Quirkos

Quirkos is software for qualitative researchers who need to code and compare text. It uses coloured bubbles to represent codes and themes, and users drag text onto them. The interface is meant to be quick to learn.

What Quirkos offers

• Visual coding — bubbles grow as text is assigned to them, showing patterns as they emerge.
• Import — Word files, PDFs and survey spreadsheets can be brought in, along with projects from NVivo, MAXQDA and Atlas.ti.
• Source filtering — researchers describe and filter sources to compare results.
• Printed-style export — coded transcripts can be saved as Word files that resemble highlighted printouts.
• Cloud collaboration — teams code together with live chat, with automated transcription for recordings.
• Offline option — projects can stay on a local computer instead.

Who it works with

It is used for interview transcripts, surveys, focus groups and articles, and suits researchers moving from paper highlighters. Academic users are prominent.

Key facts

• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux and web browsers
• Approach: compatible with grounded theory, thematic analysis and IPA
• Data policy: states it does not share data or train AI on it