QualBuddyTranscribe and review
Local transcription, optional speaker labelling, audio playback and an editable transcript.
Explore transcription →Your research. Your feedback.
A first look
at QualBuddy.
Try QualBuddy free for 14 days on Mac or Windows. Explore your way of working, and help us make it better.
Inside the app
Bring a question.
Find your way through it.
Interpretation stays with you. QualBuddy brings the source material and the tools together.
Work with your method
Dedicated IPA and reflexive TA workspaces, with passages, notes, themes and your developing account connected.
IPA →Reflexive TA →Carry the work forward
Use linked quotations and export findings or analysis tables to Word. Start with a built-in fictional example.
Browse guides and samples →Speaker avatars, Focus mode, playback-linked highlights and the Pomodoro-style Focus Harvest timer are part of the experience too. Explore the features that support your attention →
What about other research methods?
Framework analysis and general coding are also available. Grounded theory, narrative analysis and content analysis are labelled early workspaces. If you work with one of them, tell us how it goes.
A small, considered start
What happens next.
- 01
Download
Download QualBuddy from the download page and follow the steps for your computer. No research material is needed.
- 02
Start your 14 days in the app
Open QualBuddy, sign in with your email, and start the trial when you are ready. The 14 days begin then.
- 03
Try a worked example
Begin with fictional material, explore a workflow and tell us where you need more help.
Tell us how it goes
Let’s make room
for your research.
Questions before you start, or thoughts once you have? We read every message.
Email QualBuddy
Opens a draft in your email app for you to review and send. Your message reaches us when you send the email.
No email app set up? Write to hello@qualbuddy.com.
How we handle your request ↗Before you begin
A few useful details.
Can I download it now?
Yes, from the download page. It is just under 500 MB.
Will my Mac run it?
QualBuddy needs a Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later) and macOS 26.4.1 or later, the system it has been tested on. Earlier versions of macOS will follow once they are tested. Intel Macs are not supported. In the Apple menu, choose About This Mac to see your chip and your version of macOS.
Do I need to install transcription models?
Both installers include the transcription and speaker-labelling models. You don’t need a separate Python installation or an account with a model provider for the normal workflow.
Is this a free trial with automatic billing?
No. The trial is free for 14 days and we never ask for a card, so it cannot turn into a subscription. When it ends, you can still open, play, export and back up your work, and you can buy a one-off licence (£79, for two Mac or Windows computers) from inside the app. Trial details · Licence terms · 30-day refunds.
What should I use for testing?
Start with the fictional worked examples or non-sensitive material. Keep independent backups, review transcripts and exports, and check that the app fits your institution’s requirements before using research data. Read the testing guidance.
Can I use QualBuddy on Windows?
Yes. Download QualBuddy for Windows for a 64-bit Intel or AMD PC. It includes local transcription and speaker labelling, with no separate Python installation or virtual machine. Windows on ARM has not been tested.