Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

gretl review

Free#17 of 106 in Statistical Analysis Software

A capable free desktop package for econometrics, time-series, panel, and reproducible scripting work.

7.8/10Editor score
Visit gretl
gretl7.8 Visit gretl

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

gretl is a free, open-source desktop package for econometric and statistical analysis on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It combines a graphical interface with the hansl scripting language, making it suited to students, researchers, and analysts working with regression, time-series, panel, and other econometric methods. Core estimation includes least-squares, maximum-likelihood, and GMM, while the package also supports hypothesis testing, graphing, and imports from common spreadsheet, statistical-package, and econometric formats.

Its strongest fit is econometric depth within a free package. Time-series work includes ARIMA, GARCH, VAR, and VECM methods, alongside unit-root and cointegration tests. Limited-dependent-variable models include logit, probit, and tobit, while panel-data tools include instrumental-variables and dynamic-panel estimators. Bayesian estimation is available through the BayTool function package. This breadth makes gretl a practical choice when the analysis requires established econometric methods rather than only basic descriptive statistics or simple regression.

The ecosystem is another important consideration. gretl supports data exchange with GNU R, GNU Octave, Python, Julia, Ox, and Stata, and its hansl language provides matrix operations for scripted, reproducible work. Gnuplot-based graphing is included, and supported import formats include XML, CSV, Excel, Gnumeric, OpenDocument, Stata, SPSS, EViews, JMulTi, RATS 4, and PC-Give. Choose gretl for free cross-platform econometric analysis with both GUI and scripting options. Consider another tool if browser deployment is central to your workflow or if you need a narrower, simpler environment for basic statistical tasks.

gretl pros and cons

  • Where it wins
    • Covers ARIMA, GARCH, VAR, VECM, panel, and limited-dependent models
    • Supports hansl scripting with matrix operations for reproducible analysis
    • Exchanges data with R, Python, Julia, Octave, Ox, and Stata
  • Where it doesn't
    • Desktop deployment may not suit browser-based statistical workflows
    • Bayesian estimation is provided through the BayTool function package
    • Its broad econometric scope may be more than basic spreadsheet analysis needs

gretl fact sheet, pricing and score →

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