What it does
MAXQDA is Windows and Mac software for qualitative and mixed-methods analysis of interviews, surveys, focus groups and other supplied research material. Its product family includes coding, summaries, visualizations and optional statistical, AI, transcription and team-collaboration capabilities.
Import a focus group with its speakers intact
Give each contribution a new paragraph beginning with the speaker's name and a colon. Keep the spelling and capitalization consistent: MAXQDA treats differently capitalized names as different speakers. In the Import tab, choose Focus Group Transcripts, select the file format and file, then use the speaker-selection dialog to confirm the participants and their names. The imported transcript is automatically coded by speaker. Previously imported text can also be converted.
That structure enables participant-level analysis. Add background variables, retrieve selected speakers' statements about a topic, or use the Code Matrix Browser and focus-group crosstab to compare themes across participants. Speech length and contribution counts are available alongside the coded passages.
Local work and optional cloud services
A MAXQDA account is not needed to activate a license or save local project files. Cloud AI Assist, transcription, TeamCloud and Tailwind use an account; local AI does not. For those cloud services, choose Sign In in MAXQDA, follow Sign up in the browser and verify the email address.
MAXQDA and MAXQDA Analytics Pro have annual and longer fixed-term license options. AI Assist Premium and TeamCloud are separate subscriptions; transcription hours are purchased separately. The fully functional 14-day trial includes 60 transcription minutes and ends automatically. Request the trial with an email address.
Strengths
- Provides speaker-aware coding and comparisons for structured focus-group transcripts.
- Combines qualitative material with participant variables and mixed-methods views.
Watch out for
- Focus-group speaker functions depend on a structured import and consistent speaker names.
- Cloud AI, transcription and TeamCloud require an account in addition to the relevant access or add-on.
Best for
- Market and organizational researchers comparing supplied interviews, focus groups and survey material
Sources
- MAXQDA Pricing (Oct 27, 2026)
- MAXQDA Free Trial (Oct 27, 2026)
- The MAXQDA Account (Oct 27, 2026)
- Importing Focus Group Transcripts (Oct 27, 2026)
- How Does MAXQDA Support Focus Group Data Analysis? (Oct 27, 2026)
- MAXQDA Official Site | All-In-One Tool for Qualitative Data Analysis (Oct 26, 2026)