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Paid plans start at $23.17/mo.
MAXQDA’s listed starting price is $278 per seat per year for Academia – MAXQDA, equivalent to $23.17 per user per month when annual cost is spread across 12 months. Monthly billing is not offered. The license details cover 1–20 single-user licenses, installation on up to two computers per user, and network licenses for 5–20 seats. More than 20 network seats require a custom quote. The published pricing information lists no free plan and does not publish a free-trial offer.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academia – MAXQDA | $23.17 | — | Academic researchers and students |
Add-ons and overages
- 3-year license: $581 per seat
- 5-year license: $847 per seat
- More than 20 network seats: custom quote
What a team pays per month
| Plan | 1 seat | 5 seats | 10 seats | 25 seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academia – MAXQDA | $23.17 | $115.85 | $231.70 | $579.25 |
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Annual billing only
The $23.17 monthly figure is an annual-price equivalent: the listed charge is $278 per seat per year, and monthly billing is not offered.
Longer license terms
The listed options are $581 per seat for three years or $847 per seat for five years. The published details do not explain renewal terms.
Large network quotes
Network licenses cover 5–20 seats. More than 20 network seats require a custom quote, so the listed per-seat price may not apply.
Computer installation limit
Each user can install the software on up to two computers. The published pricing details do not state whether extra installations are available or what they cost.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Individual academic researchers | Academia – MAXQDA | The listed license range starts at one license, and the price is $278 per seat per year. |
| Small research teams | Academia – MAXQDA | The listing includes 1–20 single-user licenses and network licenses for 5–20 seats. |
| Networks above 20 seats | Academia – MAXQDA | More than 20 network seats require a custom quote; the published details do not publish that price. |
04Is MAXQDA worth the money?
MAXQDA’s value is clearest for researchers who need its specific mix of interview, literature, questionnaire, mixed-methods, content-analysis, and AI tools. The trade-off is a $278 annual seat cost with no monthly billing, which may be a hurdle for a solo researcher who only needs occasional analysis. The listing gives a firm price for smaller licenses, but teams above 20 network seats cannot budget from the public figure alone. We can’t rank it against alternatives on price from the published information.
MAXQDA pricing FAQ
Is MAXQDA software free?
No free plan is listed in the published pricing information. It lists Academia – MAXQDA at $278 per seat per year, with monthly billing unavailable. A free-trial offer is not published on the vendor's site, so check with MAXQDA if trial access is important before buying.
What is better, NVivo or MAXQDA?
The published information is not enough to say which is better: it covers MAXQDA’s price and capabilities, but gives no NVivo pricing or feature comparison. MAXQDA’s listed tools include interview, literature, questionnaire, mixed-methods, and content analysis, plus AI tools.
Can I use MAXQDA for thematic analysis?
The published feature details list qualitative content analysis and tools to transcribe and code interviews, which are relevant to qualitative research. They do not specifically name thematic analysis as a feature, so confirm that your intended workflow is supported before purchasing.
Is MAXQDA hard?
The published pricing and product details do not publish a learning curve, training requirement, or ease-of-use rating. MAXQDA includes several kinds of analysis and research tools, but that alone does not establish how difficult it will be for your team to learn.