Free qualitative coding software for students
The free options (checked 3 November 2026)
| Option | What is free | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Taguette | Free and open source. Runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, or on a server; there is a hosted trial at app.taguette.org. | Highlight-and-tag coding; fewer analysis tools. |
| QualCoder | Open source (LGPLv3) desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux. | You install and maintain it yourself. |
| QualCanvas Free (us) | Free: $0, no time limit. 2 canvases, 5 transcripts per canvas, 10 codes, 10,000 words per transcript, 4 analysis tools, CSV export. No card needed. New accounts also get Pro features for 14 days after verifying their email. | Limits above. AI auto-code, all 13 analyses and cases are on paid plans. |
| Your university licence | Many universities license NVivo, ATLAS.ti or MAXQDA for students. | Ask your library or supervisor; we have not checked any university. |
Cheap, not free
- QualCanvas Student: $5 a month or $48 a year with a verified academic email. 5 canvases, AI auto-code, all 13 analysis tools.
- Dedoose Student: $12.95 per active month, with a free first month (Dedoose pricing page, checked 3 November 2026).
- Delve: month-to-month with a 14-day free trial; price not shown on its home page.
Which to choose
A small pilot with a handful of interviews can fit inside the QualCanvas Free limits or in Taguette. For a whole thesis, 10 codes and 5 transcripts per canvas on QualCanvas Free is tight, so Taguette, QualCoder or a licence from your university are better free answers, or move to the Student plan. Whatever you use, export regularly, for example to .qdpx, so you can move.
See also NVivo alternatives compared and the thematic analysis chapter.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free qualitative coding software?
Yes. Taguette and QualCoder are free and open source, and QualCanvas has a Free plan at $0 with no time limit (2 canvases, 5 transcripts per canvas, 10 codes). Checked 3 November 2026.
Is the QualCanvas Free plan enough for a thesis?
Usually not for a full thesis, because it allows 10 codes and 5 transcripts per canvas. It is enough to learn the tool and to code a small pilot. The Student plan is $5 a month with a verified academic email.
What happens after the 14-day trial?
The account moves to the Free plan unless you choose a paid plan. Nothing you made is deleted.
Written by JMS Dev Lab, the maker of QualCanvas, so read our own row with that in mind. QualCanvas has no independent reviews yet. Facts about other tools were read from their own pages on 3 November 2026; prices change, so check the linked page before you buy. Last updated 3 November 2026.