IBM SPSS Statistics vs SAS Visual Analytics
IBM SPSS Statistics
ibm.comSAS Visual Analytics
sas.comSide by side
| Figure | IBM SPSS Statistics | SAS Visual Analytics |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $79/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 18 | 1 |
| Spec score · Statistical Analysis Software | 9.3 (#1) | 8.4 (#20) |
| Data preparation | The Data Preparation module helps identify and handle data issues before analysis. | The features list describes importing data, data quality operations, calculated columns, transformations, joins, filters and scheduled jobs. |
| Deployment | desktop | hybrid |
| Founded | 1911 | 1976 |
| Headquarters | Armonk, New York, United States | Cary, North Carolina, United States |
| Purpose | IBM describes SPSS Statistics as a statistical analysis platform for extracting insights from data using statistical testing, predictive modeling, regression, forecasting, data preparation and automated analysis. | SAS Visual Analytics is data visualization and business intelligence software for exploring data, creating interactive reports and dashboards, and uncovering insights. |
| Security | IBM says security is a shared effort between IBM and clients and recommends deployment following the organization’s security best practices. | The features list describes authentication, content authorization, object-level and table- and row-level data security, and LDAP directory integration. |
Plans
IBM SPSS Statistics
- Base subscription$99 a month
- Custom Tables and Advanced Statistics$79 a month
- Forecasting and Decision Trees$79 a month
- Complex Sampling and Testing$79 a month
- Base EditionPrice not published
- Base EditionPriced on request
- Standard EditionPriced on request
- Standard EditionPrice not published
- Professional EditionPriced on request
- Professional EditionPrice not published
SAS Visual Analytics
- SAS Visual Analytics on SAS ViyaPriced on request
In their own words
IBM SPSS Statistics
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 Visual Analytics
SAS Visual Analytics combines data visualization, business intelligence, reporting, and advanced analytics in one application. Users can explore data, build interactive reports and dashboards, summarize performance metrics, and share results through web and mobile devices. Machine learning and natural-language explanations help surface relationships, outliers, and clusters. Business analysts can use predictive analytics to assess potential outcomes without programming. Data preparation includes importing data, quality operations, calculated columns, transformations, joins, filters, and scheduled jobs. Sources include databases, Hadoop, Excel spreadsheets, social media, CSV files, and SAS data sets. SAS Viya Copilot for Augmented Analytics supports dashboard building, data exploration, and data stories through natural-language prompts. Location information can add geographic context, and SAS for Microsoft 365 supports report interaction and embedding report content in Excel. Security features include authentication, content authorization, and object-, table-, and row-level data security. Deployment is hybrid; web, Windows, iOS, and Android are listed. Pricing is available on request, and a free SAS Viya trial is offered, with no duration stated.