One-time purchase
Buy once. Own it forever.
Try every feature free for 14 days, no account needed. Liminon is then 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. After the trial, existing projects stay open to read, search and export.
Early-bird
One-time · early-bird window
- The full Liminon app, every feature
- Free updates through v1.x
- Perpetual license — works forever
- Offline after a one-time model download, 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 a one-time model download, 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: hello@liminon.ai.
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 offline once the transcription models have been downloaded (one time, on your first transcription).
I tested the beta — do I need to buy now?+
Liminon ended its public beta with version 1.20.0. If you were already using it, the update gives you 30 days to keep using everything for free, and the early-bird price ($129) is open to you.
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 (or keep using the one you have), 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 hello@liminon.ai.
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 it free for 14 days.
The trial is the full app, no feature gates, for 14 days from your first launch. After that your projects stay open to read, search and export; buy when Liminon has earned its place in your workflow, and your work carries straight on.
Download the free trial
macOS 14+ · Apple Silicon · signed & notarized
Get the free trialHave questions before buying? Email us.