IBM SPSS Statistics vs Starburst Galaxy comparison

Why PeerSpot?

IBM and Starburst are both solutions in the Data Science Platforms category. IBM is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.8, while Starburst is ranked #7 with an average rating of 9.3. IBM holds a 3.3% mindshare in Data Science Platforms, compared to Starburst’s 1.5% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Starburst users who would recommend it.

IBM SPSS Statistics

Read 41 IBM SPSS Statistics reviews

7,780 Views
4,746 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

Starburst Galaxy

Read 12 Starburst Galaxy reviews

2,464 Views
1,873 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM SPSS Statistics

Starburst Galaxy

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM SPSS Statistics and Starburst Galaxy based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Data Science Platforms solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM SPSS Statistics vs. Starburst Galaxy Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

IBM SPSS Statistics vs. Starburst Galaxy

September 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 920,769 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM SPSS Statistics

Ranking in Data Science Platforms

10th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Data Mining (2nd), AI Data Analysis (23rd), AI Research (8th)

Starburst Galaxy

Ranking in Data Science Platforms

7th

Average Rating

9.4

Reviews Sentiment

2.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Streaming Analytics (9th)

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Data Science Platforms category, the mindshare of IBM SPSS Statistics is 3.3%, down from 4.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Starburst Galaxy is 1.5%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Data Science Platforms Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Starburst Galaxy	1.5%
IBM SPSS Statistics	3.3%
Other	95.2%

Data Science Platforms

Featured Reviews

EzzAbdelfattah

Associate Professor Of Statistics at a university with 10,001+ employees

Advanced predictive analytics have supported my research and student projects across many methods

The only function I may need to be added or hope to be added to IBM SPSS Statistics is how to treat unstructured data. This mainly exists with IBM SPSS Modeler, but I do not think it is able to treat something like videos and similar content unless you are using languages like Python inside IBM SPSS Modeler or inside IBM SPSS Statistics. For the menu itself, for the selection, it does not exist. Thinking of the future, I believe that the owners of IBM SPSS Statistics should think about improving the package itself to be able to treat unstructured data.

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Pedromachado Ventura

Data Analyst at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees

Unified SQL layer has streamlined access to distributed historical data for analytics and reporting

One area that I think could be improved is the experience when performance issues occur. When a query is slow, it is not always immediately obvious to me whether the bottleneck comes from Starburst Galaxy itself, the underlying data source, the query design, or the reporting tool. Better visibility into query performance and easier diagnostics for non-administrators would be useful. Another potential improvement would be enhancing the experience with BI tools to make it more seamless. I work a lot with Power BI, and when you are working with larger data sets, performance can sometimes depend on several different layers. Having more visibility into what is happening between the BI tool, Starburst Galaxy, and the underlying source would be helpful. I also think onboarding could be a little more accessible for analysts. There is good technical documentation, but sometimes I just need to understand the best way to approach a common use case without diving too deep into the platform architecture. The main improvement would be troubleshooting. I have not used the AI capabilities extensively, so I cannot give a detailed assessment. I am not sure if my organization has the full capabilities of Starburst Galaxy, but I think adding AI on top of the data layer is interesting, especially if it can help users discover data, understand data sets, and interact with them more naturally. For governance and security, one of the strengths of Starburst Galaxy is that you can centralize access to data while still controlling what different users are allowed to see. Role-based access, fine-grained permissions, and data masking are important because giving people easier access to data should not mean giving everyone access to everything. I think that is even more important than any AI capabilities that are introduced. If you do introduce AI, I think it should respect exactly the same data permissions and governance rules as the user that is accessing the data.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The software offers consistency across multiple research projects helping us with predictive analytics capabilities."

"It has the ability to easily change any variable in our research."

"We have seen enormous ROI."

"The features that I have found most valuable are the Bayesian statistics and descriptive statistics."

"The learning curve to using this product is not steep. The program is appropriate for those who do not have a lot of background in programming, yet have to perform basic statistical analysis."

"The most valuable features are the small learning curve and its ability to hold a lot of data."

"IBM SPSS Statistics is a very easy tool to use, and anyone can use it once they have guidance."

"The biggest benefit of the IBM SPSS Statistics tool for my customers and me is that it's very old, meaning they have more experience; when the tool was first released, we had customer service that created surveys with the customers asking which way they wanted to go, what they would see within the tool, and what would be helpful—IBM basically created the tool according to this knowledge."

More IBM SPSS Statistics pros

"Starburst has provided us with virtually guaranteed performance on complex queries across datasets that are in the tens of gigabytes which complete in seconds."

"The most fundamental feature is the query engine, which is much faster than any of the competitors; Starburst is able to finish most queries within 10 seconds, which is especially important for many non-technical employees."

