IBM SPSS Statistics vs SAS/STAT

IBM SPSS Statistics is desktop software for statistical analysis, data preparation, predictive modeling, forecasting, and automated analysis. Its methods include statistical testing, regression, mediation analysis, multivariate time-series analysis, bootstrapping, decision trees, neural networks, and complex-sample analysis. The AI Output Assistant, powered by watsonx.ai, analyzes selected results and presents plain-language insights. Python and R plug-ins let users work with those languages inside SPSS Statistics. IBM lists subscription, perpetual, campus, and student licenses. The Base subscription is $99 a month per authorized user and includes Statistics Base, data preparation, and bootstrapping. Three other named subscriptions are each $79 a month, with features for custom tables and advanced statistics, forecasting and decision trees, or complex sampling and testing. A 14-day trial requires no credit card to create an account, and there is no free plan. IBM says the desktop software is not supported on Linux; an authorized-user license also cannot run remotely through multi-session environments.

SAS/STAT is statistical analysis software for specialized and enterprise-wide analytics. Its library includes more than 90 procedures for methods such as regression, survey and survival analysis, multiple imputation and Bayesian modeling. Other documented areas include ANOVA, categorical, cluster, multivariate and nonparametric analysis, as well as propensity scores and causal treatment-effect estimation. Methods are available for small data sets, missing values and large data tasks. SAS describes 14 SAS/STAT procedures as multithreaded and makes 12 SAS High-Performance Statistics procedures available for single-machine use. Predictive modeling options include regression, generalized additive, mixed and nonlinear models, and decision trees. Hundreds of statistical graphs and customizable graphics are included. SAS says the software runs on major computing platforms, accesses nearly any data source and integrates into computing environments. A free trial provides access to SAS Viya in a private trial environment. Pricing is available on request. SAS lists SAS/STAT on the SAS Viya platform and SAS/STAT 15.4 among its most recent releases.