GraphPad Prism vs Sigma Computing

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Our analysts compared GraphPad Prism vs Sigma Computing based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Business Intelligence Tools, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Sigma Computing Software Tool

Product Basics

Graphpad Prism is a statistics, data analysis and graphing package that simplifies powerful statistics to help users analyze smarter, not harder. Though specialized for scientific research, it doesn’t require its users to have programming knowledge in order to tell stories with their data and create a wide variety of data visualizations with ease.

It can be installed on Windows or Mac devices and is available through a group or personal subscription, which comes with free updates during the subscription term and is billed on an annual basis, or through a perpetual license, which does not include upgrades and guaranteed support for future operating system updates. For short-term projects, individual users can get a monthly subscription. Students can receive a subscription at a discounted rate.
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Sigma Computing is an analytics solution that directly connects to cloud warehouses and delivers real-time insights that drive data-informed decision making. With a spreadsheet-like interface, it provides a familiar experience for business users and analysts to utilize formulas to analyze and visualize their data. Through a self-service model, users can explore their data and ask and answer questions for themselves. It streamlines complex data analysis processes and promotes teamwork throughout a business with a balance of collaboration and control.

It is entirely cloud-based and enables data access without the risk of extracting, moving and storing data. Suitable for companies of all sizes, this SaaS runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.

