than on the product page.
Can MAXQDA run AI on my own computer?
Yes, on AI Assist Premium. Local AI connects MAXQDA to a language model hosted on your own computer or server, and you can switch models for different tasks. Data then stays off the cloud. The vendor also says you can switch models for different tasks, which helps when one model suits coding and another suits summaries.
Does MAXQDA train AI on my project data?
The AI data protection page says data is never used for AI training and that providers do not retain it after processing. A separate note says the seven day auto-deletion applies to MAXQDA Transcription, not AI Assist. Providers are described as never permanently retaining the data, and AI features are labeled and off by default.
What does the free AI Assist tier include?
The Free tier gives limited prompts for occasional use and codes single documents only. Premium raises the prompt allowance, codes across multiple documents and adds Local AI, and it is available only by subscription. Check the prompt allowance in your quote, because the page says limited prompts apply to Free.
How long are MAXQDA licenses?
The pricing page lists single-user and network licenses with 6 or 12 month periods, for both MAXQDA and MAXQDA Analytics Pro. AI Assist Premium can also run for the remaining license time, with a minimum of 40 days. The pricing page lists a currency selector with US dollars, euros, pounds, yen, Swiss francs and lira, but the amounts sit in the shop.