PAST review
A free desktop package for ecological, biological and multivariate analysis.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
PAST is a free desktop application for statistical and quantitative analysis, with particular relevance to paleontology, ecology, life sciences, earth sciences, engineering and economics. Its spreadsheet-style data entry and data management are paired with graphical output, making it suitable for researchers who want a single desktop workspace for common statistical tests and specialized scientific analysis. The feature set spans t tests, ANOVA, chi-squared, Mann-Whitney and Shapiro-Wilk tests, along with regression, curve fitting and multivariate methods such as PCA, clustering, DCA and PCO.
The strongest reason to choose PAST is its breadth within ecological and biological analysis. It includes time-series tools such as spectral analysis and autocorrelation, phylogenetic parsimony with cladogram plotting, geometrical and Fourier shape analysis, and biostratigraphy-related capabilities. Import support covers Excel, NEXUS, TPS, NTSYS, FASTA, PHYLIP, Arlequin, BioGraph, RASC, CONOP and tab-separated text files. Pascal-style scripting also allows custom modules and analysis workflows, which adds flexibility for users whose work fits the software's scientific focus.
PAST is less compelling for teams seeking a general-purpose statistical environment or a broader platform ecosystem. It is deployed as desktop software for Windows and macOS, and its data interchange is tied to the listed file formats. The focused design should appeal to researchers working with ecological, paleontological or biological datasets, especially those who need multivariate, phylogenetic or shape analysis without a paid plan. Users wanting a wider general-statistics package or a non-desktop workflow should consider an alternative.
PAST pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free access to univariate, multivariate and graphical analysis
- Specialized tools for phylogenetics, shape analysis and time series
- Imports Excel plus multiple biological and scientific file formats
- Where it doesn't
- Its specialized focus is less suited to general-purpose statistics
- Desktop deployment is limited to Windows and macOS
- Data exchange depends on its supported file formats
PAST fact sheet, pricing and score →
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