SOFA Statistics is a free, open-source desktop application for statistical analysis and reporting. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, and combines charts, report tables, descriptive measures, and statistical tests such as t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square, and correlations. You can bring in data from Excel, ODS, CSV, tab-separated files, or Google Docs spreadsheets, and export data to Excel. For database analysis, SOFA connects directly to MySQL, Microsoft Access, SQLite, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server. Reporting workflows can use exported Python scripts to automate routine reports; tabular results are provided as HTML for sharing on websites or intranets. The classic application is in stable maintenance, with releases mainly addressing bugs. The maker is also refreshing the project: its sofastats_lib Python library is ready to use, while a new web GUI is still under construction. SOFA concentrates on commonly used analyses, and its FAQ recommends R when a project needs analyses SOFA does not provide. It is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 or later, with no stated record or variable limits.
Who it is for
SOFA Statistics may suit researchers, students, data analysts, and others who want to explore data with common statistical tests and reporting tools. It is a fit for people who want a free desktop package with spreadsheet and database data sources across Linux, macOS, or Windows.
What is good
- Free, open-source software under AGPL-3.0 or later.
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Includes charts, report tables, descriptive measures, and statistical tests.
- Connects directly to five named database systems.
- Exports Python scripts and shareable HTML tables.
What to know first
- The classic application is in stable maintenance, with releases mainly for bug fixes.
- It focuses on commonly used analyses; the FAQ recommends R for other needs.
- The new web GUI remains under construction.
Verdict
Choose SOFA Statistics if you want a free desktop tool for common statistical analyses, with multiple spreadsheet and database inputs and reporting outputs. Look elsewhere if your work needs analyses beyond its stated focus, or if you need the new web GUI now.
Get started with SOFA Statistics
- Visit https://www.sofastatistics.com/.
- Choose the desktop version for Linux, macOS, or Windows.
- Import data from Excel, ODS, CSV, tab-separated files, or Google Docs spreadsheets, or connect to a supported database.
- Use charts, report tables, descriptive measures, or statistical tests to analyze the data.
- Export data to Excel, Python scripts for routine reporting, or tabular output as HTML.
What the free plan stops at
The free plan has no stated record or variable limits. SOFA focuses on commonly used analyses, and its FAQ recommends R for needs beyond that scope.
Questions about SOFA Statistics
How much does SOFA Statistics cost?
The plan is free and open source, priced at no cost.
Which operating systems does it support?
SOFA Statistics runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows as a desktop application.
What data can it import?
It imports Excel, ODS, CSV, tab-separated data, and Google Docs spreadsheets. It can also connect to MySQL, Microsoft Access, SQLite, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server.
What analyses and reports does it provide?
It offers charts, report tables, descriptive measures, and tests including t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square, and correlations. Reporting options include Python script export and HTML tabular output.
Is SOFA Statistics open source?
Yes. It is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3 or later.
Who makes SOFA Statistics?
The FAQ identifies Paton-Simpson & Associates Ltd, based in Auckland, New Zealand.
SOFA Statistics plans and pricing
All plansCompared on statistical analysis software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment
- desktop
- Statistical tests
- Yes
- Data import formats
- Excel, ODS, CSV, Google Docs spreadsheets
