Datavyu
Datavyu: A free, scriptable research tool for timestamped qualitative event coding. Ranked #26 of 34 in Video Annotation Software by our editors (6.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for scriptable qualitative event coding.
At a glance
- Editor score6.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forScriptable qualitative event coding
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free and open source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Timestamped event cells with customizable coding columns and codes
- Ruby automation, exports, and inter-rater reliability checks
Where it doesn't
- Spreadsheet-based annotation is less suited to visual markup workflows
- Not centered on drawing or frame-accurate annotation controls
- Ruby automation may require scripting knowledge
Our verdict on Datavyu
Datavyu is a free, open-source desktop application for behavioral researchers who code video and other data sources. Its spreadsheet-based interface links observations to media, letting users define coding columns and codes, create event cells with onset and offset timestamps, and work with multiple data sources. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it suitable for research teams working across those desktop platforms.
Its main strength is the connection between qualitative coding and structured data work. Researchers can play video and other data sources through a media player, record time-linked events, export coded data to text files, spreadsheets, or statistical packages, and check inter-rater reliability. The Ruby API adds scripting for data manipulation and automation, so Datavyu fits projects where a repeatable coding workflow matters more than visual annotation tools. Multiple data-source support also suits studies that need to compare or coordinate more than one input.
Datavyu is a focused choice for behavioral research, custom taxonomies, dataset export, and scriptable analysis rather than a broad visual review environment. Its research-oriented annotation model is built around event cells and coding columns, not drawing controls or frame-accurate visual markup. Researchers who need configurable coding, structured exports, and Ruby-based automation should consider it; users primarily seeking visual annotation with drawing or frame-accurate controls should choose another tool. The open-source model also suits teams that want a desktop application they can use without a paid tier.
Your product? Our editors can test Datavyu in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Datavyu pricing
Datavyu fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Frame-accurate marking | Not verified |
| Drawing annotations | Not verified |
| Custom labels or fields | Yes |
| Review workflow | Not verified |
| Dataset export | Yes |
| Video length limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | datavyu.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Datavyu
- Frame.ioFrame-accurate review, approvals, version comparison, and production-tool integrations.9.3
- KollaborateA mature review hub with strong editing-app integrations and low-cost entry pricing.9.1
- FrameQueryA strong choice for AI-assisted footage search, precise review, and editing exports.9.0
See all Datavyu alternatives →
Used Datavyu? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Datavyu for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Datavyu is listed in our Video Annotation Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/datavyu/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/datavyu.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update