Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

QualCoder VS NVivo

Compare QualCoder VS NVivo and see what are their differences

QualCoder logo QualCoder

A very complete Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) written in Python. It works with text, images, and multimedia such as audios and videos.

NVivo logo NVivo

Buy NVivo now for flexible solutions to meet your specific research and data analysis needs. 
  • QualCoder Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-27

QualCoder is free, open source software for qualitative data analysis. You can code text, images, audio and video, write journal notes and memos. Categorise codes in a tree-like hierarchical categorisation scheme. Coding for audio and video requires the VLC media player. VLC must be installed for QualCoder to work with audio and video data. Coder comparison reports can be generated for text coding. A graph displaying codes and categories can be generated to visualise the coding hierarchy. Most reports can be exported at html, open document text (ODT) or as plain text files.

  • NVivo Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-29

QualCoder

$ Details
Release Date
2023 December
Startup details
Country
Australia
State
Tasmania
City
Hobart
Founder(s)
Colin Curtain

QualCoder features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    QualCoder is completely free to use, and its source code is openly accessible, allowing users to modify and improve the software according to their needs.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The software is compatible with multiple operating systems including Windows, MacOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wider range of users.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    QualCoder offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, which can help users efficiently manage and code qualitative data.
  • Rich Feature Set
    It includes various features like text, audio, and video coding, along with memo management and codebook support, making it a comprehensive tool for qualitative research.
  • Active Development
    The software is actively maintained and updated, ensuring it adapts to user needs and integrates new features over time.

Possible disadvantages of QualCoder

  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find it challenging to learn and make the most of all functionalities due to the comprehensive nature of the tool.
  • Limited Documentation
    While the software is actively developed, users might find the available documentation and resources insufficient for troubleshooting complex issues.
  • Performance Issues
    Handling large datasets can lead to performance slowdowns, which might impact the overall efficiency of the analysis process.
  • No Commercial Support
    Being a free and open-source project, it lacks the dedicated customer support that commercial tools might offer, which can be a challenge for some users.
  • Compatibility with Other Tools
    Integration with other software might be limited compared to proprietary qualitative analysis tools that offer built-in compatibility with a wider range of platforms.

NVivo features and specs

  • Comprehensive Data Management
    NVivo allows users to manage large volumes of data effectively, including text, audio, video, and social media content, which makes it highly versatile for different types of qualitative research.
  • Advanced Data Analysis Tools
    Offers advanced tools for coding, querying, and visualizing data, helping researchers uncover deep insights and trends that might not be immediately apparent.
  • Integration with Other Software
    NVivo integrates well with other software like MS Office, EndNote, and SPSS, facilitating seamless data import and export, thereby enhancing workflow efficiency.
  • Collaboration Features
    Provides options for team collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on a project simultaneously, which is particularly beneficial for large-scale research projects.
  • Training and Support
    Extensive online resources, tutorials, and support services are available to help users get the most out of the software.

Possible disadvantages of NVivo

  • Cost
    NVivo is a premium software with a high price point, which might be a barrier for individual researchers or smaller institutions with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and capabilities, NVivo can be complex to learn and might require a significant time investment to become proficient.
  • System Requirements
    The software requires a robust computer system with strong processing power and RAM, which could be an issue for users with older or less powerful computers.
  • Limited Mac Compatibility
    While a Mac version exists, some users report that it lacks certain features available in the Windows version, which can be a drawback for macOS users.
  • Occasional Software Bugs
    Some users have reported encountering bugs and glitches, especially during complex operations, which can disrupt the research workflow.

QualCoder videos

QualCoder 3.5 Tutorial

More videos:

NVivo videos

How to use NVivo for your Literature Review Part 1

More videos:

  • Tutorial - NVivo for your literature review- online tutorial
  • Review - Your Dissertation Literature Review Using NVivo

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to QualCoder and NVivo)
Market Research
48 48%
52% 52
Text Analytics
51 51%
49% 49
Research Tools
50 50%
50% 50
Data Visualization
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare QualCoder and NVivo

QualCoder Reviews

  1. Leon van der Neut
    Effective no non-sense software

    I used Qualcoder to code 100 hours of public hearings transcripts and I found it a very pleasant experience. The workflow is intuitive and quick. Even though some transcripts went over 150.000 characters, I was using about 50 codes, and have transcripts with over 100 different coded segments, the program remained stable. Using the | character in the search field allows for the use of multiple keywords at once, which was very effective. The report function allows you to produce overviews of interview segments per code and various kinds of statistical analysis, which can be integrated with R-Studio. Many thanks to Dr. Colin Curtain for the development and software support.

    👍 Pros:    Active community|Completely free and open source|Very stable|Intuitive workflow|Integration with r-studio
    👎 Cons:    .pdf coding requires turning pages in file
  2. The best open source alternative to paid CAQDAS

    QualCoder is one of the best CAQDAS I have used not just because it is free and open source but also because of the functionalities and constant improvements.

    🏁 Competitors: ATLAS.ti, NVivo
    👍 Pros:    Developer is responsive to feedback/requests and makes improvements|Easy to use|Advanced features
  3. Really good alternative to paid CAQDAS

    I really like using QualCoder 3.0 for its ease of use and intuitive interface.

    👍 Pros:    Easy to use|Intuitive|Easy merge of projects
    👎 Cons:    Only two hierarchies allowed for codes

NVivo Reviews

We have no reviews of NVivo yet.
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing QualCoder and NVivo, you can also consider the following products

ATLAS.ti - ATLAS.ti is a powerful workbench for the qualitative analysis of large bodies of textual, graphical, audio and video data. It offers a variety of sophisticated tools for accomplishing the tasks associated with any systematic approach to "soft" data.

MAXQDA - a professional software for qualitative and mixed methods data analysis

Taguette - A spin on the phrase "tag it!

Quirkos - Quirkos is a simple qualitative analysis software tool that helps to sort, manage and understand text data. 

RQDA - RDQA is a R package for Qualitative Data Analysis, a free (free as freedom) qualitative analysis...

CATMA - CATMA is a practical and intuitive tool for literary scholars, students and other parties with an...