Koali
Lightweight Qualitative Analysis
A free, private, browser-based tool for thematic coding and qualitative research. No install. No cloud. Your data never leaves your machine.
Lightweight Qualitative Analysis
A free, private, browser-based tool for thematic coding and qualitative research. No install. No cloud. Your data never leaves your machine.
Koali gives you what you need for qualitative analysis without the bloat, cost, or privacy trade-offs.
No backend, no cloud, no accounts. Your research data stays on your computer and is never transmitted anywhere.
Runs entirely in your browser. Open the page and start working — no downloads, no setup, no IT department.
No licence fees, no subscriptions, no paywalls. Qualitative analysis should be accessible to every researcher.
Share project folders via Dropbox, OneDrive, or a network drive. All data is stored in human-readable JSON.
Purpose-built for thematic analysis with a clean, focused interface.
Create unlimited nested codes with colours. Select text, apply codes, and build your codebook as you go.
PDF, DOCX, plain text, and transcripts (VTT, SRT, Zoom JSON). Bring your data in whatever format you have.
Attach notes to documents, segments, codes, or create standalone notes. Full rich-text formatting.
Find coded segments using AND, OR, and NOT operators. Interrogate your data with precision.
Code frequency charts, hierarchy trees, and heatmaps help you see patterns across your dataset.
Calculate agreement between coders to strengthen the rigour of your analysis.
Press 1–9 to quick-apply codes, Ctrl+S to save, and more. Stay in flow without reaching for the mouse.
Your work is saved automatically. Full undo/redo history means you can experiment freely.
No accounts, no onboarding wizards, no tutorials required.
Navigate to Koali in Chrome, Edge, or Opera. Nothing to install — it just works.
Pick a folder on your computer. Koali stores everything there in plain, open JSON files.
Import your documents, build codes, and begin your qualitative analysis right away.
Whether you're running a PhD study or analysing user interviews, Koali fits your workflow.
Sociologists, public health researchers, and anyone conducting thematic analysis for publications.
Analyse interview transcripts and usability sessions without expensive enterprise tools.
Learn qualitative methods with a simple, free tool. No licence headaches during your degree.
Collaborate asynchronously through shared folders with built-in conflict detection and IRR.