Quirkos - Academic and university qualitative research software
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Qualitative analysis for research and teaching

Illustration - academic users of Quirkos

Organise your research, and teach qualitative analysis


For experienced qualitative researchers in universities and higher education, we aim to make the best coding and analysis experience for both those familiar with qualitative software, and researchers more comfortable with pen and highlighters. Whatever your approach and methodology, Quirkos is designed to become a transparent tool that brings you closer to your text-based data.

Learn more about Quirkos
Illustration: spread of different types of documents and data with bubbles

If you prefer doing qualitative analysis with pen and printouts, Quirkos is designed to be a natural experience, with an interface that mimics the action of coding with highlighters, keeping you close to the data with live visual representations of your emerging data. You can even export your data at any time as a colour highlighted Word file, and print it out with all your colour-coding intact. It's quick to learn, and flexible so that you can work as you want.

Yet Quirkos also brings all the advantages of software analysis, including fast keyword search, the ability to manage dozens of sources and find quotes, live collaboration and of course full undo/redo capabilities.

Powerful coding and analysis tools


Even if you are experienced with other qualitative analysis packages, you will find Quirkos is a fresh approach. The quick visual drag-and-drop interface and keyboard shortcuts makes coding quick and painless. There is great flexibility for rearranging and grouping your thematic nodes, and a design that tries to be neutral and can facilitate lots of different analytical approaches from IPA, framework or grounded theory.

Comparison of codes across two queries in Quirkos

Running searches or queries to show a sub-set of the data is quick, with live views that show you connections in the data emerging in real time. Side-by-side comparison views show you graphical and text based differences in groups, and allow for the integration of discrete or quantitative data.

With the Quirkos Cloud subscription, you also have the option to store your data in our secure remote server, so you can access your projects on any computer where you login. You can also do collaborative analysis with other researchers as part of a team, with live updates and the ability to chat as you work. The live project sharing can also be amazing for virtual or online teaching of qualitative analysis in a collaborative environment.

By researchers, for researchers


Quirkos was designed by a team of qualitative researchers from academic backgrounds, with extensive experience in qualitative analysis using a variety of approaches. We aim to advance the field of qualitative research by enabling more people to take part in qualitative analysis, and to challenge the way qualitative data is conventionally disseminated.

Quirkos on mobile and desktop devices

We wanted software we could use on any kind of device - Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices, with the same interface and compatible files. We also wanted software that looked less like a spreadsheet, was easier to learn, and reliably saved our data as we went along. It also needed to be cheap enough that large teams, including participants and co-researchers could get involved, and have the option of a perpetual license that wouldn't run out during the writing up stage!

Finally, we wanted to enable end-to-end participatory research. Should you wish to engage participants in the analysis process, Quirkos is easy enough to use that anyone can take part in qualitative analysis. Either use analysis as a data collection event, or allow participants to code their data themselves, see what themes are important to them, and validate thematic triangulation.

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Academic pricing


Quirkos Cloud logo

Quirkos Cloud

$ / Month paid annually - best deal!


$ / Month paid quarterly

  • Unlimited secure cloud storage, live collaboration, and project sharing
  • Access to Quirkos Web and Quirkos Desktop on all your devices, with no installation required to access Quirkos Web

Offline Licence

$69 / Lifetime 1 computer


$110 / Lifetime 2 computers

  • Lifetime access to Quirkos Desktop on one or two computers, transferable if you change computers
  • Store projects offline on your computer, with no registration or internet access required

Try today!


Ready to give Quirkos a try? Register for a free 14-day trial of Quirkos today,
with no restrictions on features or projects.
with no restrictions on features or projects.

Want to learn more? Read more about our features or see Quirkos in action!