R

RATS

Paid#24 of 106 in Statistical Analysis Software

RATS: A focused desktop suite for econometric modeling, forecasting, simulation, and time-series research. Ranked #24 of 106 in Statistical Analysis Software by our editors (7.1/10); pricing: 21-day trial; best for econometric time-series modeling.

7.1/10★★★★☆Editor score

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At a glance

• Editor score
  7.1 / 10
• Pricing
  21-day trial
• Best for
  Econometric time-series modeling
• Free plan
  No
• Paid from
  $300 one-time
• Deployment
  Desktop
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Deep support for VAR, ARCH/GARCH, ARIMA, and state-space models
  • Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Imports and exports Excel, Stata, EViews, Matlab, and Haver data

• Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; licensing is paid with one-time pricing
  • Desktop-focused rather than a broad general statistics environment
  • No AI features

Our verdict on RATS

RATS, or Regression Analysis of Time Series, is desktop econometrics and statistical analysis software from Estima. It is designed for applied econometrics researchers, universities, central banks, corporations, and teaching environments that need dedicated time-series workflows. The software combines point-and-click wizards for data, statistics, and time-series tasks with command-driven programming through loops, procedures, and user-defined functions. Its coverage includes regression, hypothesis testing, unit-root and stability tests, ARIMA, ARMAX, error-correction, state-space, VAR, structural VAR, ARCH/GARCH, forecasting, simulation, DSGE, and panel-data workflows.

Pricing is based on one-time licenses rather than a subscription. The listed options range from the $300 Standard Linux executable-only Zone B academic plan to the $650 WinRATS Professional and MacRATS Professional plans. Standard Linux executable-only pricing is $500, Standard UNIX/Linux with source code is $600, and Professional UNIX/Linux Zone B academic pricing is $450. WinRATS and MacRATS are each $500. The Linux source-code option is distinct from executable-only licensing, while professional tiers add professional features. A 21-day trial is available, but there is no free plan. Buyers should compare platform and academic eligibility before selecting a license.

RATS fits teams that value specialized econometric depth over a general-purpose statistical suite. Its time-series toolkit supports impulse responses, variance decomposition, forecasting performance statistics, and univariate and multivariate ARCH/GARCH models. Data connectivity includes Excel, Stata, EViews, Matlab, Haver, SQL/ODBC, FRED, CRSP, and FAME, with report export to text, spreadsheets, and TeX. Choose RATS for research or teaching centered on econometric time series, especially when scripting and simulation matter. Consider another product if you need a free tier, AI features, or a broader statistical environment beyond its econometric focus.

Your product? Our editors can test RATS in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

RATS pricing

All 12 RATS plans and prices →

RATS fact sheet

RATS integrations

RATS lists 9 integrations on its own site.

• Excel
• Stata
• EViews
• Matlab
• Haver
• SQL/ODBC
• FRED
• CRSP
• FAME

Alternatives to RATS

• RA free, programmable environment for statistical analysis, modeling, visualization, and data import.9.4
• SStataA broad, scriptable desktop environment for professional and reproducible applied analysis.9.3
• IBM SPSS StatisticsA broad desktop statistics suite with testing, modeling, forecasting, reporting, and R/Python integration.9.2

See all RATS alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update