OpenQDA is an accessible and easy-to-use alternative to the qualitative data analysis tool MAXQDA, which can often feel complicated, individualized, or expensive. It is being developed by our colleagues at ZeMKI at the University of Bremen. It offers functions similar to MAXQDA, but is free, open-source, web-based, and designed to support researchers through a flexible, collaborative workflow.
Although still in its early alpha phase, OpenQDA already supports core functions of qualitative coding and follows the REFI standard, making it possible to exchange projects with other programs. It enables collaborative workflows by allowing multiple researchers to work on shared projects from different locations, with versioning features that help track changes and maintain transparency. Users can further explore their data through basic visualizations, including distributions, frequencies, and configurable word clouds. In addition, a shared codebook library encourages researchers to exchange codebooks, ideas, and feedback within the growing OpenQDA community. An instructional overview video providing a brief guided tour of these features is available here, and detailed guidelines to using OpenQDA are provided here.
True to the open-source approach, the complete source code has been published on GitHub under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0, where anyone can explore the project and follow its progress. For example, a recent issue with assigning documents to projects was resolved through close collaboration between users and the software developers, who discussed potential solutions together and then implemented the necessary changes. Other topics still under discussion, such as improving accessibility, are being addressed alongside the development roadmap, which outlines upcoming features and planned improvements.
OpenQDA is designed to support GDPR-compliant data handling, with users retaining full control over their data. As researchers adopt and test the platform, their feedback directly informs its ongoing development, particularly through planned and emerging plug-in mechanisms that extend functionality. Together, these principles position OpenQDA as a community-driven platform that supports qualitative data analysis while inviting researchers to co-create the tools shaping its future.