PAST vs R

PAST is free desktop software for statistical analysis, available on Windows and macOS. It provides spreadsheet-style data entry, univariate and multivariate statistics, and graphical analysis. The software includes statistical tests, regression models, and scripting support. Data import covers Excel, NEXUS, TPS, NTSYS, FASTA, PHYLIP, Arlequin, BioGraph, RASC, CONOP, and tab-separated text, giving users several ways to bring existing datasets into the application. PAST is offered under a Free plan listed at free, with no separate paid plan listed. Its deployment is desktop rather than web-based. The maker is PAST, associated with Oslo, Norway, and the software was founded in 1999. The combination of spreadsheet entry, statistical methods, scripting, and broad import-format support makes it suited to users who need local analysis of data from varied sources.

R is a free software environment for statistical computing, with graphics, statistical tests, regression models, and scripting support. It runs on Windows and macOS, as well as a wide range of UNIX platforms. Its import options cover text, XML, spreadsheet-like files, Excel, SPSS, SAS, and Stata, along with databases, binary files, and image files. Downloads are provided through preferred CRAN mirrors, and the project offers FAQs about installation and licensing. Documentation resources include manuals, journals, books, and certification links; community resources include mailing lists and developer pages. Questions about the software are directed to the Getting Help section. The listed current release is R 4.6.1, named Happy Hop, released June 24, 2026; version 4.5.3 is described as a wrap-up release. R was founded in 1990, and its maker is listed as R, headquartered in Vienna, Austria.