Pros
  • User-friendly interface
  • Affordable pricing
  • Scalable for business growth
  • Cloud-based accessibility
  • Responsive customer support
Cons
  • Limited data analysis features
  • Less powerful than competitors
  • Occasional performance issues
  • Restricted data storage capacity
  • Lower customization options
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$142 Annually
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$300 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Perform the Right Analysis: With clear language and a checklist for each process, Prism helps users select the most suitable statistical analysis from its library while bypassing technical jargon.
  • Helps You Learn As You Go: At almost every step, users can access pages from Prism’s online help. Tutorial data sets help users understand how and why they should perform analyses, how to make graphs and how to interpret the results of their analyses.
  • Focus on Research: Because users can utilize the software and automate processes without coding, it allows them to spend more time researching and less time programming. The software also takes care of updating graphs and results, freeing up even more time for researchers.
  • Publish with Ease: The solution allows users to customize and save default settings to meet their publishing requirements so that they can export publication-quality graphics with one click.
  • Enhance Collaboration: All parts of a Prism project, including the raw data, analyses, results, graphs and layouts, are contained in a single file that users can share with others, who can then follow their work step-by-step and add value to their findings.
  • Educational Resources and Support: Graphpad provides extensive online help guides for doing statistical analyses with Prism, as well as video tutorials and sample data sets that users can practice analyzing with the platform. The vendor also provides online training center options and technical support for the product, offering users the assistance and tools they need to succeed.
  • Free Trial: Interested parties can try the platform with a free 30-day trial with no credit card or commitment necessary.
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  • Fast Integration: Without coding experience, users can securely and directly connect to data warehouses and get started without wasting valuable time on importing their data. Analysts can lay the foundation for the entire organization to succeed with data in hours, rather than days.
  • Ease of Use: Users work with a familiar spreadsheet-like interface and formulas to generate insights, no code required. The system automatically translates all the front-end actions input by users into SQL on the back-end.
  • Real-Time Access: Users can leverage the power of the cloud to query data directly where it lives, allowing for live analysis of massive datasets and insights in real time. 
  • Keep Data Safe: Sigma never moves, stores, copies or caches users’ data, instead running queries against the data warehouses and passing the results back to the system, ensuring that data remains secure with robust data governance and platform security that exceeds industry standards. It complies with data privacy guidelines SOC 2 Type II, CSA, GDPR and CCPA.
  • Improve Collaboration: The system eliminates BI bottlenecks and inaccurate analyses by establishing a single, reusable and accessible source of truth for all users to query. Sigma transforms the data modeling process into a collaborative one; users can edit tables and create visualizations together, enabling better communication and decision making by forging a bridge between data teams and business users.
  • Self-Service BI: Users have the freedom to explore ad hoc analysis without waiting for IT teams to update models.
  • SQL Authoring: Users with SQL technical knowledge can create and edit reusable analyses to activate with one-click parsing.
  • Free Trial or Demo: Interested customers can try out the full platform for free for 14 days, or request a demo of the solution to try with their own data warehouse.
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  • Statistical Analysis: Prism offers a comprehensive library of statistical analyses, including nonlinear regression, t-tests, nonparametric comparisons, ANOVA, analysis of contingency tables, survival analysis and more. Users can confirm that they have chosen the appropriate test for their needs with a checklist that helps them understand the required statistical assumptions.
  • One-Click Regression Analysis: Prism allows users to select an equation and it will take care of the rest, including fitting the curve, displaying a table of results and function parameters, drawing the curve and interpolating unknown values.
  • Data Tables: Unlike spreadsheets or many other graphing programs, Prism has eight types of data tables that are specifically formatted for certain analyses, making it easier for users to enter data correctly and perform accurate analyses.
  • Real-Time Updates: When any changes are made to the data and analyses, those changes are reflected in the results, graphs and layouts instantaneously with updates in real time.
  • Customizable Data Visualization: Users can create a wide variety of visual representations of their data, including violin plots, box-whisker, bar graphs, subcolumn graphs, smoothing splines, scatter plots and more. They can also enhance these graphics with customization options that help them tell their data’s story in whatever way they desire; they can choose the type of graph, how the data is arranged, the style of the data points, labels, colors, fonts, look and more.
  • Prism Magic: Users can select one or more Prism graphs and apply a consistent look to the set with one-click simplicity, saving valuable time spent otherwise on standardizing the look of multiple graphics. 
  • Export Graphics: Users can export their graphs in high-quality and customize the file type, resolution, transparency, dimensions, color, space, etc. of their visualizations to meet the requirements of publication. To save time in the future, users can set their default export preferences.
  • Work Automation: Users can reduce the number of tedious steps needed to analyze data by setting up reproducible workflows that can create templates, duplicate families or clone graphs.
  • Tools for Teamwork: Prism allows for enhanced collaboration with other scientists, with all the information in a Prism project, including raw data, analyses, results, graphs and layouts, contained in a single, shareable file. Others can follow along with your work at every step, adding their insight and streamlining your collective research efforts.
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  • Data Warehouse Connectivity:  Sigma connects directly with many popular data warehouses, including Snowflake, Google Big Query, Amazon Redshift and PostgreSQL, or users may pull their data from other partners like Matillion, Fivetran, Alooma and Stitch to create their central source of truth by indexing all the tables in those sources. 
  • Dataset Preparation: Sigma creates reusable datasets from individual or joined tables using one or more data sources. These Datasets can be edited either with a no-code worksheet-based interface, or with Sigma’s SQL Runner. 
  • Links: Users can add context to their Datasets by setting up the relationships between datasets in a guided, contextualized way. Non-technical users can preview and create pre-model joins without needing knowledge of the join creation process. The system also pulls pre-existing relationships in databases upon connection with a data warehouse.
  • Data Visualization: Users can create assorted kinds of charts and graphs from their worksheets, including bar charts, line graphs, pie graphs, tables and more. These visualizations can be formatted in various ways. 
  • Object Badges: Users can flag datasets and worksheets as Endorsed, Warning or Deprecated, guiding others to the most accurate and relevant data with a glance.
  • Shareable Workspaces: The platform has both individual and team workspaces, allowing for collaboration on data analysis. These workspaces can be shared externally, providing access to insights to partners or third parties who may benefit from them. The system also has an organization-wide workspace that everyone can search and explore through filters, descriptions and file names.
  • Role-Based Permissions: The system has tiered permission levels from highest to lowest for admins, authors and viewers, to allow different permissions and access settings on a role-by-role basis. Permissions may be granted on an individual or team level, allowing for organizations to add and remove users from access levels based on function, department or other categorization.
  • Data Security: In addition to role-based access control, the platform provides single-sign-on (SSO) and row-level security to ensure safe data analysis. The application has a secure infrastructure, with firewalls, credential and vulnerability checking, peer review, static code analysis, threat and anomaly detection and encryption in transit.
  • JSON Support: The visual interface enables business users to create views with JSON that unlock the value of semi-structured data. These strings of JSON can be stored, referenced and reused for analyses and visualizations across the ecosystem. 
  • Third Party Integrations: The system integrates with Slack and Google Sheets for enhanced collaboration.
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Product Ranking

#70

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#184

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 202 reviews
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93%
of users recommend this product

GraphPad Prism has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 202 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

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4.6 (51)
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4.7 (143)
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4.1 (8)
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Awards