"Starburst Galaxy has significantly improved our data architecture flexibility and performance management by solving cross-database query challenges and enabling us to utilize iceberg tables externally across our entire data ecosystem."

"The main positive impact Starburst Galaxy has made is making data more accessible for analytics and reporting."

"Starburst Galaxy serves as our primary SQL-based data processing engine, a strategic decision driven by its seamless integration with our AWS cloud infrastructure and its ability to deliver high performance with low-latency responses."

"<p>Starburst Galaxy serves the best purpose for me because if my SLAs are not met with my customers, they will raise a case, and I have tried many other tools, but Starburst Galaxy fits the best.</p>"

"I am now able to answer questions in a couple of minutes that would otherwise take hours or days of time for my data engineering teams."

"Starburst on Trino, combined with our SQL-native data transformation tool SQLMesh, has delivered anywhere from a two to five times improvement in compute performance across our transformation DAG."

More Starburst Galaxy pros

Cons

"I think the visualization and charting should be changed and made easier and more effective."

"I feel that when it comes to conducting multiple analyses, there could be more detailed information provided. Currently, the software gives a summary and an overview, but it would be beneficial to have specific details for each product or variable."

"Following the SPSS manual is cumbersome. It's a good, exhaustive manual, but it's not practical to use."

"IBM SPSS Statistics does not keep you close to your data like KNIME."

"The technical support is not very useful. You can find help on the internet but if you really have a problem then it can take a while before you get a solution."

"The areas of SPSS Statics that have room for improvement — where it can be simplified to make it better — have to do with how you connect the SPSS solution with the data."

"It breaks under the weight of a moderate amount of data."

"The statistics should be more self-explanatory with detailed automated reports."

More IBM SPSS Statistics cons

"Cluster startup time is another pain point, typically 3 to 5 minutes, which is not the worst with proper planning but can be annoying for ad-hoc work."

"Cluster startup time can be slow, sometimes taking over a minute."

"I would like Starburst to leverage AI to improve usability. Data lakes are complicated and difficult for users to explore."

"As a hosted option, I wish I had more control over the cluster configuration, specifically regarding some of the more advanced options."

"The most persistent issue is the cluster spin-up time."

"I think there are areas of improvement with respect to AI adaptability, and also in general, the amount of connectors working with other tools are areas where it can be expanded."

"<p>Starburst Galaxy can be improved by discovering unstructured data and building in streaming ingestion because we are currently using Kafka for that purpose.</p>"

"There is still room for improved usability and diagnostics, especially for users who are not platform specialists."

More Starburst Galaxy cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"More affordable training for new staff members."

"If it requires lot of data processing, maybe switching to IBM SPSS Clementine would be better for the buyer."

"The price of this solution is a little bit high, which was a problem for my company."

"Our licence is on a yearly renewal basis. While pricing is not the primary concern in our evaluation, as products are assessed by whether they can meet our user needs and expertise, the cost can be a limiting factor in the number of licences we procure."

"I rate the tool's pricing a five out of ten."

"While the pricing of the product may be higher, the accompanying service and features justify the investment."

"The pricing of the modeler is high and can reduce the utility of the product for those who can not afford to adopt it."

"The price of IBM SPSS Statistics could improve."

More IBM SPSS Statistics pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Manufacturing Company

University

Outsourcing Company

Financial Services Firm

29%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	20

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	4

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM SPSS Statistics?

I think the price of the solution is very reasonable. The cost depends; you have the option for subscription or you can purchase the license. Most of our customers are paying every year for a type ...

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What needs improvement with IBM SPSS Statistics?

One of the frustrations I have with IBM SPSS Statistics is the licensing, which is more of a company issue because we have limited licenses and have to ask someone to get off IBM SPSS Statistics so...

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What is your primary use case for IBM SPSS Statistics?

My main use case for IBM SPSS Statistics involves data cleaning and tabulation. I also use it sometimes for data validation. I use IBM SPSS Statistics to perform correlations, check data, remove re...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Starburst Galaxy?

I recommend experimenting with different cluster sizes to determine what works best for your particular use case.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Starburst Galaxy?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Starburst Galaxy?

I have mainly used Starburst Galaxy as a query and access layer for analytical data, as my current work involves dealing with data stored across different platforms, including Hive and SingleStore....

