Open SPSS .sav Files in Your Browser — No SPSS License Needed

IBM SPSS Statistics starts at over $1,000/year. If someone sent you an .sav file and you just need to see what’s in it, that’s an expensive peek. PondPilot opens SPSS .sav files directly in the browser — for free, with no software to install.

How It Works

PondPilot uses duckdb-read-stat to parse SPSS files natively in WebAssembly. Variable names, labels, value labels, and missing value definitions are all preserved. Your file never leaves your machine.

  1. Open app.pondpilot.io
  2. Drop in your .sav file
  3. Browse variables, preview rows, or query with SQL

SQL Instead of SPSS Syntax

If you know SQL, you already know how to analyze SPSS data in PondPilot:

SELECT gender, satisfaction_score, COUNT(*) as respondents
FROM survey
GROUP BY gender, satisfaction_score
ORDER BY gender, satisfaction_score

No need to learn SPSS syntax. No point-and-click menus. Just write the query you need.

Export and Convert

Once your .sav file is loaded, export it to CSV, Parquet, JSON, or Excel. This is the fastest way to get SPSS data into a format that modern tools can work with — no Python scripts, no R packages, no hassle.

Built for Sensitive Data

Survey data is almost always sensitive. PondPilot runs entirely client-side — there’s no server processing, no cloud storage, no account required. Your IRB compliance stays intact because the data literally never leaves the browser.

Common Use Cases

  • Reviewing shared datasets from collaborators who use SPSS
  • Converting legacy SPSS files to modern formats like Parquet
  • Quick exploration before deciding whether to invest in a full SPSS license
  • Teaching and coursework — students can work with real .sav files without university site licenses

Get Started

Visit app.pondpilot.io and open your .sav file.

Back to home