GraphPad Prism stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Easy Data Entry: Users appreciate the intuitive interface that makes it simple to input and organize data, even for complex experiments. For example, users can easily import data from spreadsheets or directly enter data into the program.
Powerful Analysis: Prism offers a wide range of statistical tests and graphing options, allowing users to analyze data in depth and visualize results effectively. For example, users can perform t-tests, ANOVA, regression analysis, and more.
Customization: Users can customize graphs and reports to meet their specific needs, ensuring that data is presented clearly and effectively. For example, users can adjust colors, fonts, and labels to create visually appealing and informative graphs.
Collaboration: Prism allows users to share data and results with colleagues, facilitating collaboration and communication. For example, users can export data and graphs in various formats, including PDF, Excel, and PowerPoint.
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User-friendly interface: Sigma's intuitive design and drag-and-drop functionality make it easy for users with limited technical expertise to get started and create insightful reports.
Affordable pricing: Sigma offers a competitive pricing model with a free tier for individual users and small teams, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes.
Scalable for business growth: Sigma's cloud-based architecture scales seamlessly to accommodate growing data volumes and user bases, ensuring your BI solution can grow with your business.
Cloud-based accessibility: Access your data and insights from anywhere, anytime with Sigma's cloud-based platform, eliminating the need for on-premise infrastructure.
Responsive customer support: Sigma provides responsive and helpful customer support via email, phone, and live chat, ensuring you get the assistance you need when you need it.
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Steep Learning Curve: New users often find the interface and features overwhelming, requiring significant time investment to master. This can be a major hurdle for teams with tight deadlines or limited training resources.
Limited Data Handling: Prism struggles with large datasets, making it less suitable for complex analyses involving extensive data manipulation or integration with other tools. This can be a problem for businesses with large-scale data collection and analysis needs.
Lack of Collaboration Features: Prism lacks robust collaboration features, making it difficult for teams to work together on projects. This can be a significant drawback for businesses that rely on collaborative data analysis and reporting.
Costly Licensing: Prism's licensing model can be expensive, especially for larger teams or organizations. This can be a barrier for businesses with limited budgets or those looking for more cost-effective solutions.
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Limited data analysis features: Compared to more robust BI solutions, Sigma offers a less extensive range of advanced data analysis capabilities.
Occasional performance issues: Some users have reported encountering occasional performance issues, such as slow loading times and data refreshes.
Restricted data storage capacity: Sigma's free and lower-tier plans offer limited data storage, requiring upgrades for larger datasets.
Lower customization options: While Sigma offers some customization options, its capabilities are not as extensive as other BI platforms.
Less powerful than competitors: Although Sigma excels in user-friendliness, it may lack the power and flexibility required for complex data analysis needs.
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Is GraphPad Prism the real deal or just a statistical mirage? GraphPad Prism is a popular software choice for scientists who need to analyze and visualize their data. Users praise its ease of use, especially for those without a strong statistics background. They appreciate the intuitive interface and the clear explanations provided for each statistical test. The software's ability to generate publication-quality graphs is a major selling point, with users highlighting the wide range of customization options available. For example, one user mentioned using Prism to generate figures for publication in peer-reviewed journals, highlighting its ability to create professional-looking visuals. However, some users have expressed concerns about the software's performance, particularly on older or less powerful computers. One user noted that Prism can be resource-intensive, even on a computer with 8GB of RAM. This can be a significant drawback for researchers who need to analyze large datasets or work on machines with limited resources. Additionally, some users have suggested that the tutorials could be improved, particularly for specific analyses like IC50 calculations. They believe that more real-life examples and detailed explanations would be beneficial. Overall, GraphPad Prism is a powerful tool for scientists who need to analyze and visualize their data. Its ease of use, comprehensive statistical analysis capabilities, and ability to create publication-quality graphs make it a strong choice for researchers. However, its performance on older computers and the potential for improvement in its tutorials are areas that could be addressed in future updates. GraphPad Prism is most suited for scientists who are looking for a user-friendly software that can handle a wide range of statistical analyses and produce high-quality graphs for publications.

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While Sigma Computing receives praise for its user-friendly interface and affordability, some users feel it lacks compared to similar BI tools like Tableau and Power BI. One user noted, "Sigma is great for beginners, but I quickly outgrew its capabilities. It just doesn't offer the depth of analysis I need." Another echoed this sentiment, stating, "The lack of advanced features was a dealbreaker for me. While Sigma is easy to use, it's not powerful enough for complex data analysis." However, others find Sigma's strengths outweigh its weaknesses. One user commented, "For the price, Sigma is a fantastic tool. It's simple to use and allows me to create insightful reports quickly and easily. I don't need all the bells and whistles offered by other platforms." Another user praised its scalability, saying, "Sigma has grown with my business. As my data volume increased, Sigma seamlessly scaled to accommodate my needs." One differentiating factor is Sigma's focus on real-time data and collaboration. One user highlighted this, saying, "Sigma's ability to work with real-time data is a game-changer. It allows me to make decisions based on the latest information, not outdated data." Another user noted the benefits of collaboration, stating, "Sigma's collaborative features make it easy to work with my team on data analysis. We can share insights and brainstorm ideas in real-time." Ultimately, the suitability of Sigma Computing depends on individual needs and priorities. If you're a small business or individual user who needs a basic, affordable BI tool, Sigma is a great option. However, if you require advanced data analysis capabilities or extensive customization options, you may be better served by a more powerful BI platform.

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