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 11% of the time

Databricks vs IBM SPSS Statistics

Compared 7% of the time

Alteryx One vs IBM SPSS Statistics

Compared 5% of the time

Altair RapidMiner vs IBM SPSS Statistics

Compared 5% of the time

KNIME Business Hub vs IBM SPSS Statistics

Compared 4% of the time

More IBM SPSS Statistics Competitors

Starburst Enterprise vs Starburst Galaxy

Compared 19% of the time

Databricks vs Starburst Galaxy

Compared 10% of the time

Dremio vs Starburst Galaxy

Compared 6% of the time

Qlik Talend Cloud vs Starburst Galaxy

Compared 6% of the time

IBM SPSS Modeler vs Starburst Galaxy

Compared 4% of the time

More Starburst Galaxy Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IBM SPSS Statistics

October 2026

Download IBM SPSS Statistics product report

Buyer's Guide

Starburst Galaxy

October 2026

Download Starburst Galaxy product report

Also Known As

SPSS Statistics

No data available

Overview

IBM SPSS Statistics is renowned for its intuitive interface and robust statistical capabilities. It efficiently handles large datasets, making it essential for data analysis, quantitative research, and business decision-making.

IBM SPSS Statistics offers extensive functionality supporting both beginners and experts. It is used for data analysis across industries, accommodating advanced statistical modeling such as regression, clustering, ANOVA, and decision trees. Users benefit from its quick model building and ease of use, which are indispensable in data exploration and decision-making. Room for improvement includes charting, visualization, data preparation, AI integration, automation, multivariate analysis, and unstructured data handling. Enhancements in importing/exporting features, cost efficiency, interface improvements, and user-friendly documentation are sought after by users looking for alignment with modern data science practices.

What are IBM SPSS Statistics' most notable features?

Intuitive Interface: Simplifies navigation for both beginners and experts.
Predictive Analytics: Advanced modeling capabilities for future trends.
Robust Statistical Functions: Includes regression, clustering, ANOVA, and decision trees.
Large Dataset Handling: Efficiently manages complex and sizable data.
Customizable Tables: Users can create tailored reports and exports.

What benefits and ROI do users report in reviews?

Ease of Use: Streamlined processes for rapid analysis.
Advanced Functionality: Comprehensive tools for diverse research needs.
Quick Model Building: Speeds up predictive and statistical analysis.
Versatile Application: Suitable for academic, business, and social science research.

IBM SPSS Statistics is implemented broadly, including academic research for in-depth studies, business analytics for informed decision making, and in the social sciences for comprehensive data exploration. Organizations utilize its advanced features like AI integration and automated modeling across sectors to gain actionable insights, streamline data processes, and support research initiatives.

IBM

Starburst Galaxy offers rapid query speeds and robust cluster management, enhancing data engineering efficiency while supporting AWS integrations and cross-database functionality. Users benefit from its advanced data integration and federated querying capabilities.

Starburst Galaxy stands out with a compute-focused architecture that excels in facilitating seamless data integration. Technological innovations like autoscaling clusters and automated metadata management optimize operations in multi-tenant environments. With a keen emphasis on compatibility, the platform provides support for AWS Glue and enables federated querying across S3, Snowflake, and Redshift. This adaptability ensures comprehensive ETL processes and enhances analytics through querying SQL Server, Google Sheets, and blob stores. While noted for its robust capabilities, users seek improvements in cluster startup times, Tableau and AI support, and desire infrastructure-as-code enhancements.

What are Starburst Galaxy's key features?

Rapid Query Speeds: Enhances data processing with quick responses.
Cluster Autoscaling: Optimizes resource allocation for varying workloads.
Federated Querying: Cross-database functionality for seamless integration.
Compute-Focused Architecture: Ensures efficiency and scalability.
Automated Metadata Management: Streamlines data handling processes.
AWS Integration: Broad compatibility with AWS services.

What benefits should users evaluate in reviews?

Data Engineering Efficiency: Reduces operating expenses and improves productivity.
Cost Reduction: Highlights lower storage costs with efficient data handling.
Seamless Integration: Enables robust data integration across various platforms.
Cluster Management: Supports diverse workloads with advanced management tools.

In industries focusing on large-scale data efforts, Starburst Galaxy plays an essential role in connecting data sources like Amazon S3 and RDS, streamlining tasks in data engineering and ad-hoc analysis across complex environments. Teams leverage its cross-database querying to boost AWS analytics, with features tailored for sectors needing agile data solutions, from ETL pipelines to secure data federation.

Starburst

Sample Customers

LDB Group, RightShip, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Capgemini Consulting, TEAC Corporation, Ironside, nViso SA, Razorsight, Si.mobil, University Hospitals of Leicester, CROOZ Inc., GFS Fundraising Solutions, Nedbank Ltd., IDS-TILDA

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

IBM SPSS Statistics vs. Starburst Galaxy

September 2026

Free Report: IBM SPSS Statistics vs. Starburst Galaxy

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM SPSS Statistics vs. Starburst Galaxy and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.

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