Taguette

Taguette is a free, open-source tool for coding text in research documents. It is best for researchers who want to import source material, tag passages and export their work without paying for a license. Its clearest trade-off is that desktop use is single-user, while collaboration requires a hosted service or a self-hosted server.

Overview

Taguette centers on a document-based qualitative research workflow: import materials, highlight passages, assign tags and export the results. That focus makes it a practical choice when the work is organized around coding text, rather than a broader research or analytics suite.

It imports PDF, DOCX, TXT, HTML, EPUB, MOBI, ODT and RTF files. Calibre handles document conversion to HTML, so that dependency is relevant when setting up the software or resolving import problems. The coding tools cover creating and merging tags, and applying one or more tags to selected text.

Key features

Exports cover projects, codebooks, highlights and highlighted documents. Depending on the export, formats include QDC, CSV, XLSX, DOCX, HTML and PDF. This gives researchers options for retaining a project or moving coded material into a spreadsheet or document, though the format choices depend on what is being exported.

Collaboration depends on deployment. The hosted service and self-hosted server support collaborative projects; desktop mode is single-user. That makes the desktop option a fit for an individual researcher, while teams need to accept server setup or use the hosted service.

Taguette uses Calibre for document conversion, and server installations can use databases supported by SQLAlchemy. The maker cautions that database backends that have not been tested may cause problems, so server administrators should be prepared to manage compatibility rather than assume every supported backend will work equally well.

Pricing

Taguette: free. The software is free to use on a computer, install on a server or use on the hosted server; there is no free trial because there is no paid plan to trial. Desktop use is single-user, while hosted and server use support collaboration. For researchers choosing on cost, the main consideration is therefore not a seat or usage fee but whether the deployment fits their privacy and technical needs.

Local data stays on the user's machine, and projects and their contents can be exported. The hosted service says it makes daily encrypted backups and does not share or sell user data. But its FAQ advises against uploading sensitive material such as patient information or student records. The service runs on a rented dedicated server in France, with daily encrypted backups retained for a year in AWS. Researchers handling sensitive records should prefer local or self-hosted use over the hosted service.

Platforms

Taguette supports Linux, macOS and Windows, as well as web and self-hosted use. It provides Windows and macOS installers, Linux pip installation, and Docker or native server installation options. The breadth gives users control over deployment, but server installation brings database choices and compatibility into the picture.

Who it's for

Taguette is aimed at qualitative research, including anthropology, education, nursing, psychology, sociology and marketing. It suits individuals who need a no-cost tool for document coding and exports, and teams willing to run a server or use the hosted service. It is a weaker fit for researchers who need multiple users on a desktop installation or who plan to place sensitive records on the hosted service.

Support is available by email and through GitLab issues. The team does not work on Taguette full-time, so users who need dedicated, full-time support should weigh that constraint before relying on it for a time-critical project.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free and open-source, with desktop, server and hosted options, so researchers can choose a deployment that suits their budget and data-control needs.
• Pros: Imports a broad set of document formats and exports projects, codebooks and coded material in several formats, supporting common document-analysis workflows.
• Cons: Desktop mode is limited to one user, so collaboration requires a server or the hosted service.
• Cons: The hosted service is explicitly not recommended for sensitive records, narrowing its use for researchers working with patient or student data.
• Cons: Untested SQLAlchemy database backends may cause issues, and support comes from a team that does not work on the software full-time.

Alternatives

For another free, open-source qualitative analysis option on Linux, macOS or Windows, consider QualCoder; its optional AI features may require a separate provider account or paid usage.

If you want a free, open-source text-analysis environment with a hosted web app and downloadable local server, Voyant Tools is another option. Choose MAXQDA instead if you want a paid product with a free trial; its free AI Assist add-on offers limited-capacity single prompts for occasional use.

Dovetail offers a free tier with one channel, one project, basic chat and AI summaries. Quirkos is a paid option with a free trial; its Student cloud plan is $5 a month, billed annually, and includes unlimited cloud storage, live collaboration and project sharing.

Leximancer is a paid alternative with a free trial; its Academic LexiPortal monthly subscription is A$199 a month for non-commercial use and includes 2 GB of project and document storage. spaCy is a free option for Linux, macOS, Windows and self-hosted use. WordStat is a paid alternative with a free trial.

Browse more options in Text Analytics Software.

Verdict

Taguette is a strong choice for qualitative researchers who want free document coding, practical export options and control over where projects run. Its main appeal is a focused workflow without a license fee; look elsewhere if desktop collaboration, sensitive-data hosting or full-time support is essential.