Side by side
GNU PSPP vs SPM
Both stand on statistical analysis software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
PSPP covers a broad set of statistical analyses and works with several data and output formats. Its manual’s warning about incomplete procedure support is important for anyone relying on a particular analysis.
Visit GNU PSPP Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose SPM if you need free desktop software for statistical analysis of brain imaging data across its supported modalities and formats. Look elsewhere if the MATLAB-based installation options or the standalone runtime requirement do not suit your setup, or if you need community extensions with guaranteed compatibility.
Visit SPMThe facts
| GNU PSPP | SPM | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | SPM |
| Website | gnu.org | fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk |
| On statistical analysis software | #8 of 106 | #12 of 106 |
GNU PSPP: what it does well
- Includes graphical and command-line interfaces.
- Supports regression, ANOVA, and non-parametric tests.
- Imports spreadsheets, text, and database sources.
- Writes output in text, PDF, HTML, and other formats.
- Available on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What to know first
- Statistical procedure support is incomplete.
- The project says developers cannot promise immediate bug-report responses.
SPM: what it does well
- Free and open-source under the GPL-2.0 license.
- Designed for fMRI, PET, SPECT, EEG and MEG analysis.
- Supports statistical tests, regression models and Bayesian analysis.
- Imports NIfTI, Analyze, OPM, TSV, JSON, FIF and LVM formats.
- Online tutorials, datasets and courses are available.
What to know first
- The recommended installation is within MATLAB.
- Standalone SPM includes MATLAB Runtime, requiring about 2.5 GB.
- Some community extensions may be incompatible, and usability is not guaranteed.