One-time purchase
Buy once. Own it forever.
Qualitative analysis software shouldn't demand a yearly ransom. Liminon is a single purchase that installs on your Mac and keeps working — with all your research staying on your machine, and free updates through v1.x.
Early-bird
One-time · limited beta window
- The full Liminon app, every feature
- Free updates through v1.x
- Perpetual license — works forever
- Offline after install, no account
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Standard
One-time · regular price
- The full Liminon app, every feature
- Free updates through v1.x
- Perpetual license — works forever
- Offline after install, no account
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Student
One-time · with a .edu / academic email
- Same features as Standard
- Free updates through v1.x
- Verification by academic email at checkout
- We spot-check orders — please be honest
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Compare the real cost.
Liminon is deliberately priced against subscription QDA tools that cost more every single year. Numbers below are list prices for a single license in 2026.
| Tool | Billing | Year 1 | Year 3 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVivo (with AI add-on) | Subscription | $545–$845 | $1,635–$2,535 | $2,725–$4,225 |
| MAXQDA (with AI add-on) | Subscription | ~$335 | ~$1,005 | ~$1,675 |
| ATLAS.ti (perpetual, per major version) | Perpetual | $690–$1,190 | $1,380–$2,380* | $1,380–$2,380* |
| Dedoose | Subscription | $180–$300 | $540–$900 | $900–$1,500 |
| Liminon | Perpetual · one-time | $129–$179 | $129–$179 | $129–$179 |
* ATLAS.ti major-version upgrades are paid; price shown assumes one major version across the window.
Why one-time, and why local-first.
We are researchers building the tool we want to use ourselves. Every design choice is a refusal of something the subscription QDA category got wrong.
.qproj bundles on disk. You back them up, copy them, archive them, or hand them to co-authors — no export prison.
Questions we expect.
What happens to updates?+
Your purchase includes every update through v1.x (bug fixes, small features, the model upgrades). The next paid major version, if there is one, will be a paid upgrade with a substantial discount for existing owners — the classic independent-software model, not a rolling ransom.
How many machines can I install it on?+
Personal licenses are single-user: you can install on any Mac you use (laptop + desktop is fine). Lab or multi-seat site licenses — for a research group, department, or company — are handled by email: [email protected].
What's the refund policy?+
30 days, no questions asked. Email us with your order reference and we'll refund it. The software keeps working on your machine until the license is deactivated — there is no "kill switch."
How does student verification work?+
Purchase with a .edu or other academic-issued email address. We spot-check orders manually; if we can't confirm, we'll reach out. If you are a student without a .edu address (some institutions don't issue them), email us and we'll work it out.
Do I need an API key or a cloud account for AI?+
No. Transcription and speaker separation run on-device with WhisperKit and FluidAudio. The AI coding features — code suggestions and theme discovery — run on a local small model via the free Ollama; we guide you through the ~2 GB download in-app. If you don't install Ollama, transcription and manual coding still work 100% offline.
I'm in the beta — do I need to buy now?+
No. Beta testers who were using Liminon before the 1.0 launch receive a complimentary license key for the full release — there's nothing to do, and nothing to pay. Keep using the beta and watch for an email at the address you signed up with. Buying early-bird now is for people who want to back the project at the lowest price it will ever be.
Who takes the payment, and what do I get right away?+
Checkout is handled by Paddle, our reseller of record — they charge the card, add any VAT or sales tax your country requires, and send the receipt or invoice you can expense. Straight after paying you can download the current build (it runs unlocked during beta), and your perpetual license key follows by email; we still issue keys by hand, so allow up to one business day. Need a PO, a quote, or a VAT-registered invoice first? Email [email protected].
Do you collect my data?+
No. There is no telemetry in the app. The license-key validation is offline Ed25519; activation does not phone home. Email for support and orders goes through our support inbox, period.
Still deciding?
Try the beta first.
The free beta is the full app, no feature gates, no time limit. Your projects carry forward to the paid release — kick the tires, run a real interview through it, and buy when it has earned its place in your workflow.
Download the beta
macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon · signed & notarized
Get the free betaHave questions before buying? Email us.