| Option | Start here when | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Single user | One person | Installation terms |
| Network | Defined user group | Eligible group and concurrent demand |
| Free-Floating | Wider institutional population | Access quota and IT requirements |
| Campus / Site | Institutional scope | Contractually eligible members |
A purchasing shortlist, not a complete feature or contract comparison. Confirm the current product documentation and written offer.
What the single-user option means
MAXQDA describes a personal license that can be installed on up to two computers belonging to one user, without simultaneous use. Two installations are not two seats for two researchers. When preparing a departmental purchase, count the individuals who need personal access separately from any proposal for shared institutional access.
What to clarify for a network proposal
Network licensing uses a server-managed arrangement. Include peak simultaneous demand, the population that needs access and the IT team responsible for the service. Check the current seat minimums and permitted client scope in the manufacturer’s documentation. Do not assume that an unlimited population can share a small number of seats, or that remote connectivity is included without technical review.
When to review university arrangements
A university-wide enquiry needs more than a departmental headcount. Define which students and staff should have access, where they will work and how affiliation will be established. List external collaborators explicitly. Course access and institution-wide research access are different scopes; a teaching offer should not be treated as an unrestricted research license.
Separate licensing from research collaboration
A license controls access to software. It does not by itself answer how a team exchanges projects, coordinates coding or manages versions of its work. Write down those collaboration requirements as a separate part of the brief and check whether additional products or services are needed. This prevents a correct license count from hiding an unresolved workflow requirement.
A practical selection sequence
First identify personal, shared and teaching use. Next estimate both total users and simultaneous demand. Then review devices, campus connectivity and remote needs with IT. Finally compare written proposals with the same term and covered population. Include the institution and country when requesting Orbislum’s review so the discussion starts from the actual environment.
Plan your purchase
- Research versus teaching use
- Named and concurrent user estimates
- Campus, remote and IT requirements