IBM SPSS Statistics vs SAS/STAT

IBM SPSS Statistics9.2Visit SSSAS/STAT8.8Visit

Higher score IBM SPSS Statistics #3 in Statistical Analysis Software 9.2/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 4 features Visit IBM SPSS

vs

SS SAS/STAT #7 in Statistical Analysis Software 8.8/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 4 features Visit SAS

• IBM SPSS Statistics fits best

  Established all-purpose statistical analysis

• SAS/STAT fits best

  Organizations needing deep SAS statistical procedures

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Side by side

Feature	IBM SPSS Statistics 9.2/10 Visit ↗	SSSAS/STAT 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.8
Ranking	#3 in Statistical Analysis Software	#7 in Statistical Analysis Software
Best for	Established all-purpose statistical analysis	Organizations needing deep SAS statistical procedures
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	—	Pricing on request
Free plan	—	Not checked yet
Free trial	14 days	—
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features IBM SPSS Statistics 3/4 · SAS/STAT 3/4
Statistical tests	✓	✓
Regression models	✓	✓
Scripting support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Bayesian analysis	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment	Desktop	Both
Data import formats	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Covers testing, regression, forecasting, predictive modeling, and reporting Supports R and Python through APIs, embedded code, and extensions Includes data preparation, missing-value analysis, and custom reporting	Covers ANOVA, regression, Bayesian, survival and missing-data methods Includes predictive modeling, categorical analysis and customizable charts Supports statistical work across small datasets and large-scale modeling
Cons	No free plan; subscription pricing starts at $99 per authorized user Advanced capabilities are split across optional feature add-ons Desktop deployment is limited to Windows and macOS	Pricing requires a sales conversation instead of a posted rate Broad procedure coverage may exceed the needs of simple analyses Proprietary licensing does not support open-source distribution models
Our verdict	IBM SPSS Statistics is desktop statistical analysis software for organizations, researchers, analysts, and professionals. Its scope spans data preparation, statistical and hypothesis testing, linear, categorical, and nonlinear regression,… Read the review →	SAS/STAT is statistical analysis software for researchers, analysts and organizations that need a broad set of formal procedures. Its scope spans analysis of variance, linear models, regression, Bayesian inference, categorical data,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• IBM SPSS Statistics — where it wins

  • Covers testing, regression, forecasting, predictive modeling, and reporting
  • Supports R and Python through APIs, embedded code, and extensions
  • Includes data preparation, missing-value analysis, and custom reporting

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; subscription pricing starts at $99 per authorized user
  • Advanced capabilities are split across optional feature add-ons
  • Desktop deployment is limited to Windows and macOS

• SAS/STAT — where it wins

  • Covers ANOVA, regression, Bayesian, survival and missing-data methods
  • Includes predictive modeling, categorical analysis and customizable charts
  • Supports statistical work across small datasets and large-scale modeling

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires a sales conversation instead of a posted rate
  • Broad procedure coverage may exceed the needs of simple analyses
  • Proprietary licensing does not support open-source distribution models

• IBM SPSS Statistics9.2/10 · 14-day trial

  A broad desktop statistics suite with testing, modeling, forecasting, reporting, and R/Python integration.

  Visit IBM SPSSFull verdict →
• SSSAS/STAT8.8/10 · Pricing on request

  A broad SAS toolkit for organizations that need advanced statistical procedures.

  Visit SASFull verdict →